1. I went out at dawn, with no cares to sadden my heart,
My only thought being wantonness and wine.

2. A red old wine, its spark a live coal,
Its taste musk, its morning draught cool water.

3. We folded the wings of night over its jar,
So no dawn shone for us and sunrise came not.

4. At daybreak, from the tavern, the keeper brought forth
An old wine-skin the years had mellowed.

5. Said a bride, "Khusraw" was her darling:
"Aged wine is best, doors and veils between."

6. I said, "Let me taste it, for I have friends
True-hearted, and ease comes not hard to me."

7. He brought it disheveled, tied up,
Its cap filthy, grimed with dust.

8. When I undid its waist, the smell wafted -
Said I, "Is this perfume?" He said, "It's the perfume."

9. And I sent it forth in a goblet, a generous steed,
Seasoned with mint - fate had controlled it.

10. Like pure white glass the goblets from it
On which, as they drank, lay red brocade.

11. When mixed with water, its colors shone out,
Eyes of penitents wept, and the drink went on.

12. From piled-up pearls and gems above it
Scattered splendor flashed like stars.

13. As if the night's stars in it were still,
Kept from setting by the moon's face.

14. One day I drank it, stretching the day
To eve, till the first day's end was drunkenness.

15. A gazelle — gentle of speech — caressed my ear,
Kissing him was joy, his cheek smooth.

16. I poured him some — he fell on his face,
And granted me all I could encompass.

17. I rose to him, kohl the drunk of his eyes,
And kissed him, though the passionate have no patience.

18. Kissing his back and at times his front,
Since the earth's carpet may turn into its back.

19. Till his sleep uncovered his eyes from their lids,
And he said, "You've earned sin," and I, "For me excuse."

20. He turned away frowning, and in his face
Were pomegranates bursting apart with cold.

21. Still I kept courting him and kissing his cheek,
Till he was pleased and smiled again in thanks.

22. O heart that resides in the ruins of Layla,
Still drawing from her ruins your tears!