زَمَنُ الوَردِ أَظرَفُ الأَزمانِ

زَمَنُ الوَردِ أَظرَفُ الأَزمانِ

وَأَوانُ الرَبيعِ خَيرُ أَوانِ

وَأَوانُ الرَبيعِ خَيرُ أَوانِ

The season of roses is the most charming of seasons.

Rose season is the most gracious of times

And springtime is the best of times.

And springtime is the best of seasons

أَدرَكَ النَرجِسُ الجَنّي وَفُزنا

أَدرَكَ النَرجِسُ الجَنّي وَفُزنا

مِنهُما بِالخُدودِ وَالأَجفانِ

مِنهُما بِالخُدودِ وَالأَجفانِ

The narcissus is ripe for picking, and we have won

The narcissus and rose have reached their peak

From the two, cheeks and eyelids.

Giving us their cheeks and eyelids

أَشرَفُ الزَهرِ زارَ في أَشرَفِ الدَه

أَشرَفُ الزَهرِ زارَ في أَشرَفِ الدَه

رِ فَصِل فيهِ أَشرَفَ الإِخوانِ

رِ فَصِل فيهِ أَشرَفَ الإِخوانِ

The noblest of flowers has visited in the noblest of times;

The finest of flowers bloomed in the finest of valleys

So visit then the noblest of friends.

In a season with the finest of friends

وَاِجل شَمسَ العُقارِ في يَدِ بَدرِ ال

وَاِجل شَمسَ العُقارِ في يَدِ بَدرِ ال

حُسنِ يَخدِمُكَ مِنهُما النَيِّرانِ

حُسنِ يَخدِمُكَ مِنهُما النَيِّرانِ

And unveil the sun of wine in the hand of the full moon of

Serve the sun of fragrance in the hand of the full moon of beauty

Beauty; through the two, both luminaries serve you.

With fire from them both serving you

وَأَدِرها عَذراءَ وَاِنتَهِزِ ال

وَأَدِرها عَذراءَ وَاِنتَهِزِ ال

إِمكانَ مِن قبلِ عائِقِ الإِمكانِ

إِمكانَ مِن قبلِ عائِقِ الإِمكانِ

And pass her round, a virgin, and seize the

Turn her innocent, and seize the opportunity

Opportunity before an obstacle to opportunity arises.

Before the chance is lost

في كُؤوسٍ كَأَنَّها زَهَرُ الخَش

في كُؤوسٍ كَأَنَّها زَهَرُ الخَش

خاشِ فيهِ شَقاشِقُ النُعمانِ

خاشِ فيهِ شَقاشِقُ النُعمانِ

In cups as though they were poppy blossoms,

In cups that seem like flowers of peony

With al-Nuʿmān's anemones inside.

With anemones inside

وَاِختَدِعها عِندَ البَزالِ بِأَلفا

وَاِختَدِعها عِندَ البَزالِ بِأَلفا

ظِ المَثاني وَمُطرِباتِ الأَغاني

ظِ المَثاني وَمُطرِباتِ الأَغاني

And beguile her at the tapping with the words

Beguile her at leisure with sweet nothings

Of lute strings and the rapturous strains of song.

And songs that delight

فَهِيَ أَولى مِنَ العَرائِسِ إِن زُفْ

فَهِيَ أَولى مِنَ العَرائِسِ إِن زُفْ

فَت بِعَزفِ الناياتِ وَالعيدانِ

فَت بِعَزفِ الناياتِ وَالعيدانِ

For she is more deserving than brides, if ushered

For she is lovelier than any bride

To the playing of reed flutes and lutes.

If she arrives to the tune of flutes and lutes