كَدَّرَ العَيشَ أَنَّني مَحبوسُ

كَدَّرَ العَيشَ أَنَّني مَحبوسُ

وَاِقشَعَرَّت عَنِ المُدامِ الكُؤوسُ

وَاِقشَعَرَّت عَنِ المُدامِ الكُؤوسُ

My imprisonment has embittered life,

My life is troubled, for I am held in prison,

and the cups have shuddered away from wine.

And the cups have shivered, bare of their wine.

وَحَمَت دَرَّها كُرومُ الفَلا

وَحَمَت دَرَّها كُرومُ الفَلا

ليجِ وَحالَت عَن طَعمِها الخَندَريسُ

ليجِ وَحالَت عَن طَعمِها الخَندَريسُ

And the vineyards of al-Falālīj have withheld their flow,

The vineyards of the broad lands withheld their milk,

and the aged wine has changed its flavor.

And the vintage liquor has turned from its taste.

وَلَعَمري لَئِن تَماسَكَ غَربي

وَلَعَمري لَئِن تَماسَكَ غَربي

وَنَهاني عَنها الهُمامُ الرَئيسُ

وَنَهاني عَنها الهُمامُ الرَئيسُ

And by my life, though my ardor has been checked

By my life, though my flowing tears held back,

and the valiant chief has forbidden me wine,

And the heroic Chief has banned me from the draught,

لَقَدِ اِستَمتَعَت مِنَ اللَهوِ نَفسي

لَقَدِ اِستَمتَعَت مِنَ اللَهوِ نَفسي

وَحَياةُ الفَتى نَعيمٌ وَبوسُ

وَحَياةُ الفَتى نَعيمٌ وَبوسُ

my soul has indeed enjoyed revelry;

My soul has truly savored its fill of joy,

and a young man’s life is bliss and misery.

For the life of a youth is bliss and misery.

وَجَليسٍ كَأَنَّ في وَجنَتَيهِ

وَجَليسٍ كَأَنَّ في وَجنَتَيهِ

كُلُّ حُسنٍ تَصبو إِلَيهِ النُفوسُ

كُلُّ حُسنٍ تَصبو إِلَيهِ النُفوسُ

And many a companion, whose cheeks seemed to contain

And many a seated friend—as if upon his cheeks

all the beauty for which souls yearn:

Was every beauty for which the spirits yearn—

قَد أَصَبنا مِنهُ فَنَستَغفِرُ اللا

قَد أَصَبنا مِنهُ فَنَستَغفِرُ اللا

هَ كَثيراً وَقَد يُصابُ الجَليسُ

هَ كَثيراً وَقَد يُصابُ الجَليسُ

we have taken our pleasure in him, so we seek God’s forgiveness

We took our share of him, and ask God’s pardon

often; and a companion may indeed be enjoyed.

Abundantly; for the companion, too, is struck.