أيُّها المُزْجِي مِطيَّتَه

إذ حداه الشوق والذِكَرُ

O you who urges on his mount

When longing and remembering impel him

نحو بغداد يؤرِّقه

دُلَجُ التَّرْحال والبُكَر

Towards Baghdad, keeping him awake

The night journey and the first light of dawn

عُجْ على ماء الفُرَات وقِف

كوقوف الصبّ يعتِذر

Stop by the Euphrates’ water and pause

Like the stopping of a youth making excuses

عن مَشُوق نحوَه قِلقٍ

ماله عن ذكره صَدَر

For one to whom he longs

With no patience for remembering him

فهُنَاك الدهر مقتبِلٌ

والصِبا ريَّانُ ينعصِر

For there time lies in wait

And youth flows pressing the wine

يا رُبا القاطول لا بعُدتْ

عنكِ بي الأيامُ والقَدَر

O dweller in al-Qatul, no distance

Of days and fate has come between us

كلُّ ما في النفس من أمل

لكِ أطويه وأدَّخِر

All the hope in my soul

I fold for you and store away

وقريباً قد يزورُكِ بي

ظفرٌ ما مثلُه ظفر

And soon triumph may visit you from me

A triumph the like of which was never seen

ثم يصفو في ذرَاكِ لنا

طِيبُ عيشٍ ما به كَدَر

Then in your presence will clear for us

A good life without bitterness