The Most Beautiful Sad Iraqi Folk Poetry
Poetry serves as a profound means of expression, allowing poets to convey their love, sorrow, longing, and joy. Each country boasts its unique folk poetry, written and spoken in its everyday dialect. Iraqi folk poetry stands out for its sincere emotions and the beauty of its dialect. In this article, we will present some of the most beautiful sad Iraqi poems:
Poem: How Much I Waited for You to Speak but You Didn’t
How much I waited for you to speak but you didn’t.
Life has passed me by without a word from you.
I heard many say they miss you,
Yet, those words I have never heard from you before.
People have asked about you countless times,
But you are the only one who never inquired about me.
You know well how it feels inside,
What happens to me when you are away.
What happens when your name doesn’t cross my mind.
I recall the past, hoping to catch your scent,
Perhaps by mistake, I will hear you ask,
How are you? What is new with you?
I try to hold myself together and tell myself I must forget you,
Yet I return against my will, longing to come back to you.
Understand me,
Please understand me, I beg you, just enough already.
My eyes have sworn never to close without you.
I buried my wounds, but they whisper to me to forget.
Yet the ache responds, saying, “Why should I stop longing for you?”
Why, oh why, is our road so long and filled with thorns?
Why, between your hands and mine, is there a chain of wires?
Why, when I am here, are you always there?
If you come to visit me after I am buried,
Pass by my grave if you wish,
Come to my grave and see its place.
If you wish to pray by my grave,
When you call on me with tearful eyes,
Say, “O Lord of the Worlds, unite us again.”
A body full of worms craves your touch.
I want to shout and make the world hear about what lies between us.
The longing has united us, but then you betrayed me.
And yet, I barely closed my eyes during our nights of companionship.
I call your name through the nights, asking, “Do you still love me?”
The echo replies back, “I love you, my dear.”
I became a wilted branch in your hands, you planted me in a desert.
And I live on, filled with regrets, as drops try to soothe me.
This is where I have reached with you, and I plead for your forgiveness.
Poem: How Can I Endure?
Your absence, my love, how can I calm my soul?
It’s the state of one who remains in their sorrow when you depart.
I treated your wound with care, but it has not healed.
Your travels only deepen the wounds in my heart.
I will never forget you, even after ten years of distance.
And whenever you return, my heart stands ready to welcome you.
You’re by my side, but I can feel the gap growing.
I never thought a day would come when you’d leave.
I told you to do whatever you wish,
Yet distance speaks what is not allowed.
Your soul is intertwined with mine; how can you leave?
How can you expect me to live without you?
And I long for you even when you’re near.
As long as you’re away, I hardly sleep until morning.
If the stars above do not witness your departure,
I shall perish from your absence when you go.
For your love in my heart knows no bounds.
When you travel, book two tickets,
For surely, my heart will go with you.
No matter how far you venture, let my heart always be with you.
What remains in my life when you are gone?
Only sorrow, pain, and wounds.
Your image clings to my thoughts when I shut my eyes.
Even if I command my eyes to forget you, I doubt they could.
I don’t wish to hold you if farewell comes,
Because the moment I let go, my soul departs.
I love you, knowing well the turmoil your love brings.
I accepted my fate, yearning for your understanding.
I want to spend my life with you,
You know that in your absence, you deeply wound me.
My eyes have never felt peace until I see you.
For you are my joy throughout the years.
Come and let me embrace you, for I love you dearly.
Poem: Don’t Ask About Me Anymore
Don’t ask about me anymore, nor do I inquire about you.
No purpose remains between us, neither yours nor mine.
What happened to your hand in mine was significant,
You brought your stories from my hand to share.
You are not here with me; it seems you care only for yourself.
You don’t understand my suffering; you are selfish.
There’s no need for me to stay with you; perhaps there is another who loves you.
There’s no need for me to visit you; my interest in you has faded.
I admit, I once loved you and spent sleepless nights for you.
I longed to place my heart with yours, but it feels empty now.
I am lost in your thoughts, while you seem indifferent to me.
You, who appears bright, while within there’s darkness.
Perhaps what you possess is not worth comparing to my sacrifices.
My soul clings to your soul; our hands can’t be interlinked.
With your presence, my vision fades, as if I am left with no sight.
With you, it’s impossible; I must choose a different path.
If I must withdraw, perhaps I will find another love.
And you might meet someone else and find your peace.
And maybe you will step into another cage and discover tranquility.
I will tell you to leave me alone, but I know I am inviting pain.
There’s no need for us to be together; haven’t we suffered enough?
Look at yourself and let go; it’s high time we forget our wounds.
Enough mercy for our parents; may God guide you away from me.
For your purpose with me has passed, as has mine with you.
Poem: This Isn’t Fair
This feels unfair, and I see you always.
And I hope for your swift return from your absence.
Don’t forget about me, oh my dear, as I plead for you to stay.
You hurry to break our bond, seeking quick separation.
Every hour with you feels like a memory etched in my soul.
How many memories are trapped within papers,
Beautiful tales preserved in sequence?
We read through your notebook until our eyes drop closed.
And from the photographs, we yearn to relive those moments.
My eyes are glued to the horizon, waiting for you.
I say perhaps I will see you return with your friends.
And my waiting may stretch long while I linger by the door.
One eye remains fixed, the other shedding tears.
How can I forget you, when memories refuse to fade?
But even with the tide washing away the past, moments linger.
Oh, Iraqi spirit, how do I speak of you,
When the mention of your name brings tears to my heart?
My eyes fail to see beyond the screens,
Perhaps I will see your image or hear your voice again.
The darkness of night has consumed my world.
You are a shining beacon of life for our homeland.
You, and every martyr who stood firm,
Your presence will never leave my soul.
Convince my heart, perhaps if I claim to forget you,
It is my heart that buried you that hoards memories.