1. مزجت كأسَها بخمرٍ وريق

    وَتَثنَّت كغصن بانٍ وَريقِ

    She mingled wine and saliva in her cup,

    And swayed like a leafy branch of the bān tree.

  2. وأَماطَت لثامَها عَن مُحيّاً

    لَو تَجلّى للبدر قال شَقيقي

    And she drew her veil aside from a face—

    Were it to shine before the full moon, the moon would say, “My brother!”

  3. وأَدارَت على النَدامى مُداماً

    أَذكَرتنا لَياليَ التَشريقِ

    And she passed wine round among the drinking companions,

    Recalling to us the nights of Tashrīq.

  4. وَجلَت إِذ تبسَّمت مِن لَماها

    خمرَ ريق في أَكؤسٍ من شَقيقِ

    And when she smiled, she revealed from her dusky lips

    The wine of her saliva in cups of anemones.

  5. كَم رَشيقٍ بأَسهم اللَحظ منها

    وَطعينٍ برمح قدٍّ رَشيقِ

    How many are struck by the arrows of her glance,

    And pierced by the spear of her slender form!

  6. غادَةٌ كلَّما نظرتُ إِليها

    بسمت لي عَن لؤلؤٍ في عَقيقِ

    A graceful maiden: whenever I looked at her,

    She smiled at me, revealing pearls in carnelian.

  7. وَمهاةٌ أَسكنتُها من ضلوعي

    وَدُموعي بالمُنحنى وَالعقيقِ

    And an oryx I lodged among my ribs

    And my tears, at al-Munḥanā and al-ʿAqīq.

  8. رقَّ شعري لخصرِها الرَقِّ فاِعجب

    لِلآلٍ بِيعت بسوقِ الرَقيقِ

    My verse grew delicate for her slender waist—so marvel

    At pearls sold in the slave market!

  9. كَم غَدونا نجرُّ ذيلَ التَصابي

    بِصَبوحٍ من كأسِها وَغَبوقِ

    How often we went forth, trailing the hem of youthful dalliance,

    With a morning draught from her cup, and an evening one.

  10. وَاللَيالي ولا أَذمُّ اللَيالي

    جَمعت بين شائقٍ ومَشوقِ

    And the nights—and I do not blame the nights—

    Brought together one who inspires longing and one who yearns,

  11. مَع خَلٍّ من الملام خليٍّ

    وَرَفيقٍ مهذَّبٍ بي رَفيقِ

    With a dear friend free of reproach,

    And a refined companion, gentle with me.