أَمَا لي على الشّوْقِ اللّجُوجِ مُعينُ

إذا نَزَحَتْ دارٌ وخَفَّ قَطينُ

Is there no help for me against relentless yearning

When the abode shifts and the companions grow few?

إذا ذكروا عَهْدَ الشّآمِ اسْتَعادَني

إلى مَنْ بأَكْنافِ الشّآمِ حَنينُ

When they mention the days of Damascus, longing

Returns me to those I knew in Damascus’ arms.

تَطَاوَلَ هذا اللّيلُ حتى كأنّما

على نَجْمِهِ أَلاَّ يَعُودَ يَمينُ

This night has dragged on until it seems

Its star is loath to return at dawn.

فواللّهِ ما فارَقْتُها عن قِلىً لها

ولكنَّ ما يُقْضَى فَسَوْفَ يكونُ

By God, I did not willingly part from it

But what is willed shall come to be.