For the corniced palace at Bagdhad!

(not the corniced palace of Sindad in al-Hira)

 

From the gardens below it rises, like a crown,

like a virgin unveiled in the most perfumed chamber.

The wind plays in the branches and they bend,

lovers come together at last,

 

Her neck necklaced by the river Tigris,

her lord our master Imam al-Hadi,

 

Nasir, Mansur, best of all caliphs,

who never set out on horseback to war.

 

God bless him as long as a dove

on a swaying bough still coos,

 

Long as smiles flash forth lightning

(my eyes pouring down like clouds in answer)

 

From a bride like the sun when mist parts

revealing her in luminous splendor

For the corniced palace at Bagdhad!
(not the corniced palace of Sindad in al-Hira)
Like a crown it towers over the gardens below,
like a virgin unveiled in the most perfumed chamber.
The wind plays in the branches and they bend,
lovers at last coming together,
Her neck necklaced by the river Tigris,
her lord our master our Imam al-Hadi,
Nasir, Mansur, best of all caliphs,
who never set out on horseback to war.
God bless him as long as a dove
on a swaying bough still coos,
As long as smiles flash forth lighting
(my eyes pouring down like clouds in answer)
From a bride like the sun when mist parts
revealed in luminous splendor.

For the corniced palace at Bagdhad!
(not the corniced palace of Sindad in al-Hira)

Like a crown it towers over the gardens below,
like a virgin unveiled in the most perfumed chamber.

The wind plays in the branches and they bend,
lovers at last coming together,

Her neck necklaced by the river Tigris,
her lord our master our Imam al-Hadi,

Nasir, Mansur, best of all caliphs,
who never set out on horseback to war.

God bless him as long as a dove
on a swaying bough still coos,

As long as smiles flash forth lighting
(my eyes pouring down like clouds in answer)

From a bride like the sun when mist parts
revealed in luminous splendor.