كَتَبْتُ بها وَقَدْ نَفَذَ الشّرابُ

كَتَبْتُ بها وَقَدْ نَفَذَ الشّرابُ

وكأسي مِثْلَما لَمَعَ السّرابُ

وكأسي مِثْلَما لَمَعَ السّرابُ

I wrote there when the wine had run out,

I wrote it, when the wine was gone,

And my cup gleamed like a mirage.

And my cup gleamed mirage-like.

وَعندي مَنْ كُلِفتُ بهِ غَراماً

وَعندي مَنْ كُلِفتُ بهِ غَراماً

عَلَيه عن محاسِنهِ نِقاب

عَلَيه عن محاسِنهِ نِقاب

And with me was one with whom I was passionately enamored,

With me was one for whom I yearned,

A veil upon him concealing his beauties.

Veiling her beauty from me.

فإن أسعَفْتَني بقليلِ راحٍ

فإن أسعَفْتَني بقليلِ راحٍ

وإلا سوفَ يَرويني الرِّضابُ

وإلا سوفَ يَرويني الرِّضابُ

So if you supply me with a little wine—

If you comfort me a little, I'll be grateful;

Otherwise, his saliva will quench my thirst.

If not, then anguish will water me.