1. أبا حسنٍ طال انتظارُ عصَابةٍ

    رَجَتكَ لما يُرجَى له الماجدُ الحرُّ

    O Abu Hasan, a company has waited long,

    looking to you for what one expects of a noble, freeborn man.

  2. وقد حان بل قد هانَ لولا المطال أن

    يحلَّ لهم عن وعدك الموثَقِ الأسرُ

    And the time has come—indeed, but for delay, it would be easy—for

    them to be freed from the bondage of your solemn promise.

  3. وقد فاتهم من قربكَ الأُنسُ والمنى

    وحَارَبَهُم فيك اختيارُكَ والدهر

    And the solace and hopes your nearness brings have eluded them,

    and your choice and fate have warred against them over you.

  4. فإن كنتَ قد عُوَّضتَ عنهم بغيرِهم

    فَعَوَّضهم راحاً يزول بها الفكرُ

    So if you have been compensated with others in their place,

    then compensate them with wine that dispels care.

  5. فأُنسُ الفتى في الدهرِ خِلٌّ مساعدٌ

    وإن فاتَه الخِلُّ المساعدُ فالخمرُ

    For a young man's solace in life is a helpful friend,

    and if that helpful friend eludes him, then wine.

  6. فإمَّا رسولٌ بالنبيذ مُبَادِرٌ

    وإلا فلا تغضب إذا غضبَ الشِّعرُ

    So either let a messenger hasten with wine,

    or else do not be angry when poetry grows angry.