1. سَقياً لِدارٍ بِنَهرِ الكَرخِ مِن دارِ

    تَرَكتُ فيها لُبانَتي وَأَوطاري

    May rain bless a dwelling by the river of al-Karkh—what a dwelling!

    I left there my heart's desire and my wishes.

  2. مِن عَهدِ عامَينِ لَم أُلمِم بِساحَتِها

    دارَت عَلَيها رَحى الدُنيا بِأَطوارِ

    For two years I have not visited its courtyard;

    the world's millstone has turned upon it through changing phases.

  3. كَم فيكِ يا دارُ مِن عَصرٍ لَهَوتُ بِهِ

    يا لَيتَهُ لِيَ مِن عُمري بِأَعصارِ

    How many an afternoon of pleasure I spent in you, O dwelling!

    Would it were mine again, in exchange for ages of my life!

  4. يَرونَ فيها الظَباءَ الأُدمَ سانِحَةً

    يُشبِهنَ شُرّاً بِأَعناقٍ وَأَبصارِ

    They see pale gazelles passing there,

    resembling Shurr in their necks and eyes.

  5. ثُمَّ اِلتَفَتُّ إِلى شَيبي فَذَكَّرَني

    حِلمي فَأَبتُ إِلى يَأسٍ وَأَبصارِ

    Then I turned to my gray hair, and it reminded me

    of my good sense; so I returned to despair and insight.

  6. كَأَنَّني وَقُتودي فَوقَ ذي جُدَدٍ

    مُبَكِرٌ بَينَ إِظلامٍ وَإِسفارِ

    As though I, with my saddle-frame, were on a striped wild ass,

    setting out early between darkness and daybreak.

  7. فَراعَني صائِحٌ يَعدو بِأَكلُبَةٍ

    مُطَوَّقاتٍ بِأَسيارٍ وَأَوتارِ

    Then a shouting man startled me, running with hounds,

    collared with leather straps and cords,

  8. مِن كُلِّ أَغضَفَ خالي النَحضِ مُحتَبِلٍ

    يُطالِبُ الشَرَّ في أَطواقِهِ ضاري

    each a droop-eared, lean-fleshed catcher of prey,

    ferocious, seeking harm within its collars.

  9. كَم سَخطَةٍ بِتُّ أُخفيها عَلَيهِ كَما

    تُخفي الحِجارَةُ فيها مَسكِنَ النارِ

    Many a fit of anger at him I spent the night concealing, as

    stones conceal within them the dwelling-place of fire.

  10. أَلا سَبيلٌ إِلى وافٍ أُواصِلُهُ

    فَقَد تَجَنَّبَ وَدّي كُلَّ غَدّارِ

    Is there no way to someone faithful, with whom I may keep company?

    For my affection has shunned every traitor.