وأهدى نسيمُ الروض مسكاً وعنبراً

وأهدى نسيمُ الروض مسكاً وعنبراً

وواصلَ للأنفاسِ ما كان كتّما

وواصلَ للأنفاسِ ما كان كتّما

The garden breeze bestowed musk and ambergris,

And the garden breeze bestowed musk and ambergris,

and shared with every breath what once had lain concealed.

And brought to every breath what it had kept concealed.

ورجّعَتِ الأطيارُ ألحانَ شجوِها

ورجّعَتِ الأطيارُ ألحانَ شجوِها

وجاوبَها الدولابُ لما ترنّما

وجاوبَها الدولابُ لما ترنّما

The birds repeated the melodies of their sorrow,

And the birds trilled the melodies of their sorrow,

and the waterwheel answered them when it began to sing.

And the waterwheel answered them as it sang.

فلا تُهمِلا هذا الزمانَ فإنّه

فلا تُهمِلا هذا الزمانَ فإنّه

يجدِّدُ للمشتاقِ عُمراً مُنعّما

يجدِّدُ للمشتاقِ عُمراً مُنعّما

So, you two, do not squander this season—for it

So do not neglect this time, you two, for it

renews for the yearning lover a life of bliss.

Renews a life of bliss for the one who yearns.

وحُثّا به كأسَ المُدامِ فإنها

وحُثّا به كأسَ المُدامِ فإنها

تزيدُ الفتى ظرفاً وخُلقاً مكرَّما

تزيدُ الفتى ظرفاً وخُلقاً مكرَّما

And ply the wine cup briskly in it, for wine

And pass the winecup swiftly then, you two, for it

adds grace to a youth and nobility to his character—

Adds refinement and noble character to a young man.

ولا سيما من كفّ أحورَ ساحرٍ

ولا سيما من كفّ أحورَ ساحرٍ

بألحاظِه ردّ الخميسَ العرمرما

بألحاظِه ردّ الخميسَ العرمرما

especially from the hand of a bewitching, dark-eyed youth:

Especially from the palm of a dark-eyed enchanter

with his glances, that slender youth routed a mighty host.

Who repelled the vast army with his glances.

ألم بنا في مجلسِ اللهوِ وانثَنى

ألم بنا في مجلسِ اللهوِ وانثَنى

وقد أودَع الأحزانَ قلباً متيّما

وقد أودَع الأحزانَ قلباً متيّما

He stopped among us in the revelers’ gathering, then withdrew,

He called on us at a gathering of revelry and turned away,

having lodged sorrows in a love-stricken heart.

Having lodged sorrows in a heart enslaved by love.

فوالله ما أدري إذا ما لقيتُه

فوالله ما أدري إذا ما لقيتُه

أشمسَ الضُحى ألقى أمِ البدرَ في السّما

أشمسَ الضُحى ألقى أمِ البدرَ في السّما

By God, I cannot tell, whenever I meet him:

So, by God, when I meet him, I do not know

is it the morning sun I meet, or the full moon in the sky?

Whether I meet the midmorning sun or the full moon in the sky.

أسرّ زماني لو تأتي يسيره

أسرّ زماني لو تأتي يسيره

بتحليلِ ما قد كان في العيشِ حرّما

بتحليلِ ما قد كان في العيشِ حرّما

My days would gladden me, if their slightest boon came to pass,

He would gladden my days, if a little of that were attainable,

making lawful what life had once forbidden,

By making lawful what he had forbidden in life,

وأطفأ نارَ الهجرِ من ماءِ وصلِه

وأطفأ نارَ الهجرِ من ماءِ وصلِه

وإسفارِه من بعدِ ما قد تلثّما

وإسفارِه من بعدِ ما قد تلثّما

and quenching separation’s fire with the water of his union

And would quench separation's fire with the water of his union,

and his radiant unveiling after he had veiled himself.

And with his unveiling after he had veiled his face.