1. بغدادُ دارٌ طِيبُها آخذٌ

    نسيمه منّي بأنفاسي

    Baghdad is an abode whose fragrance steals

    my breath with its breeze.

  2. تصلُح للمُوسِر لا لامرئٍ

    يبَيتُ ذا فقرٍ وإفلاسِ

    It suits the wealthy, not a man

    who spends the night in poverty and pennilessness.

  3. لو حلَّها قارونُ ربُّ الغنى

    أصبح ذا همّ ووسواسِ

    Were Qarun, lord of wealth, to settle there,

    he would become beset by worry and anxious misgivings.

  4. هي التي تُوعَدُ لكنّها

    عاجلةٌ للطاعم الكاسي

    It is what you are promised, but it

    is here and now for the well-fed and well-clad.

  5. حُورٌ ووِلدانٌ ومِن كلّ ما

    تطلبُه فيها سوى الناسِ

    Houris and youths, and all manner of things

    you seek are there—except people.