ذَكَرَتْ مِنْ طِيزَناباذِ

ذَكَرَتْ مِنْ طِيزَناباذِ

فَقُرى الْكَرْخِ بِبغداذِ

فَقُرى الْكَرْخِ بِبغداذِ

She recalled, from Ṭīzanābādh,

The cup that came from Tiznab

then the villages of al-Karkh in Baghdad,

Recalled, in the alleys of Karakh at Baghdad,

قَهوةً لَيْسَتْ بِبَاذِقةٍ

قَهوةً لَيْسَتْ بِبَاذِقةٍ

لا وَلا بِتْعٍ ولا داذِي

لا وَلا بِتْعٍ ولا داذِي

a wine that is not boiled grape wine—

A coffee neither tasty nor fresh nor strong,

no, nor mead, nor dādhi wine—

Once that made the forbearing spit in rage:

مُرَّةً يَهذِي الحَليمُ بِهَا

مُرَّةً يَهذِي الحَليمُ بِهَا

بِأبي ذلك منْ هاذِي

بِأبي ذلك منْ هاذِي

bitter, making the prudent man rave.

By my father, from a real master that!

May my father be ransom for that raving man!

For with us she's mistress of the cups that cheer

فَهيَ أسْتاذُ الشرابِ بنا

فَهيَ أسْتاذُ الشرابِ بنا

وَالمعاني دَأبُ أسْتاذِي

وَالمعاني دَأبُ أسْتاذِي

For it is the master of wines among us,

And deeper meanings are my master's wont.

and meanings are my master's habitual pursuit.