هَذا هُوَ الزَمَنُ البَديعُ المونِقُ

وَالعَيشَةُ الرَغدُ الَّتي هِيَ تُعشَقُ

This is the wondrous time, so utterly sublime,

And blessed life, that one does crave and pine,

فَعَلامَ تَصحو وَالحَمامُ كَأَنَّها

سَكرى تُغَنّي تارَةً وَتُصَفِّقُ

Why then, awake, when doves as drunkards seem,

Singing or clapping in their dizzy dream?

وَتَلومُ في حُبِّ الدِيارِ جَهالَةً

هَيهاتَ يَسلوها فُؤادٌ شَيِّقُ

And blame, in loving homes, the ignorant heart -

Never, I say, can one this love impart,

وَالشامُ شامَةُ وَجنَةِ الدُنيا كَما

إِنسانُ مُقلَتِها الغَضيضَةِ جِلَّقُ

Damascus, beauty's gem, the garden of the world,

As if its softly glancing eyes were pearls,

مِن آسِها لَكَ جَنَّةٌ لا تَنقَضي

وَمِنَ الشَقيقِ جَهَنَّمُ لا تَحرِقُ

In good and evil, endless joys it gives,

Hell burns not there, nor Paradise e'er leaves,

سِيَما وَقَد رَقِمَ الرَبيعُ رُبوعَها

وَشياً بِهِ حَدَقُ البَرايا تَحدِقُ

Now that the spring has tinged its countryside,

And rain stars gaze, dotting the land with pride,

في نَيرَبٍ ضَحِكَت ثُغورُ أَقاحِهِ

لَمّا بَكاهُ العارِضُ المُتَأَلِّقُ

In Na'irub laughter broke from fruits that grew

When the clouds weep, as weeping beauty do.