إلا ربما جاد الزمان وأنعما

إلا ربما جاد الزمان وأنعما

واجلو كؤوس الراح من قرقف اللمى

واجلو كؤوس الراح من قرقف اللمى

Ah, perhaps time was generous and bestowed its favors.

Perhaps time will be kind, and be generous

And polish the wine cups with the wine of dusky lips.

And bring cups of comfort from brick-red affliction

أدر أيها الساقي المدام المنجما

أدر أيها الساقي المدام المنجما

إلا ربما زار الملاح وربما

إلا ربما زار الملاح وربما

Pass round, O cupbearer, the wine cooled beneath the stars.

Turn the wine, O cupbearer, that gives guidance when stars align

Ah, perhaps the fair ones visited, and perhaps

Perhaps the sailor will visit, perhaps

لمست بكفيّ البنان المخضبا

لمست بكفيّ البنان المخضبا

I touched the dyed fingertips with my two palms.

I will touch the dyed fingertips of slender hands

And embrace the branch of the acacia firmly on my wrist

وعانقت غصن البان جيدا ومعصما

وعانقت غصن البان جيدا ومعصما

وصافحت ثغراً باللآلي تنظّما

وصافحت ثغراً باللآلي تنظّما

And embraced a ben-tree bough, neck and wrist.

And kiss lips adorned with ruby, neatly arranged

And touched a mouth strung with pearls.

I will not forget when the beloved arrives and greets

ولم أنس إذ وافى الحبيب وسلّما

ولم أنس إذ وافى الحبيب وسلّما

وقبلت رمان النهود وربما

وقبلت رمان النهود وربما

And I have not forgotten when the beloved came and offered greetings.

And kiss the pomegranate of breasts, perhaps

And I kissed the pomegranates of the breasts, and perhaps

Make ruddy the apples of cheeks imprinted

اغضض تفاح الخدود المكتبا

اغضض تفاح الخدود المكتبا

I bite the inscribed apples of the cheeks.