يا رُبَّ ساقٍ كَأَنَّهُ شَبَهُ ال

يا رُبَّ ساقٍ كَأَنَّهُ شَبَهُ ال

بَدرِ تَجَلّى الظَلامُ عَن سَدَفِه

بَدرِ تَجَلّى الظَلامُ عَن سَدَفِه

Ah, many a cupbearer, as though he were the likeness of the

O Lord of a leg like the full moon unveiled, darkness retreated from its beauty.

Oh, many a cupbearer who seemed the likeness of the

full moon, with darkness lifted from its gloom.

I said to him what I intended, and the subtle may gain from his subtlety.

Full moon, when the darkness lifts from its veil;

قُلتُ لَهُ لِلَّذي أَرَدتُ بِهِ

قُلتُ لَهُ لِلَّذي أَرَدتُ بِهِ

وَقَد يُنالُ اللَطيفُ مِن لُطُفِه

وَقَد يُنالُ اللَطيفُ مِن لُطُفِه

I said to him, intent on what I wanted with him—

Listen to me, you will hear something amazing, fresh discourse from its beginning.

I spoke to him regarding what I desired of him—

and a delicate thing may be won through subtlety—

He approached until I saw my mouth was closer to his ears than the strap of his sandal.

And truly, the subtle one is attained through subtlety.

إِلَيَّ فَاِسمَع تَسمَع إِلى عَجَبٍ

إِلَيَّ فَاِسمَع تَسمَع إِلى عَجَبٍ

مِن مُستَجِدِّ الحَديثِ مُطَّرِفِه

مِن مُستَجِدِّ الحَديثِ مُطَّرِفِه

“Come to me and listen: you will hear a marvel

A cheek was kissed and conversations, from the meadow of youthful blossoms, its handler.

I said, "Lean toward me, and listen to a wonder

from fresh tales and their novelties.”

Drinking knew not, nor did they know frivolity, from the wound of a heart that plunged in its breast.

Of novel conversation and amusing tales."

فَاِنقادَ حَتّى رَأَيتُ أَنَّ فَمي

فَاِنقادَ حَتّى رَأَيتُ أَنَّ فَمي

أَدنى لِأُذنَيهِ مِن عُرى شَنَفِه

أَدنى لِأُذنَيهِ مِن عُرى شَنَفِه

So he complied, until I saw that my mouth

So he yielded, until I saw that my mouth

was nearer his ears than the loops of his earring.

Was closer to his ears than the loops of his earring.

فَقُبِّلَت صَفحَةٌ وَسالِفَةٌ

فَقُبِّلَت صَفحَةٌ وَسالِفَةٌ

مِن رَوضِ غَضِّ الشَبابِ مُؤتَنِفُه

مِن رَوضِ غَضِّ الشَبابِ مُؤتَنِفُه

Then a cheek and the side of a neck were kissed,

Then a cheek and a slender neck were kissed,

fresh growth from the garden of tender youth.

From the garden of fresh youth in its prime.

وَما دَرى الشَربُ أَو دَرَوا فَلَهَوا

وَما دَرى الشَربُ أَو دَرَوا فَلَهَوا

عَن قَرَحِ القَلبِ قَد لَجَّ في دَنَفِه

عَن قَرَحِ القَلبِ قَد لَجَّ في دَنَفِه

And the drinkers did not know—or knew, but were heedless

The drinking companions knew not, or knew but looked away,

of the heart’s wound; it had persisted in its wasting sickness.

Ignoring a heart's wound that persisted in its sickness.