وَخَندَريسٍ لَها شُعاعٌ

يَلمَعُ في الكَأسِ كَالضِرامِ

With nectar it glows

And vintage wine possessed of radiance,

Shining in the cup like glittering stars

Gleaming within the cup like a blazing fire,

كَأَنَّها كَوكَبٌ مُنيرٌ

وَالبَدرُ في لَيلَةِ التَمامِ

As if it were a radiant planet

As though it were a luminous star,

And the full moon on a perfect night

Or the full moon in the night of its perfection.

لَو قُرِّبَت في الظَلامِ يَوماً

لَاِنجابَ عَنها دُجى الظَلامِ

If brought near in the darkness one day

If one day it were brought forth in the darkness,

The gloom of darkness would not resist it

The deepest shadows would retreat before it.

تُكسِبُ شُرّابَها سُروراً

فَما يُراعونَ بِاِهتِمامِ

It brings its drinker happiness

It bestows upon its drinkers a joy,

Not heeding any care

So they remain untroubled by any care.

تَضحَكُ عَن لُؤلُؤٍ شَتيتٍ

أَلَّفَهُ الماءُ في نِظامِ

It smiles beyond scattered pearls

It laughs revealing scattered pearls,

United by the water in harmony

Which the liquid has composed in order.

ما ذُقتُها قَطُّ أَو أُناجي

أَمامَها الكَأسَ بِالكَلامِ

I've never tasted it or whispered

I have never tasted it without whispering,

To the cup with words

Intimate words to the cup before me.