اِسقِنيها يا نَديمي بِغَلَس

لا بِضَوءِ الصُبحِ بَل ضَوءِ القَبَس

Serve it to me, my companion, in secret

Pour me a drink, O companion, in the gloom,

Not in the light of dawn, but in candlelight

Not by the light of dawn, but by the fire's plume.

اِسقِنيها مِن قِيامي خَمسَةً

فَإِذا دارَت فَمَن شاءَ حَبَس

Serve me five drinks from the time I stand

Pour me five measures as I rise to stand,

Then when it takes effect, whoever wishes may stay

Then let the cup circle; who wishes may stay his hand.

وَعَلى ذِكرِ حَبيبي فَاِسقِني

لا عَلى ذِكرِ مَحَلٍّ قَد دَرَس

And in remembrance of my beloved, serve me

And to the memory of my beloved, fill the glass,

Not in remembrance of a place now in ruins

Not to the memory of ruins where shadows pass.

إِنَّ ذِكراهُ عَلى هِجرانِهِ

لَتُجَلّي كَربَ قَلبٍ مُختَلَس

For his memory despite his estrangement

For his memory, despite his desertion and part,

Alleviates the sorrows of a broken heart

Dispels the anguish of a captured heart.

كانَ يَلقاني زَماناً واصِلاً

فَاِلتَوى مِن بَعدِ وَصلي وَشَمَس

He used to meet me long ago as a friend

Once he met me, joined in union sweet,

But after our union set, like the sun

Then turned away after our bond, in stubborn retreat.

أَفسَدَ الواشونَ إِلفي حَسَداً

تَعِسَ الواشي لِوَقتٍ وَنُكِس

The envious ones spoiled my intimacy in their jealousy

The slanderers corrupted my love out of spite;

Wretched are the envious, in time they are humbled

May the slanderer perish and fall in wretched plight.