تَعَلَّقتُها وَإِناءُ الشَبا

بِ يَطفَحُ مِن جانبَيهِ طِفاحا

I clung to her though the wine flask

Overflowed from both its sides,

وَلا مَيعَةٌ حَجَرَت حُبَّها

وَلا الشَيبُ أَنساكَها حينَ لاحا

No shame restrained her love,

Nor did old age make you forget her when it appeared.

وَكَم مِن مُحِبٍّ أَجَنَّ الهَوى

فَوَدَّ مِن الغَمِّ لَو كانَ باحا

And how many lovers has passion weakened,

Who wished out of grief that he could weep,

وَآخَر غُمَّ بِأَسرارِهِ

فَباحَ بِمَكتومِهِ وَاِستَراحا

And another grieved with his secrets,

So he revealed his hidden sorrows and found relief.

وَإِنّي وَتَركي نَدى الأَكرمين

وَقَدحِي بِكَفّيَّ زَنداً شِحاحا

As for me, I left the bounty of the generous

And took my cup in my hands a miserly sip.

كَتارِكَةٍ بَيضَها بِالعَراءِ

وَمُلبِسَةٍ بَيض أُخرى جَناحا

Like a bird who laid her eggs in the wilderness

And clothed other eggs with wings.