وَمُجِدّينَ لِلسُرى قَد تَعاطَوا

غَفَواتِ الكَرى بِغَير كُؤوسِ

Pressing hard through the night, they imbibed

brief dozes of slumber, without any cups.

جَنَحوا وَاِنثَنَوا عَلى العِيسِ حتّى

خِلتُهُم يَلثُمونَ أَيدِي العِيسِ

They leaned and bent over the pale camels, until

I thought them kissing the camels’ hands.

نَبَذوا الغُمضَ وَهوَ حُلوٌ إِلى أَن

وَجَدُوهُ سُلافَةً في الرُؤوسِ

They cast off sleep, sweet though it was, until

they found it the choicest wine within their heads.