سَقِياً لِيَومٍ قَد أَنَختُ بِسَرحَةٍ

سَقِياً لِيَومٍ قَد أَنَختُ بِسَرحَةٍ

رَيّا تُلاعِبُها الشَمالُ فَتَلعَبُ

رَيّا تُلاعِبُها الشَمالُ فَتَلعَبُ

Blessed with rain be the day when I made my mount kneel beneath a lofty tree—

Rain's blessing on a day when I made my mount kneel beside a spreading tree,

lush with water; the north wind toyed with it, and it played in turn,

Well-watered—the north wind plays with it, and it plays in turn;

سَكرى يُغَنّيها الحَمامُ فَتَنثَني

سَكرى يُغَنّيها الحَمامُ فَتَنثَني

طَرَباً وَيَسقيها الغَمامُ فَتَشرَبُ

طَرَباً وَيَسقيها الغَمامُ فَتَشرَبُ

drunken, while the doves sang to it, so that it bent

Drunken, it sways as the doves sing to it,

in rapture; the clouds gave it drink, and it drank.

In rapture; the clouds water it, and it drinks.

يَلهو فَتُرفَعُ لِلشَبيبَةِ رايَةٌ

يَلهو فَتُرفَعُ لِلشَبيبَةِ رايَةٌ

فيهِ وَيَطلُعُ لِلبَهارَةِ كَوكَبُ

فيهِ وَيَطلُعُ لِلبَهارَةِ كَوكَبُ

There one reveled, while the tree raised a banner for youth

The day revels, and youth's banner is raised

within it, and a star rose for the narcissus.

Within it, and beauty's star rises.

وَالرَوضُ وَجهٌ أَزهَرٌ وَالظُلُّ فَرعٌ

وَالرَوضُ وَجهٌ أَزهَرٌ وَالظُلُّ فَرعٌ

أَسوَدٌ وَالماءُ ثَغرٌ أَشنَبُ

أَسوَدٌ وَالماءُ ثَغرٌ أَشنَبُ

The garden was a radiant face, and the shade a tress

And the garden is a radiant face, and the shade a head of hair,

of black hair; the water, a mouth of cool, gleaming teeth.

Black, and the water a mouth with cool, gleaming teeth.

في حَيثُ أَطرَبَنا الحَمامُ عَشِيَّةً

في حَيثُ أَطرَبَنا الحَمامُ عَشِيَّةً

فَشَدا يُغَنّينا الحَمامُ المُطرِبُ

فَشَدا يُغَنّينا الحَمامُ المُطرِبُ

There, one evening, the doves transported us with delight,

In the place where the doves enraptured us one evening,

and the enchanting dove warbled, singing to us.

The tuneful doves then warbled, singing to us.

وَاِهتَزَّ عِطفُ الغُصنِ مِن طَرَبٍ بِنا

وَاِهتَزَّ عِطفُ الغُصنِ مِن طَرَبٍ بِنا

وَاِفتَرَّ عَن ثَغرِ الهِلالِ المَغرِبُ

وَاِفتَرَّ عَن ثَغرِ الهِلالِ المَغرِبُ

The supple side of the bough swayed, rapt in our company,

And the bough's flank swayed in delight at our presence,

and the sunset smiled, baring the crescent’s mouth.

And the west smiled, baring the crescent's mouth.

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَالحُسنُ مُقتَرِنٌ بِهِ

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَالحُسنُ مُقتَرِنٌ بِهِ

طَوقٌ عَلى بُردِ الغَمامَةِ مُذهَبُ

طَوقٌ عَلى بُردِ الغَمامَةِ مُذهَبُ

The crescent seemed—with beauty joined to it—

So it seemed, with beauty joined to it,

a gilded collar upon the cloud’s mantle.

A gilded collar on the cloud's mantle.

في فِتيَةٍ تَسري فَيَنصَدِعُ الدُجى

في فِتيَةٍ تَسري فَيَنصَدِعُ الدُجى

عَنها وَتَنزِلُ بِالجَديبِ فَيَخصِبُ

عَنها وَتَنزِلُ بِالجَديبِ فَيَخصِبُ

Amid a band of youths journeying by night, while darkness split

Among young men who journey by night, and the darkness parts

away before them; they alighted on barren ground, and it grew fertile.

Before them; they alight on barren ground, and it grows fertile.

كَرُموا فَلا غَيثُ السَماحَةِ مُخلِفٌ

كَرُموا فَلا غَيثُ السَماحَةِ مُخلِفٌ

يَوماً وَلا بَرقُ اللَطافَةِ خُلَّبُ

يَوماً وَلا بَرقُ اللَطافَةِ خُلَّبُ

So generous were they—munificence’s rain never failed,

They are generous: the rain of bounty never fails

not for a day, nor was graciousness’s lightning a rainless gleam—

Even for a day, nor is grace's lightning a rainless flash.

مِن كُلِّ أَزهَرَ لِلنَعيمِ بِوَجهِهِ

مِن كُلِّ أَزهَرَ لِلنَعيمِ بِوَجهِهِ

ماءٌ يُرَقرِقُهُ الشَبابُ فَيَسكُبُ

ماءٌ يُرَقرِقُهُ الشَبابُ فَيَسكُبُ

from any radiant youth, upon whose face bliss bore

Each a radiant youth, whose well-being shows upon his face

a freshness that youth made shimmer until it overflowed.

As water that youth sets rippling, then pours forth.