أَلا قوموا إِلى الكَرخِ

أَلا قوموا إِلى الكَرخِ

إِلى مَنزِلِ خَمّارِ

إِلى مَنزِلِ خَمّارِ

Come, rise and go to al-Karkh,

O people, come to al-Karkh

Arise! Let us hasten to Al-Karkh,

to a wine-seller’s house,

To the abode of the wine-seller

To the home of the seller of wine,

إِلى صَهباءَ كَالمِسكِ

إِلى صَهباءَ كَالمِسكِ

لَدى جَونَةِ عَطّارِ

لَدى جَونَةِ عَطّارِ

to tawny wine, like musk

To the blond like musk

To a vintage as fragrant as musk,

in a perfumer’s scent-box,

Near the shop of the perfumer

Like a jar from a perfumer's line,

وَبُستانٍ لَهُ نَهرٌ

وَبُستانٍ لَهُ نَهرٌ

لَدى نَخلٍ وَأَشجارِ

لَدى نَخلٍ وَأَشجارِ

and to a garden with a river,

It has a river in its orchard

To a garden graced with a stream,

beside date palms and trees.

Near palm trees and trees

Where palms and tall trees entwine,

فَأُطعِمُكُم بِهِ لَحماً

فَأُطعِمُكُم بِهِ لَحماً

مِنَ الوَحشِ وَأَطيارِ

مِنَ الوَحشِ وَأَطيارِ

Then I shall feed you meat there,

I will feed you there meat

I will feed you there with fresh meat,

from wild game and birds.

Of wildlife and birds

Of wild game and birds so fine,

فَإِن أَحبَبتُمُ لَهواً

فَإِن أَحبَبتُمُ لَهواً

أَتَيناكُم بِزَمّارِ

أَتَيناكُم بِزَمّارِ

So if you desire amusement,

And if you wish for entertainment

And if you desire diversion,

we shall bring you a piper;

We will bring you musicians

We bring you a piper to play,

وَإِن أَحبَبتُمُ وَصلاً

وَإِن أَحبَبتُمُ وَصلاً

فَهَذي رَبَّةُ الدارِ

فَهَذي رَبَّةُ الدارِ

and if you desire intimacy,

And if you wish for connection

And if you desire connection,

then here is the mistress of the house.

Here is the lady of the house today.