لسائل الدمع عن بغداد أخبار
فما وقوفك والأحباب قد ساروا
Streaming tears bear tidings regarding Baghdad; / Why do you halt when the loved ones have departed?
O visitors to Al-Zawra, turn back and do not draw near; / For in that sanctuary, no home nor dweller remains.
يا زائرين إلى الزوراء لا تفدوا
فما بذاك الحمى والدار ديار
The Caliphate's crown, the quarter once honored by its landmarks, / Has been erased, by utter desolation swept bare.
Decay has carved its mark upon the ruined quarter, / And upon those traces, falling tears leave traces of their own.
تاج الخلافة والربع الذي شرفت به
المعالم قد عفاه إقفار
O fire within my heart, born of the flames of war / That raged against it, as a hurricane of doom descended.
The cross has risen high above its sacred pulpits, / And authority is seized by those who wear the unbeliever's belt.
أضحى لعطف البلى في ربعه أثر
وللدموع على الآثار آثار
How many sheltered women were ravaged by the Turkish horde, / Though veil upon veil once guarded their sanctity.
How many full moons were eclipsed within Al-Badriyah, / Never to rise again or cast their light anew.
يا نار قلبي من نار لحرب وغى
شبت عليه ووافي الربع إعصار
How many hidden treasures became common spoils of war, / Plundered and possessed by the hands of infidels.
How many sharp decrees were executed by their swords / Upon our necks, where heavy burdens were laid low.
علا الصليب على أعلى منابرها
وقام بالأمر من يحويه زنار
I cried out as violated captives were dragged away, / Hauled toward the slaughter by the enemy's vile rogues.
They are driven to a death they have already witnessed; / "The Fire, O Lord," they pray, "rather than this shame!"
وكم حريم سبته الترك غاصبة
وكان من دون ذاك الستر أستار
O men! These calamities speak to us with dread, / Bearing both an absolving excuse and a dire warning.
Now that the sons of Abbas have all been bound in chains, / No light remains to brighten the face of the dawn.
وكم بدور على البدرية انخسفت
ولم يعد لبدور منه إبدار
Nothing has pleased me since they were torn apart, / Save the stories I recite and the ruins that remain.
For faith and the world, now that they are gone, / No marketplace of glory stands; they have perished and passed.
وكم ذخائر أضحت وهي شائعة
من النهاب وقد حازته كفار
Verily, the Day of Judgment has befallen Baghdad alone, / Just as its fortune turned its back and fled.
The Prophet's kin and the scholars have been enslaved; / Who, I ask, is left for the cities to shelter now?
وكم حدود أقيمت من سيوفهم
على الرقاب وحطت فيه أوزار
I never hoped to linger on while they are gone, / But Fate refused my choice and forced me to remain.
To You, O Lord, we direct our complaint, for You see / What has befallen the Faith, while the wicked transgress.
ناديت والسبي مهتوك يجرهم
إلى السفاح من الأعداء دعار
وهم يساقون للموت الذي شهدوا
النار يا رب من هذا ولا العار
يا للرجال بأحداث تحدثنا
بما غدا فيه إعذار وإنذار
من بعد أسر بني العباس كلهم
فلا أنار لوجه الصبح إسفار
ما راق لي قط شيء بعد بينهم
إلا أحاديث أرويها وآثار
لم يبق للدين والدنيا وقد ذهبوا
سوق لمجد وقد بانوا وقد باروا
إن القيامة في بغداد قد وجدت
وحدها حين للإقبال إدبار
آل النبي وأهل العلم قد سبيوا
فمن ترى بعدهم تحويه أمصار
ما كنت آمل أن أبقى وقد ذهبوا
لكن أبى دون ما أختار أقدار
إليكَ يا ربنا الشكوَى فأنتَ ترَى
ما حل بالدينِ والباغونَ فُجارُ
