دخلنَ عواذلي من كلّ بابِ

دخلنَ عواذلي من كلّ بابِ

ولمنَ على التلذّذِ والتصابي

ولمنَ على التلذّذِ والتصابي

The women who reproach me entered through every door,

My loved ones entered from every door

My female critics stormed in from every door,

And blamed me for pleasure and youthful dalliance.

And I wouldn't cease my pleasures and delight

Blaming me for seeking pleasure and youthful love.

ولستُ بتاركٍ أبداً هوىً لي

ولستُ بتاركٍ أبداً هوىً لي

وإن أكثرنَ جهلاً من عتابي

وإن أكثرنَ جهلاً من عتابي

And I shall never abandon a passion of mine,

Nor will I ever abandon my passion

Yet never shall I abandon a passion of mine,

Even if, in ignorance, they heap reproaches on me.

Though most blame my foolishness and reproach

No matter how much, in ignorance, they heap their blame.

هوىً متتابعٌ فتكي ولهوي

هوىً متتابعٌ فتكي ولهوي

وكل اللهوِ في شرخ الشابِ

وكل اللهوِ في شرخ الشابِ

My libertinism and revelry are a ceaseless passion,

My passion is intense, playful and desirous

A passion where my recklessness and play flow on,

And all pleasure lies in the young man's prime.

And all playfulness lies in youth's vigor

For all true amusement lies in the prime of youth.

أنا متقنّصٌ دانٍ قريبٌ

أنا متقنّصٌ دانٍ قريبٌ

بباب الكرخ مجتمع الطياب

بباب الكرخ مجتمع الطياب

I am a hunter, close at hand, nearby,

I'm a humble, gentle imposter

I am a hunter, lurking close at hand,

At the gate of al-Karkh, where the good folk gather.

At the gates of Karkh with the young lads

At the Gate of Karkh, where all good delights converge.

بلا بازٍ نصيدُ إذا خرجنا

بلا بازٍ نصيدُ إذا خرجنا

ولا صقرٍ ولا طلبِ الكلابِ

ولا صقرٍ ولا طلبِ الكلابِ

We hunt without a goshawk when we go out,

Without a falcon we hunt when we go out

We hunt without a hawk when we set forth,

Nor a falcon, nor the chase of hounds.

No hawk or dogs in our pursuit

Without a falcon, or the chasing of the hounds.

بفقرٍ غير ذي ريش تراه

بفقرٍ غير ذي ريش تراه

سريعاً حين يُرسل في الطلاب

سريعاً حين يُرسل في الطلاب

With poverty, featherless—you see it

With a poverty devoid of feathers you'll see

With a featherless shaft that you clearly see,

Swift when it is sent out in pursuit.

Swiftly when sent after the prey

Swift-flying when it is sent out in pursuit.

فتأتينا الظباء إذا رأتهُ

فتأتينا الظباء إذا رأتهُ

سريعاً طائعينَ بلا جذابِ

سريعاً طائعينَ بلا جذابِ

Then the gazelles come to us when they see it,

The gazelles come to us when they see him

And so the gazelles approach us when they see it,

Swiftly, willingly, without being pulled.

Swiftly obedient without restraint

Rushing quickly, obedient, without a struggle.

فنأكل صيدنا نيّاً كبابً

فنأكل صيدنا نيّاً كبابً

بلا ملحٍ فيا لك من كبابِ

بلا ملحٍ فيا لك من كبابِ

Then we eat our quarry raw, as kebab,

We eat our fresh, raw catch

Then we devour our quarry, raw and as kebab,

Without salt—oh, what a kebab!

Without salt - what a delicious meal!

Without a grain of salt—oh, what a kebab it is!