يُحَرِّمُ شُربها غاوٍ رآني

أَخا شَيْبٍ فقلتُ الآنَ حَلاَّ

A misguided fanatic prohibits drinking it

Though now, brother to gray hair, I say it's permitted

تَنَحَّ فإنّهُ صِبْغُ اللّيالي

وحَلْيُ الرَّأْيِ رُحْتُ بِهِ مُحَلّى

Turn aside, for it's the dye of nights

And the ornament of reason - with it I'm adorned

رأيتُ النّاسَ أكثرهم

فلَمْ أَحفلْ بهم جَهْلاً وغفلاَ

I've seen most people

And paid them no heed, ignorant and oblivious they were