سِر بنا عن دمشق يا طالبَ العي

سِر بنا عن دمشق يا طالبَ العي

ش فما للمقام للمرء رَغْبه

ش فما للمقام للمرء رَغْبه

Lead us away from Damascus, O seeker of life—

Journey with us to Damascus, seeker of life,

for no one has any desire to remain.

For no man lingers where he feels no desire.

رخصت أنفس الخلائق بالطا

رخصت أنفس الخلائق بالطا

عون فيها فكل نفس بحبه

عون فيها فكل نفس بحبه

People’s lives have grown cheap through the plague—

All souls are licensed to pursue their cravings,

there, every soul is worth a grain.

Each soul obsessed with its own passion's fire.