سَقى ثَرى حَلَبٍ ما دُمتَ ساكِنَها

سَقى ثَرى حَلَبٍ ما دُمتَ ساكِنَها

يا بَدرُ غَيثانِ مُنهَلٌّ وَمُنبَجِسُ

يا بَدرُ غَيثانِ مُنهَلٌّ وَمُنبَجِسُ

May Aleppo’s soil be watered as long as you dwell there,

You watered the soil of Aleppo as long as you lived there

O full moon, by two rains—one pouring down, the other gushing forth.

O full moon, a cloud pouring heavy rain and hail

أَسيرُ عَنها وَقَلبي في المَقامِ بِها

أَسيرُ عَنها وَقَلبي في المَقامِ بِها

كَأَنَّ مُهري لِثُقلِ السَيرِ مُحتَبَسُ

كَأَنَّ مُهري لِثُقلِ السَيرِ مُحتَبَسُ

I journey away from it, while my heart is set on staying there,

I travel away from it while my heart remains there

As though my colt were held back by the journey’s weight.

As if my mount were halted by the heaviness of the journey

هَذا وَلَولا الَّذي في قَلبِ صاحِبِهِ

هَذا وَلَولا الَّذي في قَلبِ صاحِبِهِ

مِنَ البَلابِلِ لَم يَقلَق بِهِ فَرَسُ

مِنَ البَلابِلِ لَم يَقلَق بِهِ فَرَسُ

Even so, were it not for what lies in its rider’s heart

And if it weren't for what was in its rider's heart

Of anguish, no horse would stir beneath him.

Of worries, his horse wouldn't have stirred

كَأَنَّما الأَرضُ وَالبُلدانُ موحِشَةٌ

كَأَنَّما الأَرضُ وَالبُلدانُ موحِشَةٌ

وَرَبعُها دونَهُنَّ العامِرُ الأَنِسُ

وَرَبعُها دونَهُنَّ العامِرُ الأَنِسُ

As though the earth and the towns were desolate,

It's as if the land and countries are desolate

And its abode alone among them were peopled and welcoming.

And its quarters without it inhabited and friendly

مِثلُ الحَصاةِ الَّتي يُرمى بِها أَبَداً

مِثلُ الحَصاةِ الَّتي يُرمى بِها أَبَداً

إِلى السَماءِ فَتَرقى ثُمَّ تَنعَكِسُ

إِلى السَماءِ فَتَرقى ثُمَّ تَنعَكِسُ

Like the pebble that is forever thrown

Like a pebble forever cast

Toward the sky: it rises, then falls back.

To the sky, ascending then falling back