قُلتُ لَمّا وَضَحَ الصُب

حُ فَأَورى وَاِستَنارا

When dawn broke clearly and became illuminated

I spoke when morning’s face grew clear,

And the pursuer of stars toward the horizon sank down,

And dawn ignited, blazing bright,

وَتَوَلّى تابِعُ النَج

مِ إِلى الأُفقِ فَغارا

And I saw the cock crow repeatedly at dawn,

And the star’s follower turned away,

I said, for Abu Bakr my bosom friend,

Sinking into the horizon's site,

وَرَأَيتُ الديكَ قَد صا

حَ لَدى الصُبحِ مِرارا

Wherever he turned and walked,

And I saw the rooster calling out,

“This wine is open, so drink it openly, not in secret,

Crowing repeatedly at the light,

لِأَبي بِشرٍ خَليلي

أَينَما وَلّى وَسارا

Not like one who hints about a matter when he fears disgrace.

To Abu Bishr, my faithful friend,

Drink it slowly, a remedy that takes away cares.

Wherever he wanders in his flight:

هَذِهِ الخَمرُ جِهاراً

فَاِشرَبَنها لا سِرارا

It leaves a man when he tastes it loosening his belt,

"This is the wine, exhibited,

And seeing Friday like Saturday, and night like day.”

So drink it openly, not by slight,

لا كَمَن يُكني عَنِ الأَم

رِ إِذا ما خافَ عارا

Leave off blaming it, you who dislike it and insist on fleeing.

Unlike the one who speaks in code

He drinks water instead of wine, unwillingly and paltrily.

Whenever shame causes him fright.

وَاِشرَبَنها مُزَّةً تَذ

هَبُ بِالهَمِّ عُقارا

And divert it from Abu Ayyub when he lost his way and failed.

Drink it sharp—a vintage brew

He sold wine for water. What a losing deal!

That puts all sorrows to flight,

تَترُكُ المَرءَ إِذا ما

ذاقَها يُرخي الإِزارا

Like a buyer of a fine steed who got ahead of him with a donkey.

Leaving a man, once he has tasted,

With belt undone and robe not tight,

وَيَرى الجُمعَةَ كَالسَب

تِ وَكَاللَيلِ النَهارا

Thinking that Friday is Saturday,

And mistaking day for the night.

وَاِترُكَن مَن لامَ فيها

وَأَبى إِلّا نِفارا

Ignore the one who casts the blame,

Who shuns the cup in stubborn spite;

يَشرَبُ الماءَ مَكانَ ال

راحِ رَغماً وَصَغارا

Let him drink water instead of wine,

In degradation and in plight.

وَاِصرِفَنها عَن أَبي أَي

يوبَ إِذ تاهَ فَخارا

And turn the cup from Abu Ayyub,

Since he is lost in boastful height;

باعَ راحاً بِنَبيذٍ

هَكَذا بَيعاً خَسارا

He sold pure wine for date-mash swill—

A losing bargain, lacking foresight,

مِثلَ مُبتاعٍ بِطِرفٍ

سَبَقَ الشَيلَ الحِمار

Like one who sells a racing steed

To buy a donkey, slow and slight."