لَهفي عَلى الشام وَسُكّانها

لَهفَةَ ظامي الروح حرّانها

My longing for Damascus and its people

Is a burning desire of my troubled soul

ما أَحرَقتها النار لكنما

ضُلوع مَفتون بِغُزلانها

The fire has not consumed me, but rather

My ribs enamored with its gazelles

وَالحُبّ إِما أَضرمت ناره

تَسمعه الدُنيا بِآذانها

And love has kindled its flames

The world hears it with its ears

نَديم أَخبرني فَقَد راعني

تَشبثُ النار بغيطانها

My friend, tell me, for it concerns me

The fire seizing its thickets

هَل سرتِ النار إِلى تينها

وَتُوتِها الغضّ وَرُمانها

Has the fire spread to its figs

And its tender mulberries and pomegranates