غدوتُ على خمر ورحتُ إلى خمرِ

وأقبلتُ من سُكرٍ أميلُ إلى سكرِ

I rose with wine and went to wine,

I went forth upon wine, and returned unto wine,

And came intoxicated, leaning to intoxication.

Coming from intoxication, swaying into intoxication.

ولم أرَ مثلي لا تزال ركابهُ

على سفرٍ من غير برّ ولا بحرِ

I've seen none like me, whose mounts

I have seen none like me, whose mounts remain

Still travel on without land or sea.

On a journey bereft of both land and sea.

إليّ فلم يكبُ إذا ما حملتهُ

على بطنِ قرطاسٍ ويعنقُ في الظهر

When I carry him on a sheet of paper

It stumbles not when I set it to ride

He clings behind my back.

Upon the belly of the scroll, galloping across its back.

ولستُ له حتى المماتِ بسائمٍ

وإن هو أزرى بالمروءةِ والوفرِ

Until death I'll not abandon him,

I shall not grow weary of it until death,

Though he's ungenerous with manliness and plenty.

Though it may lay waste to my honor and wealth.