وأَحْمَرَ مَذْبَحٍ وقَراً وَزوْرٍ

هَمُوس زِيارَةِ القِرْنِ الهَمُوسِ

The shrine is red with sacrifice and pilgrimage

Of the mournful visit to the mournful shrine,

وأَبْيَضَ ما اطْمأَنَّ مِنَ الذُّنابَى

إلى الحَاذَيْنِ كالقَصَبِ اللّبِيسِ

And white are the minarets in their serenity

Like the smooth jointed cane,

وأَسْودَ لَهْذَمِ السّيْرَينِ جَوْنٍ

وأَزْرقَ مِنْسَرٍ أَقْنَى نَهُوسِ

And black because of the well-trodden pavement

And blue from the hanging lamps pious with oil,

وأَصْفَرَ قِمَّةٍ وحَجَاجِ عَيْنٍ

فتحسبهُ تكَحّلَ مِنْ وُرُوسِ

And yellow the dome and the eye's sore from weeping,

As though with antimony it had painted its lids,

إِذا بُعِثَتْ سَمِعتَ لها زُهَاءً

وجَهْوَرَةً كَجَهورَةِ القُسوسِ

When the rites are renewed one hears its moaning

And roaring like the roaring of priests,

كأَنَّ على القَرَا دِيباجَ وَشْيٍ

تَكَشّفَ عنْ غُلالَةِ خَنْدَرِيسِ

As though over the shrine were a coat of brocade

Which imagination had woven with artistry,

كأنَّ جَآجِئاً منها وَهَاماً

أَعارَتْها النُّفُوسَ يَدا عَرُوسِ

As though from it were doves and ring-doves

Whose souls virgins with bridal dress had lent them.