قَد هَجَرتُ النَديمَ وَالنُدمانا

وَتَمَتَّعتُ ما كَفاني زَمانا

I have abandoned the companion and the cups,

I have forsaken the drinking companion and the circle of friends,

And enjoyed all that sufficed me for a time.

Having enjoyed my pleasures for a time that sufficed me.

وَأَبى لي خَليفَةُ اللَهِ إِلّا

عَزفَ نَفسي فَقَد عَزَفتُ أَوانا

And the Caliph of Allah willed for me nothing but

The Caliph of God would accept nothing for me less than

To tune my soul, so I have tuned for a while.

The disciplining of my soul, so I have disciplined it for now.

وَلَقَد طالَ ما أَبَيتُ عَلَيهِ

في أُمورٍ خَلَعتُ فيها العِنانا

And indeed long have I refused

Yet long did I resist his will regarding these matters,

In matters I let loose the reins.

In affairs where I had cast off the reins of restraint.

وَغَزالٍ عاطَيتُهُ الراحَ حَتّى

فَتَّرَت مِنهُ مُقلَةً وَلِسانا

And a gazelle I let roam free

And many a young gazelle I plied with wine until

Until there crumbled from it a cheek and a tongue.

It brought a heavy languor to his eyes and tongue.

قالَ لا تُسكِرَنَّني بِحَياتي

قُلتُ لا بُدَّ أَن تُرى سَكرانا

It said, “Do not intoxicate me with my life,”

He said, "Do not intoxicate me, by my life!"

I said, “You must be seen drunk.”

I replied, "It is inevitable that you be seen drunk."

إِنَّ لي حاجَةٌ إِلَيكَ إِذا نِم

تَ فَإِن شِئتَ فَاِقضِها يَقظانا

I have a need of you when you sleep,

"For I have a need of you when you fall asleep,"

So fulfill it if you wish awake.

"But if you prefer, fulfill it while you are awake."

فَتَلَكّا تَلَكِّياً في اِنخِناثٍ

ثُمَّ أَصغى لِما أَرَدتُ فَكانا

It leaned to and fro coyly,

He hesitated with a coy and tender delay,

Then listened to what I wanted, and so it was.

Then yielded to what I desired, and so it was done.