أغمَضتُ عن شجر ِ الهوى أحداقي

أغمَضتُ عن شجر ِ الهوى أحداقي

فاسكبْ طِلاكَ على الثرى يا ساقي

فاسكبْ طِلاكَ على الثرى يا ساقي

I closed my eyes to the trees of love.

I closed my eyes to the tree of passion

So pour your wine upon the earth, O cupbearer.

So pour your shade on the soil, O cupbearer

ورمَيْتُ عني بُرْدَة ً أبْلَيْتُها

ورمَيْتُ عني بُرْدَة ً أبْلَيْتُها

في حَرْب ِ أشجاني على أشواقي

في حَرْب ِ أشجاني على أشواقي

And I cast off a cloak I had worn threadbare

And I cast off a cloak I had worn out

In my sorrows' war against my longings.

In the war of my sorrows against my longings

وبِصَخْر ِ صَبْر ٍما التحفت ُ بغيرِه ِ

وبِصَخْر ِ صَبْر ٍما التحفت ُ بغيرِه ِ

وأنا أجوبُ متاهة َ الآفاق ِ

وأنا أجوبُ متاهة َ الآفاق ِ

And I wrapped myself in nothing but the rock of patience,

With the rock of patience I clothed myself with naught else

While I roamed the labyrinth of the horizons.

As I wandered the maze of horizons

ما عُدْتُ تنُّورا ً لخبز ِ صبابة ٍ

ما عُدْتُ تنُّورا ً لخبز ِ صبابة ٍ

سُفُنُ المَسَرَّة ِ آذنتْ بِفِراق ِ

سُفُنُ المَسَرَّة ِ آذنتْ بِفِراق ِ

I am no longer an oven for the bread of longing.

No longer a baker of youth’s bread

The ships of joy have given notice of departure.

The ships of joy signaled farewell

جفَّ الصُّداحُ على فمي وتخثَّرتْ

جفَّ الصُّداحُ على فمي وتخثَّرتْ

لغتي ... وفَرَّ الحرفُ من أوراقي

لغتي ... وفَرَّ الحرفُ من أوراقي

Song dried upon my mouth; congealed was

My lips dried up and my tongue coagulated

My language... and letters fled my pages.

My words scattered from my papers

وتعبْتُ من صوتي أُنادي لاهِثا ً

وتعبْتُ من صوتي أُنادي لاهِثا ً

وطني ونخلَ طفولتي ورفاقي

وطني ونخلَ طفولتي ورفاقي

And I wearied of my voice, breathlessly calling

I grew weary of my voice calling out breathless

My homeland, my childhood's palms, and my companions,

My homeland, my childhood palm trees, and my friends

وأحِبَّة ً مرّتْ على بستانِهِمْ

وأحِبَّة ً مرّتْ على بستانِهِمْ

خيْلُ الغُزاة ِ فأصْحَرَت ْ أعماقي

خيْلُ الغُزاة ِ فأصْحَرَت ْ أعماقي

And loved ones over whose orchard passed

And loves who passed through their orchards

The invaders' horses, turning my depths to desert,

As the horses of invaders made my depths barren

وأنينَ ناعور ٍ وضحكة َ جَدْوَل ٍ

وأنينَ ناعور ٍ وضحكة َ جَدْوَل ٍ

ورذاذ َ فانوس ٍ وجَمْرَ وِجاق ِ

ورذاذ َ فانوس ٍ وجَمْرَ وِجاق ِ

And a waterwheel's groaning, and a stream's laughter,

The murmur of a fountain, a brook’s laughter

And a lantern's spray, and a hearth's embers.

The spray of a lantern, embers, and a poker

أشفقتُ من خوفي عليَّ فأحْرَقتْ

أشفقتُ من خوفي عليَّ فأحْرَقتْ

نارُ الفؤاد ِ سُلافة َ الإشفاق ِ

نارُ الفؤاد ِ سُلافة َ الإشفاق ِ

I dreaded my fear for myself; burned away was

I feared for myself and so my heart’s fire

The pure wine of solicitude by the heart's fire.

Burned the timbers of compassion

أدْمَنتُ خُسرا ً منذ فجر ِ يفاعتي

أدْمَنتُ خُسرا ً منذ فجر ِ يفاعتي

وهْمُ المُنى ضرْبٌ من الإخفاق ِ

وهْمُ المُنى ضرْبٌ من الإخفاق ِ

I have been addicted to loss since the dawn of my youth.

I grew addicted to losing since the dawn of my awareness

The illusion of wishes is a kind of failure.

For the delusion of wishes is a kind of failing

غرَسوا الظلامَ بمُقلتي .. فتعطَّلتْ

غرَسوا الظلامَ بمُقلتي .. فتعطَّلتْ

شَمْسي ونافذتي عن الإشراق ِ

شَمْسي ونافذتي عن الإشراق ِ

They planted darkness in my eye, stopping

They planted darkness in my brain, so my sun grew still

My sun and my window from shining.

And my window shut to the dawn

المُطلِقونَ حمائمي من أسرِها

المُطلِقونَ حمائمي من أسرِها

شدُّوا التُرابَ وماءَهُ بِوِثاق ِ

شدُّوا التُرابَ وماءَهُ بِوِثاق ِ

Those freeing my doves from their captivity

Those who freed my doves from their cage

Bound the soil and its water in fetters.

Strengthened the soil and water with chains

فإذا بتحريرِ العِراق ِ وليْمَة ٌ

فإذا بتحريرِ العِراق ِ وليْمَة ٌ

حفلتْ بما في الأرض ِ من سُرّاق ِ

حفلتْ بما في الأرض ِ من سُرّاق ِ

And behold: Iraq's liberation is a feast

And so with Iraq’s liberation a feast

Thronged with all the thieves on earth.

That gathered all the thieves of earth

ما العُجْبُ لو خانَ الفؤادُ ضلوعَهُ ؟

ما العُجْبُ لو خانَ الفؤادُ ضلوعَهُ ؟

إنَّ الذي خانَ العراق َ عِراقي ..!!

إنَّ الذي خانَ العراق َ عِراقي ..!!

Why be surprised if the heart betrays its ribs?

What wonder if my heart betrayed its ribs?

Indeed, the one who betrayed Iraq is Iraqi!

For he who betrayed Iraq is an Iraqi!

المُسْتغيث ُ من الظلام ِ بِظُلمَة ٍ

المُسْتغيث ُ من الظلام ِ بِظُلمَة ٍ

أدْجى .. ومن مُسْتنقع ٍ بِذعاق ِ

أدْجى .. ومن مُسْتنقع ٍ بِذعاق ِ

The one seeking rescue from darkness in a darkness

He who cries for help from the dark with darker shadows

Still blacker, and from a swamp in bitter brine.

And from a swamp with more mud

فإذا النضالُ نِخاسة ٌ مفضوحة ٌ

فإذا النضالُ نِخاسة ٌ مفضوحة ٌ

فاحَتْ عفونتُها بسوق ِ نِفاق ِ

فاحَتْ عفونتُها بسوق ِ نِفاق ِ

And behold: struggle is blatant slave trading,

So the struggle is an exposed flesh-trade

Its stench wafted through a market of hypocrisy.

Whose stench blew through the market of hypocrisy

وإذا الطِماح ُ مناصِبٌ مأجورة ٌ

وإذا الطِماح ُ مناصِبٌ مأجورة ٌ

يُسْعى لها زحْفا ً على الأعناق ِ

يُسْعى لها زحْفا ً على الأعناق ِ

And ambition is paid posts,

And ambition is purchased positions

Pursued by crawling over necks.

Sought by crawling on hands and knees

ولقدْ رأيْتُ النخلَ يلطِمُ سعْفَه ُ

ولقدْ رأيْتُ النخلَ يلطِمُ سعْفَه ُ

خَجَلا ً من الماشينَ مشيَ نِياق ِ

خَجَلا ً من الماشينَ مشيَ نِياق ِ

And I have indeed seen the palms slap their fronds,

And I saw the palm tree beating its fronds

Ashamed of those who walk with the gait of she-camels.

Ashamed of those walking with ostrich necks

هل هذه ِ بغدادُ ؟ كنتُ عرفتُها

هل هذه ِ بغدادُ ؟ كنتُ عرفتُها

تأبى مُهادَنَة َ الدّخيل ِ العاق ِ

تأبى مُهادَنَة َ الدّخيل ِ العاق ِ

Is this Baghdad? I had known her

Is this Baghdad? The one I knew

To refuse a truce with the undutiful intruder,

Refused to compromise with an unworthy intruder

تأبى مُساوَمَة ًعلى شرفِ الثرى

تأبى مُساوَمَة ًعلى شرفِ الثرى

وتجودُ قبل المال ِ بالأرْماق ِ

وتجودُ قبل المال ِ بالأرْماق ِ

To refuse bargaining over the honor of the soil,

Refused to bargain over its honor

And to give life's last breaths before giving wealth.

And gave its soul before money

ورثتْ عن "الحُرِّ"الحُسامَ وعزمَهُ

ورثتْ عن "الحُرِّ"الحُسامَ وعزمَهُ

وعن " الحسين" مكارمَ الأخلاق ِ

وعن " الحسين" مكارمَ الأخلاق ِ

She inherited from al-Hurr his sword and resolve,

It inherited the sword and resolve of its knights

And from al-Husayn noble virtues.

And from al-Husayn the morals of dignity

هل هذه بغداد ؟ تأكلُ ثدْيَها

هل هذه بغداد ؟ تأكلُ ثدْيَها

فإذا بِها وعَدوَّها بِوِفاق ِ...؟

فإذا بِها وعَدوَّها بِوِفاق ِ...؟

Is this Baghdad? She devours her own breast,

Is this Baghdad, suckling those who eat its breast

And suddenly she and her enemy are in accord?

Then, united with its foe in agreement...?

لو أنّ ليْ أمْرا ً على قلبي فقد

لو أنّ ليْ أمْرا ً على قلبي فقد

عَجَّلتُ من تِهْيامِها بِطَلاق ِ

عَجَّلتُ من تِهْيامِها بِطَلاق ِ

Had I any command over my heart, I would have

If only I had control over my heart, I would have

Hastened a divorce from my infatuation with her.

Hastened its infatuation with divorce

عَقَدَتْ على طينِ العراق ِقِرانَها

عَقَدَتْ على طينِ العراق ِقِرانَها

نفسي فمَهْري خافقي وصِداقي

نفسي فمَهْري خافقي وصِداقي

She pledged herself in marriage to the clay of Iraq—

It tied its marriage contract to Iraq’s clay

My soul; my beating heart is my dower and bridal gift.

So my dowry is my pounding heart and friends

أخفقتُ في عشقي فكنتُ غريبَهُ

أخفقتُ في عشقي فكنتُ غريبَهُ

إنَّ التَغَرُّبَ مُنتهى الإخْفاق ِ

إنَّ التَغَرُّبَ مُنتهى الإخْفاق ِ

I failed in my love and became a stranger to it.

I failed in my passion so was estranged

Indeed, estrangement is the ultimate failure.

For estrangement is the utmost failing

هذا دمي يا نخلُ .. مُصَّ رفيفهُ

هذا دمي يا نخلُ .. مُصَّ رفيفهُ

فلقد رأيْتُك َ ظامئ الأعْذاق ِ

فلقد رأيْتُك َ ظامئ الأعْذاق ِ

This is my blood, O palms—suck its fluttering pulse.

For I saw you thirsty in your veins

For I have seen you with thirsty date-clusters.

Help my autumn with spring to bloom

أسْعِفْ خريفي بالربيع ِ لينتشي

أسْعِفْ خريفي بالربيع ِ لينتشي

وردُ المُنى في روضة ِ المُشتاق ِ

وردُ المُنى في روضة ِ المُشتاق ِ

Revive my autumn with spring, to intoxicate

And the roses of wishes in the garden of longing

The roses of hope in the yearning one's garden.

Sweep out the darkness of sectarianism with light

واكنسْ ظلامَ الطائفيّة ِ بالسَّنا

واكنسْ ظلامَ الطائفيّة ِ بالسَّنا

وأعِدْ لِدِجلة َ زورقَ العشاق ِ

وأعِدْ لِدِجلة َ زورقَ العشاق ِ

And sweep away sectarianism's darkness with radiance,

And ready the lovers’ boat for the Tigris

And restore the lovers' boat to the Tigris.

So I can begin life anew, and not see

فعسايَ أبتدئ الحياةَ ..فلا أرى

فعسايَ أبتدئ الحياةَ ..فلا أرى

وطني ذبيحا ً والدماءَ سواقي

وطني ذبيحا ً والدماءَ سواقي

So perhaps I may begin life, and not see

My homeland a victim with blood as its cupbearer

My homeland slaughtered, and blood flowing in channels.

O my heart, is there one like you in passion

يا أنت يا قلبي أمثلك في الهوى

يا أنت يا قلبي أمثلك في الهوى

يشكو مواجعَ غُرْبَة ٍ وفِراق ِ؟

يشكو مواجعَ غُرْبَة ٍ وفِراق ِ؟

O you, O my heart—would one like you, in love,

Complaining of the woes of estrangement and parting?

Complain of the pangs of exile and parting?

Are you not the one who fasted his youth in denial

أوَلسْتَ مَنْ صامَ الشبابَ مُكابرا ً

أوَلسْتَ مَنْ صامَ الشبابَ مُكابرا ً

عن ماء ِ أعْناب ٍ وخبز ِ عِناق ِ ؟

عن ماء ِ أعْناب ٍ وخبز ِ عِناق ِ ؟

And are you not the one who fasted through youth, defiant,

Of the water of vines and the bread of embracing?

From the water of grapes and the bread of embraces,

Of the sweetly smiling lips

والمُثْمِلات ِ لذاذة ً بِمَباسم ٍ

والمُثْمِلات ِ لذاذة ً بِمَباسم ٍ

والمُمْطِرات ِ عذوبة ً بمآقي ؟

والمُمْطِرات ِ عذوبة ً بمآقي ؟

And those who intoxicate with delight through smiling lips,

And the softly raining eyes?

And those who rain sweetness from the corners of their eyes?

O you who wasted childhood and youth

يا مَنْ أضَعْتَ طفولة ً وفتوَّة ً

يا مَنْ أضَعْتَ طفولة ً وفتوَّة ً

ماذا ستَخْسَرُ لو أضَعْتَ الباقي ؟

ماذا ستَخْسَرُ لو أضَعْتَ الباقي ؟

O you who squandered childhood and youth,

What more will you lose if you waste what remains?

What will you lose if you squander what remains?

Is there aught in the jars of life but dregs?

هل في جِرار ِ العُمْر ِ غيرُ حُثالة ٍ؟

هل في جِرار ِ العُمْر ِ غيرُ حُثالة ٍ؟

أطبِقْ كتابَكَ .. لاتَ وقتَ تلاقي !

أطبِقْ كتابَكَ .. لاتَ وقتَ تلاقي !

Is there anything but dregs in the jars of life?

Close your book! The time for reunion has passed!

Close your book—this is no time for reunion!