تَرَكتُ لسافي الريحِ بانةَ عَرعَرا

وَزرتُ لِصافي السراحِ حانةَ عكبَرا

I left my tongue to the merciful wind, stumbling

And I visited the tavern of pure drink, tottering

وَقُلتُ لعلجٍ يَعبد الخمر زُفَّها

مُشَعشَعَةً قَد شاهَدت عَصرَ قَيصَرا

And I said to a server who worships wine, pour it

Dazzling, for I have seen the era of Caesar

فَناوَلَنيها لَو تَفَرَّقنورُها

عَلى الدَهر نالَ اللَيلُ منها تَحَيُّرا

If he had poured it to me, and its light

Had scattered over existence, the night would have gained from it, perplexed

وَأَوسِعني آساً وَورداً وَنَرجساً

وَأَحضَرَني ناياً وَطبلاً وَمزهرا

And given me more affliction, roses, and narcissi

And brought me a flute, drums and blossoms

هنالِكَ أَعطَيتُ البطالَة حَقَّها

وَأَلفَيتُ هتكَ الستر مجداً وَمَفخَرا

Thereupon I gave idleness its due

And deemed revealing the veil glorious and a matter of pride

كَأَنّي الصَبا جَرياً إِلى حومَة الصِبا

أُناغي صَبِيّاً من جلندا مُزَنَّرا

As if I were youth running to the folly of youth

Entertaining a boy from Galanda adorned

فَعانَقتُهُ وَالراحُ قَد عَقرت بِنا

فَكَرَّرتُ تَقبيلاً وَقد أَقبَل الكرى

I embraced him while the wind blew around us

I repeated kisses while fate drew near

وَصَدَّ عَن المَعنى النعاس وَصادَني

إِلى أَن تَصَدّى الصُبحُ يَلمَعُ مُسفِرا

Drowsiness barred me from meaning and led me

Until the dawn shone out, brightening

وَهَبَّت شَمالٌ نَظَّمَت شَملَ بُغيَتي

فَطارَت بِه عَنّي الشُمولُ تَطَيُّرا

And a north wind blew, gathering my scattered resolve

Blowing it away from me fluttering

فَكانَ الَّذي لَولا الحَياءُ أَذَعتُهُ

وَلا خَير في عيشِ الفَتى ان تَسَتَّرا

That which I would have proclaimed, had it not been for modesty

For there is no good in the life of a youth who conceals