وَصَهباءَ يَستَوشي بِذي اللَبِّ مِثلَها

وَصَهباءَ يَستَوشي بِذي اللَبِّ مِثلَها

قَرَعتُ بِها نَفسي إِذا الديكُ أَعتَما

قَرَعتُ بِها نَفسي إِذا الديكُ أَعتَما

And tawny wine—its like rouses a man of sense—

Her radiance stirs desire in him of tender lips,

I struck my soul with it when night overtook the cock.

I chastise myself when the cock crows in the gloaming.

تَمَزَّزتُها صِرفاً وَقارَعتُ دَنَّها

تَمَزَّزتُها صِرفاً وَقارَعتُ دَنَّها

بِعودِ أَراكٍ بَعدَهُ فَتَرَنَّما

بِعودِ أَراكٍ بَعدَهُ فَتَرَنَّما

I sipped it unmixed and tapped its wine jar

I tease and worry her, turning away and drawing near

With an arak stick; afterward, it sang.

With a fresh green twig that sighs as it is bent.

يَمُدُّ إِلَيها جيدَهُ رَميَةَ الضُحى

يَمُدُّ إِلَيها جيدَهُ رَميَةَ الضُحى

كَهَزِّكَ بِالكَفِّ البَرِيِّ المُدَوَّما

كَهَزِّكَ بِالكَفِّ البَرِيِّ المُدَوَّما

He stretches his neck toward it at the height of morning,

He offers his cheek to her like a tame gazelle

As you shake a whittled, spinning top with your palm.

Trained to return to his master’s hand however often sent.