اِنفِ بِالخَمرِ نَعسَةَ المَخمورِ

وَاِسقِ يَحيى كَبيرنَا بِالكَبيرِ

Pour the drunkard some wine to relieve his drowsiness,

And serve our elder Yahya a full cup.

مِن سُلاف تُديرُ طَوقاً مِنَ الدُّر

رِ عَلَيها مفَصَّلاً بِشُذورِ

Of necklaces that turn into rings of pearls

Set onto it elaborately with studs.

عَمَرَت وَالزَّمانُ في حِجرِ أم

فَضَّلتها بِالبِرِّ وَالتَّوقيرِ

She lived a full life while time was in its infancy,

I favoured her with righteousness and reverence.

فَدَّمتها المُرابِياتُ مِنَ الدَّه

رِ فَأَبقَت قَليلَة مِن كَثيرِ

The passing years assailed her with sorrows

Yet she retained little of the plentiful.

لَستُ في وَصفِها بِبالِغِ شَيءٍ

غَيرَ أَنِّي أُقِرُّ بِالتَّقصيرِ

I cannot sufficiently describe her,

Except to admit I fall short.

فَإِذا الكَأسُ أَقبَلَت فَبِنَوعَي

نِ سُلافٍ مُعَتَّقٍ وَسُرورِ

So when the cup arrives adorned

With aged wine and joy,

غَيرَ أَنَّ السُّلافَ تُبصِرُهُ العَي

نُ وَهذا يُرى بِعَينِ الضَّميرِ

The eye perceives the wine

While the inner eye sees this.