1. لا الأنس أنس ولا الأفراح أفراح

    كلا ولا الراح راح بعدما انزاحوا

    Companionship is no companionship, nor are joys joys.

    No, nor is wine wine, now that they have departed.

  2. مضوا وما بحت عن سرّ الهوى لهم

    وما أبانوا لي الشكوى وما باحوا

    They went away, and I had not disclosed love's secret to them,

    Nor had they revealed their complaint to me, nor confided.

  3. يا صاح لا كفكفت كفّاي بعدهم

    دمعي على أن دمع العين فضّاح

    O friend, may my two hands never wipe away, after their departure,

    My tears, though the eye's tears betray secrets.

  4. منحتهم كل ما شاء الغرام ولا

    غرابة فصريع الكأس منّاح

    I gave them all that passion desired, and there is no

    Wonder, for one felled by the cup gives lavishly.

  5. يا قوم نفسي سالت لوعة وأسى

    هلا عذرتم أهيل العشق إذ ناحوا

    O people, my soul has poured forth in anguish and sorrow.

    Why did you not excuse love's dear folk when they wailed?

  6. باللَه معذرة فالدهر جرّعني

    صاب القنوط ومن يسقاه نوّاح

    For God's sake, pardon me, for time has made me swallow

    The bitter sap of despair; whoever is given it wails endlessly.

  7. شقيت بالحبّ لا عاش السعيد به

    إنّ الشقا بالهوى للغيب مفتاح

    I have suffered through love; may whoever is happy in it not live.

    Indeed, misery in love is a key to the unseen.

  8. يا صاح لست بمرتاح فاشربها

    صرفا وأشدوا متى يا صاح أرتاح

    O friend, I am not at ease, so drink it

    Undiluted, while I sing: when, O friend, shall I rest?

  9. كل الأخلاء في لهو وفي طرب

    وحسبهم منك عيدان وأقداح

    All close friends are at play and in merriment,

    And lutes and cups from you are enough for them.

  10. وحسب قلبي آلامٌ مبرّحة

    خرس وللوجد زند فيه قدّاح

    And agonizing pains are enough for my heart,

    Mute, while longing has a spark-striking flint within it.

  11. لي من دموعي صهباءٌ أبلّ بها

    غليل قلبي ودمعي المنهمي راح

    I have tawny wine made of my tears, with which I quench

    My heart's burning thirst; my streaming tears are wine.

  12. يا خلّ والروح بالآفاق هائمة

    ترجو العزاء وكم في الجوّ أرواح

    O friend, the soul wanders through the horizons,

    Hoping for solace—and how many spirits are in the air!

  13. سل الأصائل والأسمار ملتمسا

    عسى تجيبك أمساء وأصباح

    Ask the late afternoons and the nighttime conversations, seeking solace;

    Perhaps evenings and mornings will answer you.

  14. كم أغمض الجفنُ والأحلامُ شاردة

    عنه وتدنو خيالات وأشباح

    How often the eyelid has closed, while dreams wander

    Away from it, and visions and phantoms draw near.

  15. أوّاه لا بهجة الأيام في نظري

    حسن وليس بها زهو وأفراح

    Ah, in my eyes the delight of days has no

    Beauty, nor does it hold splendor or joy.

  16. كفّوا الملام فآمالي محطّمة

    شيّعتها بالبُكا فالطرف سحّاحُ

    Cease reproaching me, for my hopes are shattered.

    I bade them farewell with weeping; my eye pours tears.

  17. وهكذا الحبّ شوقٌ ملحفٌ وأسى

    مضنٍ ودمع وهمٌّ فيه ملحاح

    Such is love: insistent longing and sorrow

    That wears one down, tears, and worry ever pressing within it.

  18. جدّ الهوى بعدما شطّ المزارٌ وقد

    ظننتُ من قبل إنّ الحبَّ مزّاح

    Love grew serious after the meeting-place grew distant, though

    I had thought before that love was a jester.

  19. يا روضة الوصل لا الأطيار ساجعة

    ولا عبيرك بالأجواء فوّاح

    O garden of reunion, the birds do not coo,

    Nor does your fragrance waft through the air.

  20. ولا النديم طروب بعدما سكتت

    ولا السمير رعاك اللَه ممراح

    Nor is the drinking companion merry after it fell silent,

    Nor the nighttime companion—God preserve you—carefree.

  21. ولا ابنة الكرم بالكاسات ضاحكة

    كلا ولا العود بالأسحار صدّاح

    Nor does the daughter of the vine smile in the cups.

    No, nor does the lute sing out in the hours before dawn.

  22. فهل يطيل ربيع الوصل غيبته

    أم لا فتحتضن العشّاقَ أرواح

    So will the spring of reunion prolong its absence,

    Or not, so that spirits may embrace the lovers?

  23. إغفاءةٌ الدهر لو طالت لما عبثت

    بنا الصروف وصرف الدهر يجتاح

    Had time's brief slumber lasted, there would have been no toying

    With us by fate's vicissitudes; time's turning sweeps all away.

  24. يا مرتع الروح يا ملهى طفولتنا

    إني إليك وربّ البيت جنّاح

    O pasture of the soul, O playground of our childhood,

    I am deeply drawn to you, by the Lord of the House.

  25. وكيف لا يا ملاذ العاشقين ولي

    قلبٌ لأفقك خفّاقٌ وسبّاح

    And how could I not, O refuge of lovers, when I have

    A heart that flutters and swims toward your horizon?

  26. متى على رملك الفضيّ تجمعنا

    على المحبّة والإخلاص أفراح

    When, upon your silvery sand, shall we be brought together

    By joys, in love and devotion,

  27. مع إخوةٍ في ضفاف النهر قد نزلوا

    فمن لروحي وقلبي بعدما راحوا

    With brothers who have settled along the river's banks?

    Who, then, is there for my soul and heart after they have gone?

  28. يا من شغفتُ به لا حسن صورته

    أغرت فؤادي فإنّ الحسن ينزاح

    O you with whom I am smitten, it was not your form's beauty

    That enticed my heart, for beauty fades.

  29. رحماك طال السرى والليل معتكر

    فاسفر فوجهك وضّاح ولمّاح

    Have mercy! The night journey has grown long, and the night is murky.

    So unveil yourself, for your face is radiant and gleaming.

  30. حام الفؤاد كما حام الفراش ولم

    يزل وطلعتك الغراء مصباح

    My heart has circled as a moth circles, and has not

    Ceased, while your radiant countenance is a lamp.

  31. مولاي زورق حبّي كيف تغرقه

    فأنت ربّانهُ والقلب ملّاحُ

    My lord, how can you sink the skiff of my love?

    For you are its captain, and the heart its sailor.