أَيا مانِحي الحَلواءَ جُوداً وَمانِعي

عَلى بُخلٍ أَحلى وَأَشهى مِن الحَلوى

O you who generously give sweetness and deny

With a stinginess sweeter and more delicious than sweetness.

رُضابٌ حَكَتهُ الراحُ طَعماً وَنكهَةً

وَإِن لَم تَذُقهُ الروحُ راحَت بِهِ نَشوى

Winds have spun its taste into flavor and relish-

And even if the soul doesn't taste it, it is delighted by its aroma.

وَإِنّي وَلَو ذاقَتهُ دامَ اِنتِشاؤُها

إِلى الأَجَلِ المَحتومِ لا تَبتَغي صَحوا

And truly, even if it did taste it, its exhilaration would last

Until the appointed time of death- it seeks no sobriety.

وَقَد كُنتُ أَسلو لَو يَمُنُّ بِرَشفَةٍ

فَلا هُوَ ذُو مَنٍّ وَلا أَنا ذُو سَلوى

I used to ask, if only it would allow a sip-

But neither it is one to give, nor I one to ask.