إلى المجد مستقبل يُصنَعُ

"ببغداد"، من حُسنِها أروعُ

Toward glory, a future is made.

In “Baghdad”—more wondrous than her own beauty.

تَحَضَّنَه الصفوةُ " الباعثون "

حماةً كِفاءً لما استُودِعوا

It was embraced by the elite, “the Inspirers,”

able guardians of what was entrusted to them.

ترعرع في الخاطِر "العبقريّ"

على وَمَضاتٍ له يُطْبَع

It grew within the “visionary” mind,

taking shape upon its flashes.

وطاف به من دُنَى الموحيات

زعيمٌ بإنضاجِه مُولَع

A leader carried it through realms of inspiration,

passionately bringing it to maturity.

وناغاه مجدٌ طَريفٌ يلوحُ

ومجدٌ تَليدٌ ويسترجع

A fresh glory crooned to it, gleaming,

and an ancient glory returned to memory.

فجاء على صورةٍ بَرْزَةٍ

تَصوَّرها خالقٌ مُبدع

So it emerged in a bold form,

conceived by a creator of genius.

إلى المجد .. ما روَّضَ الصامدون

من العاصيات ، وما طوّعوا

Toward glory—what the steadfast have tamed

of rebellious forces, what they have subdued!

وعاشتْ يدٌ برَّةٌ عندها

بما غدرت إصبَعٌ تُقْطَع

There a righteous hand flourished,

while any treacherous finger was cut off.

وللشمس .. يومٌ أغرّ الضُّحى

به الشّملُ من أُمَّةٍ يُجْمع

The sun shall have a radiant, bright-forenoon day,

when a nation’s scattered whole is gathered.

تَحِنُّ إلى غَمَراتِ الزُّحوف

فَتَخْفُقُ أعلامُها الشُّرَّع

It yearns for the tumult of advancing hosts,

and its unfurled standards begin to beat.

وتصهلُ خيلٌ إلى وقْعةٍ

يَرج بها الموقعَ الموقع

Horses neigh toward an encounter

that makes the very battlefield quake.

وتصبو الأكفُّ لبَرْدِ السُّيوفِ

إلى يومِ تبترِدُ الأضلُع

Hands long for the cool touch of swords,

for a day that cools the burning ribs.

إلى المجد .. يا غُرَرَ المشرقَيْن

على " جبهةٍ " حرّةٍ تطلُع

Toward glory, O choice lights of the two Easts,

upon a free “front” rising!

تهادت على ذَكَوَات العراق

ذُيولٌ من العزّ تَسْتَرْفع

It moved with grace across Iraq’s heights,

its trains of honor lifting high.

وقفَّت مواكبَ "منصورِها"

مواكبُ نصر لها تتبع

The processions of its “Mansour” stood forth,

followed by processions of victory.

أطلَّت على "جبهةٍ" حولها

تشابكُ حبّا بها الأذْرُع

It looked out upon a “front” around which

arms intertwined in love.

كأنَّ "ببغداد" عُرْسَ الربيع

تُزَفُّ به أرْبعٌ أرْبَع

As though “Baghdad” were springtime’s wedding,

escorted four by four;

كأنَّ " الهلاهلَ " من غِيدها

نوابض أفئدةٍ تُسرع

as though the women’s ululations

were pulses of racing hearts;

كأنَّ "المزاميرَ" فوق الشفاه

طيورٌ على فَنَنٍ تَسْجَع

as though “the pipes” upon the lips

were birds warbling on a branch;

كأنَّ " الصبايا " بألعابها

حمائمُ في شَبَكٍ وُقَّع

as though “the girls” at play

were doves caught in a net.

تناقلُ لم يختلِفْ جمعُها

ولكنّما اختلف المجمع

One celebration passed from hand to hand, its gathering undivided;

only the meeting places differed.

ويا "بَرَدَى" أيُّها السّلسبيلُ

من كُلّ عرقٍ بنا يَنْبَع

O “Barada,” you limpid stream,

springing from every vein within us,

يَضُوعُ الرَّذاذُ على الضَّفَتينِ

وتُنْتَشَقُ الطينةُ (الأضوع)

your spray breathes fragrance over both banks,

and the moist earth is inhaled, most fragrant.

وتَرْفِد "حسّانَ" في عزّه

كؤوسُ "بني جفنة" تُتْرع

You replenish “Hassan” in his pride

with brimming cups of “Banu Jafna.”

دلفنا إليك نَزفُ الهوى

ونشكو من الوجد ما ننزع

We came toward you, bleeding love,

complaining of the longing we suffer.

أحقا صددت عن "الرافدين"

وبابهما بابُك المُشْرَع

Have you truly turned away from the “Two Rivers,”

though their gate is your own gate, flung open?

و "شامك" "بغدادُنا" المزدهاةُ

و "بغدادُنا" شامك الممتع

Your “Damascus” is our proud “Baghdad,”

and our “Baghdad” is your delightful Damascus.

ويا نسمةَ الصبح في "الغوطتين"

تنفَّسَها المورِقُ المُمْرع

O morning breeze in the “two Ghoutas,”

breathed by the leafy, fertile land,

نظل على شَهَقاتِ الحياة

بما تَنْفَحين به نطمَع

we remain amid life’s gasps,

longing for what you breathe upon us.

ويا إخوةَ الدَّمِ في المشرقَيْنِ

إلى "الضاد" ما بينها ترجع

O brotherhood of blood in the two Easts,

all that lies between them returns to “Ḍād.”

تفيأ كلّ خفوقِ الظِلال

يثير المصيفَ بها المَرْبَع

Every fluttering shade finds shelter,

and summer stirs there, seeking pasture.

وتبقى مواطنُها الفاتناتُ

على كل فاتنةٍ بُرْقُع

Its enchanting homelands awaken,

and every enchantress wears a veil.

تُذادُ بها فكرةٌ حُرّة

وينبو بذي الفِكرةِ المضجع

A free thought is driven away there,

and the thinker’s bed refuses rest.

عسى "يوم بغداد" يلغي الحجاب

وينهي النهاة، وما شرعوا

May “Baghdad Day” lift the veil

and end the prohibitions and all they ordained.

ويا عسى "مصرُ" ، يا أمُّ، يا أمة

بها يشمَخُ الشَّرفُ الأرفع

And may “Egypt”—O mother, O nation—

rise proudly with the loftiest honor,

ويا دُرَّةً في زِحام الخُطوبِ

وقد صَدِئتْ دررٌ

a pearl amid the crush of calamities,

though many pearls have tarnished;

ويا دارةَ "المبدعينَ" الضِخامِ

بهم يُقتدى ، ولهم يُخْشَع

a home for mighty “creators,”

models to follow, before whom heads bow.

على حبكَ انطوتِ الأضلعُ

تلوبُ بها جمرةٌ تلذَع

Love for you is folded within every rib;

an ember twists there and burns.

مصيرُكِ يا مصرُ لا "الكامبياتِ" !

ولكنْ مصائرُنا أجْمَع

Your destiny, Egypt, is not “bills of exchange”!

It is the destiny of us all.

وعندكِ للنُّخَبِ الحافظينَ

سِجِلٌ يمرّغ من ضيعوا

With you, the guardians of the chosen have

a record that drags those who squandered through dust.

سوى أنَّ "ذا تِرَةٍ" خائنا

مع الركب من "واترٍ" يضلع

Yet a vengeful traitor

limps with the caravan of avengers,

يُعَرّي له جَبَهاتِ الصمود

فيُخْلَى له الأمَدُ الأوسع

baring to him the brows of steadfastness

and clearing for him the broadest field.

يَعِزُّ على الحُرّ أن يَفْتلي

رِقابَ بنيك .. ولا يُخْلَع

It is unbearable for the free man that he should twist

the necks of your sons and not be cast down—

ذليلٌ .. وجُرما أتى موجع

وأن تَستذلي له أوجع

abased; the crime he wrought is grievous,

but your abasement before him is graver.

أتُبْقِيْنَ "يا مصرُ" من يُسْتباحُ

على يده الحَرَمُ الأمْنَع

Will you keep, O Egypt, one who violates

the most inviolable sanctities at his hand?

خذيه "عتيقا" ، ولا تَصْرعيهِ

فليس جديرا به المَصْرَع

Take him, “Atiq,” and cast him down;

he is scarcely worthy even of such a fall.

وتِلّيهِ خَزيان حتى الجبين

جبين "لعجل" الخنا يُهْطِع

Crown him with disgrace up to his brow,

a brow that hastens toward infamy.

‏ومدي له العمر يَجْرَعْ به

من الهُون، والعار ما يَجْرَع

Prolong for him a life in which he must gulp

humiliation and shame.

دعيه و "كرشا" غنيّا له

ونفسا لها فقرُها المُدْقع

Leave him his rich paunch,

and a soul whose poverty no defense can cure.

فما تنفع الأُطُمُ العامراتُ

نفوسا ضمائرُها بَلْقع ؟؟

What use are towering citadels

to souls whose consciences are wasteland?

سَرَاة الحمى .. أجْمِعوا أمْركم

وحكمُ المروءةِ أن تَجْمَعوا

Chiefs of the homeland—unite your purpose!

Manly honor commands that you unite,

وحكم المروءةِ أن تُنْجدوا

هُتافَ الجُموعِ، وأن تَصْدَعوا

and manly honor commands that you answer

the cry of the crowds and speak aloud.

وشدّوا حيازيمكم إنّها

حقيقٌ بها الحازمُ الأروع

Gird your loins, for this is a charge

worthy of the most resolute and noble.

فقد هال أمرُكم الخافقَيْنِ

على ما يروعُ، وما يُفْزِع

Your cause has appalled the two horizons

with all that terrifies and alarms.

وراح وأسماعُهُ الواجفاتُ

تُصيخُ، وأجراسُه تُقْرَع

The world goes on, its hearing heart-struck,

listening while its bells are rung.

ورُحتم بفخرَيْنِ من يستميتُ

في الذبّ عنكم .. ومن يَهْلَع

You have gone forth between two proud kinds: one who dies

defending you, and one who panics.

على أنَّ خلفَكُمُ مربأ

ومن خلفه غادرٌ يَقْبَع

Yet behind you stands a watchpost,

and behind it a traitor crouches;

ومستوحش من مَدِبِّ الذئابِ

يضيقُ به المذئبُ المسبعُ

a lonely terror at the wolves’ approach—

even the ravenous wolf feels cramped by them.

وأنتم كِفاءٌ بأن تُلْجِموا

شُدوقا جياعاً، وأن تَرْدَعوا

You are well able to bridle

hungry jaws and drive them back,

وأنْ تُفْرِحوا كلّ ذي غُلّةٍ

سيُثْلِجُها غاصبٌ يَفْجع

and to gladden everyone with a grievance

that an oppressor, striking in pain, will cool.

سَرَاةَ الحمى .. نفثةً حرةً

إليها على مضض أُهْرَع

Chiefs of the homeland—this is a free breath

toward which I rush, though in anguish,

أسيفاً على فرط صمتِ الشّفيع

على غوثِ أهليه يستشفع

grieving at the advocate’s long silence

when his own people plead for rescue,

وفرط التغامض عن أعينٍ

مضتْ حِقَبٌ وهي تَستطلع

and at the long shutting of eyes

that have watched and waited through ages.

إليكم .. وأنتم عَصُوفُ الرياحِ

غضوبٌ إذا انتفضت زَعْزَع

I turn to you, while you are storm-winds,

wrathful—when you rise, you shake the world.

تَشَمَّمُها في الوكورِ النُّسورُ

وتستافُها سحبٌ تُقْشَع

Eagles scent you from their nests,

and clouds catch your fragrance and disperse.

نبا صبرها عن دروعِ الصدورِ

وشُدَّ على قوسِها المنْزع

Its patience has recoiled from breastplates,

and the bowstring has been drawn tight.

ثلاثون سودٌ كسودِ القبورِ

يطوفُ بها الشبَحُ المُفْزِع

Thirty black years, black as graves,

haunted by a terrifying specter;

تُساطُ بها الروحُ قبلَ الجُلود

ويُعْتَصَرُ الدَّمُ، والأدمُع

the spirit is scourged there before the skin,

and blood and tears are wrung out.

أُنوفٌ تراغم منها "اليهود"

وعجلُهُمُ الأصْلَمُ الأجدع

Proud noses that defy “the Jews,”

and their deaf, mutilated calf;

وشمّ جباهٍ كخَفْقِ الصُّقور

عظاماً تناثرُ، أو تضرع

lofty brows like the beating wings of falcons—

bones scattered, or brought low;

وصرعى خيام كثوب اليتيمِ

بها "القَرُّ" و "الحَرُّ" يستمتع

tents of the slain, like an orphan’s garment,

where “cold” and “heat” take their pleasure;

على " مِزَقٍ " بعد بيض القِبابِ

وخُضْرِ الحُقولِ، وما تُفْرِع

amid “shreds,” after the white pavilions

and green fields that no longer put forth;

" وقدسٌ " تَعطَّلَ فيه الأذانِ

وذيد به السُجَّدُ الرُّكَّع

and “Jerusalem,” where the call to prayer has fallen silent,

and prostrate worshipers are driven away.

ونحن إلى نَجدةِ الواهبين

بأضعفِ إيمانِنا نَقْنَع

Yet we, when those able to give aid are called,

content ourselves with the weakest of faith.

سَراةَ الحمى .. والحِمى جَذْوةٌ

عجابٌ، إذا اختنقت تَسْطع

Chiefs of the homeland—the homeland is an ember,

wondrous: when smothered, it blazes;

تُعَدُّ الجَحيمَ .. ولا تُجْتَلَى

ورعدَ الأزيزِ .. ولا يُسْمَع

it promises hell but cannot be seen,

the thunder of its hissing cannot be heard.

وتَنْدَسُّ تحت عميّ الرماد

زمانا .. وتخدع من يخدع

It slips beneath the blindness of ash

for a time, deceiving whoever would deceive;

وتَطْغَى فلا ترحمُ الراحمين

ولا المُرضِعاتِ ، وما تُرْضِع

then surges, showing no mercy to the merciful,

nor to nursing mothers and what they nurse.

وتحسو الدماءَ .. ولا ترتوي

وتأكل خَلْقاً .. ولا تشبَع

It drinks blood yet does not slake its thirst,

and devours creation yet is never filled;

وتصبح بردا بُعَيْدَ الحِصَادِ

وتُخصِبُ دنيا بما تزرع

then, long after harvest, it turns cool,

making a world fertile with what it sowed.

فكونوا بحيث يكونُ الوُعاةُ

بما يُستزاد، وما يُدفَع

Stand, then, where the conscious stand,

where more is sought and harm repelled.

ومدّوا " يدَ الله " .. عن حقكم

تذودون ، وهي اليد الأرفع

Extend “the hand of God” in defense of your right;

you will ward them off—and it is the highest hand.

وللمجد .. مستقبلٌ يُصنع

" ببغداد " .. من حسنها أروعُ

Toward glory—a future is made,

in “Baghdad,” more wondrous than her beauty.