نَبهتهُ وَدَواعي الأُنس داعية

نَبهتهُ وَدَواعي الأُنس داعية

إِلى الطَلا وَبَشير الصُبح قَد هَتَفا

إِلى الطَلا وَبَشير الصُبح قَد هَتَفا

I roused him while the calls of conviviality beckoned

I awoke him, and the impulses of intimacy impelled

to wine, and the herald of dawn had already called out.

Towards enjoyment, and the harbinger of dawn had shouted,

فَقامَ مِن نَومِهِ وَسِنان تَحسبهُ

فَقامَ مِن نَومِهِ وَسِنان تَحسبهُ

بَدراً تَقطع عَنهُ النَعيم فَاِنكَشَفا

بَدراً تَقطع عَنهُ النَعيم فَاِنكَشَفا

So he rose from his sleep, drowsy—you would think him

So he rose from his sleep, and you would think his teeth

a full moon, from which bliss had fallen away, now unveiled.

Were a moon that cuts off comfort from him, so they appeared.

وَقالَ هاتَ وَخُذها وَاِنتَهَز فُرَصاً

وَقالَ هاتَ وَخُذها وَاِنتَهَز فُرَصاً

فَلَن تَرى لِزَمان يَنقَضي خَلَفا

فَلَن تَرى لِزَمان يَنقَضي خَلَفا

And he said, “Bring it, and take it, and seize opportunities,

And he said, “Give it here and take it, and seize opportunities,

for you will never find a replacement for time that passes.”

For you will not see an age that passes having a successor.”