خل هذا وبادر الدهر وارحل

في رياض الربى مطي العقار

Leave this and seize the day and depart

Leave this behind, outpace the fleeting age, and set forth

To the meadows of youth, riding the stallion

Riding the mount of wine across the blooming hills,

وأحدها بالبديع من نغمات ال

عود كيما تحت بالمزمار

And make music with the lute, singing melodies

And urge it onward with exquisite melodies of the

As if with the flute, enchanting tunes

Lute, that it may be stirred by the sounds of the flute,

أن خيراً من الوقوف على الدا

ر وقوف البنان بالأوتار

For it is better than standing at the abode

For surely better than pausing at ruined abodes

To stand like a young man with a lute

Is the pausing of fingertips upon the musical strings.

وبدا النرجس البديع كصب

حائر الطرف مائلاً كالمدار

The beautiful narcissus appeared like the morning

And the wondrous narcissus appeared like an ardent lover,

Confused in its beauty, leaning like a circle

Bewildered of glance, swaying like one intoxicated,

لونه لون عاشق مستهامٍ

وهو لاشك هائم بالبهار

Its color is that of a passionate lover

Its pale hue is the color of a love-struck paramour,

Undoubtedly deeply in love with spring

Who is, beyond doubt, hopelessly enamored of the spring blossoms.