ما بال ربعك يا حماة لقد خلا

ما بال ربعك يا حماة لقد خلا

وبوحشة بعد الانيس تبدلا

وبوحشة بعد الانيس تبدلا

What ails your quarter, O Hama? It has fallen empty,

What ails your dwellings, O Hama, that they are empty?

And turned to desolation after companionship.

They have changed to loneliness after company.

من قبل كان كناس آرام النقا

من قبل كان كناس آرام النقا

واليوم ينعب فيه غربان الفلا

واليوم ينعب فيه غربان الفلا

Once it was the lair of gazelles of the dunes;

Once they were dove nests of gentle rest,

Today the wilderness ravens croak within it.

And today ravens of separation croak in them.

عهدي به ولجيده الحالي ضيا

عهدي به ولجيده الحالي ضيا

ما كان اسرع ما مضى وتعطلا

ما كان اسرع ما مضى وتعطلا

I remember it, its jeweled neck radiant.

My covenant with it and its present condition is loss.

How swiftly it passed and was stripped of adornment!

Nothing went by quicker or failed more suddenly.

فلا بكينّ عليه رسما معجماً

فلا بكينّ عليه رسما معجماً

ولا فعلنّ الصبر عنه مهملا

ولا فعلنّ الصبر عنه مهملا

So I shall surely weep over it, a ruin dotted with tears,

So I will neither weep over it with drawn out keening,

And surely abandon patience in its absence.

Nor show patience over it with neglect.

ولا طلقنّ به جواري ادمعي

ولا طلقنّ به جواري ادمعي

ولا جرين من كل عين جدولا

ولا جرين من كل عين جدولا

And surely unleash there my flowing tears,

Nor free because of it my tears' handmaidens,

And surely make a stream flow from every eye.

Nor let tears flow from each eye in streams.

ولكم فقير قد اضر به الشقا

ولكم فقير قد اضر به الشقا

ولكم معني قد أحاط به البلا

ولكم معني قد أحاط به البلا

And how many a poor man has misery harmed,

Yet how many a wretched man has misery afflicted!

And how many a tormented man has affliction surrounded!

And how many a man of purpose has affliction encompassed!

ولكم بها من رام وزنا قلبه

ولكم بها من رام وزنا قلبه

عينا تقطع في الهوى وتفعلا

عينا تقطع في الهوى وتفعلا

And how many there whose heart, seeking a measure,

And how many a heart seeking glory and might

Was torn in love, as an eye, and took form!

Has an eye that weeps with passion and acts!