قد كان لي في شبيبتي فَرَحٌ

قد كان لي في شبيبتي فَرَحٌ

يحدُثُ لي بغتةً بلا سببِ

يحدُثُ لي بغتةً بلا سببِ

In my youth I once knew joy

In my youth I knew such joy

That came to me suddenly, without cause.

That came to me suddenly, without cause,

فمذ تولَّى الصِّبَا تبيَّنَ لي

فمذ تولَّى الصِّبَا تبيَّنَ لي

أن الصِّبَا كان موجبَ الطربِ

أن الصِّبَا كان موجبَ الطربِ

So when youth departed, it became clear to me

But when youth's time had passed, I saw

That youth had been the cause of delight.

That youth itself was joy's source.

حظٌّ تولَّى فلستُ أُدرِكُهُ

حظٌّ تولَّى فلستُ أُدرِكُهُ

إلّا بعونٍ من ابنةِ العنَبِ

إلّا بعونٍ من ابنةِ العنَبِ

A boon that has passed, which I cannot regain

A fortune I had, now lost to me-

Except with help from the daughter of the grape.

Save with the grape-girl's aid comes it back.

فهاتِها من شبيبتي بدلاً

فهاتِها من شبيبتي بدلاً

أَقْضِ بها بعضَ ذلك الأربِ

أَقْضِ بها بعضَ ذلك الأربِ

So bring her as a substitute for my youth,

So bring her, my youth's substitution,

That through her I may satisfy some of that longing.

To fulfill some of that joy I lack.

صفراءَ مثلَ النُّضَارِ ألبَسَها

صفراءَ مثلَ النُّضَارِ ألبَسَها

مزاجُها لُؤلُؤاً من الحَبَبِ

مزاجُها لُؤلُؤاً من الحَبَبِ

Yellow as pure gold, she has been clothed

Yellow as the fresh lemon's hue,

By her admixture in pearls of bubbles.

Pearl her temperament, lovers' hearts to grab.

فأسعدُ االناسِ منْ حوتْ يدُه

فأسعدُ االناسِ منْ حوتْ يدُه

ما شاء من لُؤلؤٍ إِلى ذهبِ

ما شاء من لُؤلؤٍ إِلى ذهبِ

So the happiest of people is he whose hand holds

Happiest are those whose hands enclose

Whatever he wishes, from pearls to gold.

Pearls, gold - whatever their hearts may crave.