أَمالِكُ باكِرِ الصَهباءَ مالِ

وَإِن غالَوا بِها ثَمَناً فَغالِ

My lovers are early risers before dawn

O Malik, rise early for the russet wine, O Malik! And if they prize it highly, then bid the price yet higher.

Even if they paid a high price for it

And a grizzled master of the tavern you shall see, his whiskers stained black from blowing into the pitch-lined skin.

وَأَشمَطَ رَبِّ حانوتٍ تَراهُ

لِنَفخِ الزِقِّ مُسوَدَّ السِبالِ

The shopkeeper frowned as he inflated

I called to him when drowsiness had stolen his senses, as he cushioned his head upon his left palm.

His wineskin blackened by repeated filling

He leapt up at my call, startled and seized by fright, and hastened to kindle the wicks of the lamps.

دَعَوتُ وَقَد تَخَوَّنَهُ نُعاسٌ

فَوَسَّدَهُ بِراحَتِهِ الشِمالِ

I called him while drowsiness betrayed him

Then his terror vanished, and joy took its place, and he chuckled aloud with a lighthearted spirit.

And he blocked it with his left palm

And when the firelight revealed my face, he greeted me with the warmth of a lover, soft in his questioning.

فَقامَ لِدَعوَتي فَزِعاً مَروعاً

وَأَسرَعَ نَحوَ إِشعالِ الذُبالِ

He rose up to my call, startled and anxious

I counted into his hand a thousand coins for the month, with no terms of refund, nor word of retraction.

And rushed to light up the lanterns

So I remained in his halls like a bridegroom, wedded to two virgins: the wine and the kin.

وَأَفرَخَ روعُهُ وَأَفادَ بِشراً

وَهَرهَرَ ضاحِكاً جَذلانَ بالِ

His anxiety subsided and he brought good news

In this manner I continue, and have ever been: profligate with my faith and lavish with my wealth.

Laughing loudly, joking and playing

The forbidden suits me well when we are united, and I turn away from all that is lawful and proper.

فَلَمّا بَيَّنَتني النارُ حَيّا

تَحِيَّةَ وامِقٍ لَطِفِ السُؤالِ

When the fire made me out clearly

With a warm welcome and gentle inquiry

عَدَدتُ بِكَفِّهِ أَلفاً لِشَهرٍ

بِلا شَرطِ المُقيلِ وَلا المَقالِ

I counted with his palm a thousand for the month

With no condition of an agent or speech

فَظِلتُ لَدى دَساكِرِهِ عَروساً

بِعَذراوَينِ مِن خَمرٍ وَآلِ

So I remained at his taverns a bride

With two maids of wine and melody

كَذَلِكَ لا أَزالُ وَلَم أَزَلهُ

ذَريعَ الباعِ في ديني وَمالي

Thus I still am and have not changed

A victim of selling my religion and money

يُلائِمُني الحَرامُ إِذا اِجتَمَعنا

وَأَجفو عَن مُلاءَمَةِ الحَلالِ

Forbidden suits me when we meet

And I turn away from lawful company