الآنَ قامَ عَلى بَغدادَ ناعيها

فَليَبكِها لِخَرابِ الدَّهرِ باكيها

Now one has risen to mourn Baghdad

So let him weep for it, for the ravages of fate weeping

كانَت عَلى ما بِها وَالحَربُ بارِكَةٌ

وَالهَدمُ يَغدو عَلَيها في نَواحيها

It used to be, with battles around, blessed

And destruction appears on its outskirts each day

تُرجى لَها عَودَةٌ في الدَّهرِ صالِحَةٌ

فَالآنَ أضمر مِنها اليَأسُ راجيها

Hoped for it is a return of good fortune one day

But now despair holds back its hopes

مِثلُ العَجوزِ الَّتي وَلَّت شَبيبَتُها

وَبانَ مِنها جَمالٌ كانَ يُحظيها

Like an old woman whose youth has passed

And beauty she once had, granting her favor, has gone

ازَّت بِها حرَّة زَهراءُ واضِحَةٌ

كَالشَّمسِ مَكسُوَّة دراً تراقيها

Adorned it was by splendid Harrah blossoming

Like the sun cloaked in pearls stacked up high