فَإِنَّ هَذا الوَطبَ لي ضائِرٌ

في ظاهِرِ الأَمرِ وَفي الغامِضِ

This hot drink is harmful to me

For truly, this milk-skin brings me harm,

Apparently and in reality

In what is outward and what is concealed;

إِن كُنتَ تَسقيني فَمِن قهوةٍ

صَفراءَ مثلِ المُهرَةِ الناهِضِ

If you serve me coffee

If you are to pour me a drink, let it be wine,

Pale yellow like the raised torch

Golden, like a rearing young filly,

تَنزو الفَقاقيعُ إِذا شُعشِعَت

نَزوَ جَرادِ البلَد الرامِضِ

Bubbles froth when it is stirred

Its bubbles leaping when it is diluted,

Like locusts swarming the ravaged land

Like the leaping of locusts on sun-scorched earth.