1. سَعى بِكأسِ الشَرابِ

    مَن وَعدُهُ كالسَرابِ

    He hastened with the cup of wine,

    he whose promise is like a mirage:

  2. أَنسُ بضني العَصرِ طُرّا

    لا البَدرُ تَحتَ السَحابِ

    a mortal who makes the whole age pine [reading uncertain],

    not the full moon beneath the clouds.

  3. لِلَّهِ يَومٌ نَعمِنا

    مِن بَعدِ طولِ العِتابِ

    God be praised for the day we rejoiced,

    after long reproaches,

  4. وَبَعدَ هَجرٍ وَصَدّ

    وَقَطَعِ رَدِّ الجَوابِ

    and after estrangement and rejection,

    and the withholding of replies.

  5. فَقُلتُ يا مَن سَقاني

    مِن قَبلُ خَمرَ الرِضابِ

    So I said, ‘O you who made me drink

    the wine of your saliva once before,

  6. لِم لا تَرِقُّ لِما بي

    مِن لَوعَة وَعَذابِ

    why do you not pity my plight—

    this burning anguish and torment?’

  7. فَقالَ لي أَنتَ أَدرى

    بِحالِ أَهلِ التَصابي

    Then he said to me, ‘You know best

    the state of those who play at youthful love.

  8. وَإِن تَجاهَلتَ فاِدري

    سُلوانَ ذي الاكتِئابِ

    And if you feign ignorance, then learn

    the consolation of the downcast.’

  9. سَقى رُباها سَحابٌ

    يُزري بِكأسِ الشَرابِ

    May a cloud water her hills,

    putting the cup of wine to shame.

  10. وَجادَها كُلّ قَطرٍ

    لألاَؤُهُ كالحَبابِ

    And may every raindrop drench her,

    its sparkle like bubbles.

  11. وَأَضحَكَ الزَهرُ فيها

    ما في الرُبى وَالهِضابِ

    And may the blossoms there gladden

    all upon the knolls and hills,

  12. وَما بِسُحيِّرِها مَن

    تَختالُ بَينَ الكِعاب

    and the one who, at its early dawn [reading uncertain],

    sways proudly among full-bosomed maidens,

  13. تُصبي الحَليمَ إِذا ما

    شامَتهُ تَحتَ النِقابِ

    bewitching the sober-minded whenever

    she glimpses him from beneath her veil.