وَخَمرٍ كَعَينِ الديكِ صَبَّحتُ سِحرَةً

وَقَد هَمَّ نَجمُ اللَيلِ بِالخَفَقانِ

I drank wine at dawn, clear as a rooster's eye,

And wine like the rooster's eye I greeted at first light,

As the star of night fluttered as if about to set.

While the star of the night prepared to fade away.

نَدَبتُ لَها الخَمّارَ فَانصاعَ مُسرِعاً

إِلى عِدَّةٍ مِن حَنتَمٍ وَدِنانِ

I summoned the tavern keeper and he hastened

I summoned the vintner for it, and he turned in haste,

To bring a selection of jugs and flasks.

Toward a supply of glazed green jars and earthen casks.

دِراسَتُهُ الإِنجيلُ حَولَ دِنانِهِ

بَصيرٌ بِبَذلِ الدِنِّ وَالكَيَلانِ

His bible is the jug; he's well versed

His study is the Gospel amidst his wine-vessels,

In giving out drinks and taking payment.

Skilled in broaching the jar and wielding the measure.

فَوَدَّجَها مِن جانِبَيها كِلَيهُما

فَلِلَّهِ ماذا أَبرَزَ الوَدَجانِ

He shoved the flasks in on either side of him

He pierced its jugular veins from both its sides,

By God, what a sight those flasks made!

And by God, what a flow those two veins brought forth!

سُخامِيَّةٌ لَم يَقطَعِ السِنُّ مَتنَها

لَها مُذ ثَوَت في دَنِّها سَنَتانِ

An ancient skin not worn down by years

A soft vintage whose body time has not broken,

Sporting two spouts since it was first stitched.

For it has dwelt within its cask for two years.

تَرى الكَأسَ في كَفِّ المُديرِ كَأَنَّها

عَلى راحَتَيهِ كَوكَبُ الدَبَرانِ

The cup in the barman's hand is like

You see the cup in the hand of the one pouring it,

A planet resting in the grip of fate.

As though the star Aldebaran rested upon his palms.

إِذا شَجَّها الساقي بِماءٍ رَأَيتَها

مُكَلَّلَةَ الأُعلى بِطَوقِ جُمانِ

When the cupbearer splashes it with water, you see it

When the cupbearer breaks its strength with water, you see it

Crowned at the top with a ring of foam.

Crowned at the top with a collar of pearls.

وَقَد دارَ ساقيها بِها ذا قُراطِقٍ

تُناطُ بِأَعلى ساعِدٍ وَبَنانِ

The cupbearer turned it with practiced flicks

Its bearer circulated with it, wearing fine tunics

Of his wrist and fingers.

Draped from the upper arm down to the fingertips.

فَيَأخُذُ مِنها لَونُهُ بَعضَ لَونِها

فَلَوناهُما في الخَدِّ يَطَّرِدانِ

It takes on some of his colour

So his complexion takes from it a share of its color,

And both their hues on his cheek flow as one.

And their two colors race together upon the cheek.