سعى بالراح ما بين الندامى

غرير يخجل البدر التماما

He moved with wine among the drinking companions,

A guileless youth who shames the moon in all its fullness.

يطوف بها مشعشعة عروساً

حباب المزج توَّجها نظاما

He carries it round, mixed with water, like a bride;

The bubbles of the blend have crowned her with a circlet.

تجلَّت في يديه ولست ادري

اراحاً راح يحمل ام ضراما

She shone in his hands, and I cannot tell:

Was it wine he carried, or blazing fire,

على عذبات روض بات في الن

سيم الرطب يعبث بالخزامى

On the tender boughs of a garden that spent the night in the

Moist breeze, playing with lavender?

يكاد القلب من طرب اليها

يطير هوى باجنحة النعامى

The heart, in rapture for her, almost

Flies in love on the wings of the south wind.

رشاً ما إن ربا بالغنج الا

رمى عن قوس حاجبه سهاما

A gazelle fawn who never grows coquettish without

Shooting arrows from the bow of his eyebrow.

المَّ ويا بنفسي من حبيبٌ

لنا امست زيارته لماما

He called—oh, I'd ransom such a beloved with my life!—

His visits to us have grown so rare.

تدّلي البدر يلثم منه فاه

غداة اماط عن فمه اللثاما

The full moon stooped to kiss his mouth,

That morning when he drew the veil from his mouth.

تبسَّم ضاحكاً والبرق يسري

فأخجل ضاحك البرق ابتساما

He smiled in laughter while the lightning coursed,

And his smile put laughing lightning to shame.

سرى والليل قصّر في خطاه

حثيث السير يختبط الظلاما

He traveled by night, while night shortened its stride,

Hurrying onward, groping through the darkness.

فأحيا بالتحية نضو شوق

امات الصبر صبّاً مستهاما

And with his greeting revived one wasted by longing

That had slain patience—a lover crazed with love.

أسفت على ليالينا اللواتي

قضيناها اعتناقاً والتثاما

I grieved for those nights of ours

We spent embracing and kissing.