يا صَاحِ هَلْ هَذه شُمُوسُ

يا صَاحِ هَلْ هَذه شُمُوسُ

تَلوحُ للحيِّ أمْ كُؤُوسُ

تَلوحُ للحيِّ أمْ كُؤُوسُ

O friend, are these suns

O friend, are these suns

shining before the tribe—or cups?

That shine for the living or goblets

مُدامةٌ كُلمَّا تجلَت

مُدامةٌ كُلمَّا تجلَت

بانوارها تَسْجُدُ الشُّمُوسُ

بانوارها تَسْجُدُ الشُّمُوسُ

Wine—whenever it reveals itself

Of wine that each time they appear

with its radiance, the suns fall prostrate.

The suns bow down before their light?

قدْ زُوّجَتْ وهي للنُّدَامَى

قدْ زُوّجَتْ وهي للنُّدَامَى

تُجْلَى كما تَنْجَلي العَروسُ

تُجْلَى كما تَنْجَلي العَروسُ

It has already been wedded, and for the drinking companions

She was wed while still a maiden

it is unveiled as the bride is unveiled.

Radiant like a bride on her wedding day.

وَعصْرُها كان في زَمَان

وَعصْرُها كان في زَمَان

لا كَرْم فيه ولا غُروسُ

لا كَرْم فيه ولا غُروسُ

And its pressing took place in an age

Her age was in a time

when there was no vineyard, nor any plantings.

With no generosity or chivalry.

وتُوّجتْ والزَّمانُ طفلٌ

وتُوّجتْ والزَّمانُ طفلٌ

من قبلْ أن توُجَدَ الطُّروسُ

من قبلْ أن توُجَدَ الطُّروسُ

And it was crowned while time was a child,

She was crowned while the age was a child

before the scrolls came into being.

Before ideals were conceived.

قيل لها الرَّاحُ وهي رُوحٌ

قيل لها الرَّاحُ وهي رُوحٌ

تحْيا بأنْفاسِهَا النُّفوسُ

تحْيا بأنْفاسِهَا النُّفوسُ

It was called wine, yet it is spirit;

The wind was told, "She is a soul

souls live by its breaths.

That gives life with her breath to souls."

سُقاةُ كاسَاتِها قِيَامٌ

سُقاةُ كاسَاتِها قِيَامٌ

فَمَا لعشاقها جُلوُسُ

فَمَا لعشاقها جُلوُسُ

Those who serve its cups stand,

The cupbearers of her goblets are pillars

so there is no sitting for its lovers.

So why would her lovers sit?