وَخَمّارٍ أَنَختُ إِلَيهِ رَحلي

وَخَمّارٍ أَنَختُ إِلَيهِ رَحلي

إِناخَةَ قاطِنٍ وَاللَيلُ داجِ

إِناخَةَ قاطِنٍ وَاللَيلُ داجِ

And at a wine-seller’s I set down my saddle,

To a wine merchant I made my camel kneel,

As one settling in to stay, while the night was dark.

Settling in to stay while the night was dark.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ اِسقِني صَهباءَ صِرفاً

فَقُلتُ لَهُ اِسقِني صَهباءَ صِرفاً

إِذا مُزِجَت تَوَقَّدُ كَالسِراجِ

إِذا مُزِجَت تَوَقَّدُ كَالسِراجِ

Then I said to him, “Pour me tawny wine, unmixed,

I said to him, "Pour me a golden vintage, pure,"

That, when mixed, blazes like a lamp.”

"Which, when mixed with water, ignites like a lamp."

فَقالَ فَإِنَّ عِندي بِنتَ عَشرٍ

فَقالَ فَإِنَّ عِندي بِنتَ عَشرٍ

فَقُلتُ لَهُ مَقالَةَ مَن يُناجي

فَقُلتُ لَهُ مَقالَةَ مَن يُناجي

He said, “Indeed, I have a daughter of ten years.”

He replied, "I possess a daughter of ten years."

Then I spoke to him as one whispering in confidence:

So I answered him with the intimacy of a whisper:

أَذِقنيها لِأَعلَمَ ذاكَ مِنها

أَذِقنيها لِأَعلَمَ ذاكَ مِنها

فَأَبرَزَ قَهوَةً ذاتِ اِرتِجاجِ

فَأَبرَزَ قَهوَةً ذاتِ اِرتِجاجِ

“Let me taste it, to learn that from it.”

"Let me taste her, that I may verify this claim."

So he brought forth a wine that quivered,

So he brought forth a wine that seemed to quiver,

كَأَنَّ بَنانَ مُمسِكِها أُشيمَت

كَأَنَّ بَنانَ مُمسِكِها أُشيمَت

خِضاباً حينَ تَلمَعُ في الزُجاجِ

خِضاباً حينَ تَلمَعُ في الزُجاجِ

As though its holder’s fingertips had been dipped

As if the fingertips of the one holding it were dyed

In dye when it gleamed within the glass.

With henna, as it shimmered within the glass.

فَقُلتُ صَدَقتَ يا خَمّارُ هَذا

فَقُلتُ صَدَقتَ يا خَمّارُ هَذا

شَرابٌ قَد يَطولُ إِلَيهِ حاجي

شَرابٌ قَد يَطولُ إِلَيهِ حاجي

Then I said, “You spoke truly, wine-seller: this

I said, "You have spoken the truth, O Vintner; this"

Is a drink for which my longing may long endure.”

"Is a drink for which my longing has been long."

فَمالَ إِلَيَّ حينَ رَأى سُروري

فَمالَ إِلَيَّ حينَ رَأى سُروري

بِها وَاللَيلُ مُرتَكِبُ الرِتاجِ

بِها وَاللَيلُ مُرتَكِبُ الرِتاجِ

Then he leaned toward me when he saw my delight

He leaned toward me when he saw my delight

In it, while night rode upon the gate.

In the cup, while the night had bolted its heavy gates.

فَما هَجَمَ الصَباحُ عَلَيَّ حَتّى

فَما هَجَمَ الصَباحُ عَلَيَّ حَتّى

رَأَيتُ الأَرضَ دائِرَةَ الفِجاجِ

رَأَيتُ الأَرضَ دائِرَةَ الفِجاجِ

And dawn did not burst upon me until

And the morning did not raid upon me until

I saw the earth, its broad paths whirling.

I saw the earth spinning in its wide tracks.