يا رُبَّ ساقٍ كَأَنَّهُ شَبَهُ ال

بَدرِ تَجَلّى الظَلامُ عَن سَدَفِه

O Lord of a leg like the full moon unveiled, darkness retreated from its beauty.

Oh, many a cupbearer who seemed the likeness of the

I said to him what I intended, and the subtle may gain from his subtlety.

Full moon, when the darkness lifts from its veil;

قُلتُ لَهُ لِلَّذي أَرَدتُ بِهِ

وَقَد يُنالُ اللَطيفُ مِن لُطُفِه

Listen to me, you will hear something amazing, fresh discourse from its beginning.

I spoke to him regarding what I desired of him—

He approached until I saw my mouth was closer to his ears than the strap of his sandal.

And truly, the subtle one is attained through subtlety.

إِلَيَّ فَاِسمَع تَسمَع إِلى عَجَبٍ

مِن مُستَجِدِّ الحَديثِ مُطَّرِفِه

A cheek was kissed and conversations, from the meadow of youthful blossoms, its handler.

I said, "Lean toward me, and listen to a wonder

Drinking knew not, nor did they know frivolity, from the wound of a heart that plunged in its breast.

Of novel conversation and amusing tales."

فَاِنقادَ حَتّى رَأَيتُ أَنَّ فَمي

أَدنى لِأُذنَيهِ مِن عُرى شَنَفِه

So he yielded, until I saw that my mouth

Was closer to his ears than the loops of his earring.

فَقُبِّلَت صَفحَةٌ وَسالِفَةٌ

مِن رَوضِ غَضِّ الشَبابِ مُؤتَنِفُه

Then a cheek and a slender neck were kissed,

From the garden of fresh youth in its prime.

وَما دَرى الشَربُ أَو دَرَوا فَلَهَوا

عَن قَرَحِ القَلبِ قَد لَجَّ في دَنَفِه

The drinking companions knew not, or knew but looked away,

Ignoring a heart's wound that persisted in its sickness.