خَلِعتُ وَلَيسَ يَملِكُ رَدَّ راسي

وَلا يُدني بِإِطماعٍ وَياسِ

I have cast off all restraint, and none has power to turn my head,

Nor can any draw me near with lure of hope or despair.

بُليتُ مِنَ الشَقاءِ بِسامِرِيٍّ

يُعامِلُني الغَداةَ بِلا مَساسِ

I have been afflicted, to my misery, by a 'Samaritan',

Who treats me each morning with 'Touch me not!'

يَرى حَرَجاً عَلَيهِ مَسَّ ثَوبي

وَأَن أُسقى وَإِيّاهُ بِكاسِ

He deems it a sin upon him to even brush against my robe,

Or that he and I should be served wine from a single cup.

وَأَقسَمَ لا يُكَلِّمُني ثَلاثاً

بِعِدَّتِهِنَّ إِلّا وَهوَ ناسِ

And he swore he would not speak to me for three days,

Lasting their full count—unless he forgets.

فَمَن ذا يُبلِغُ الحَلّافَ عَنّي

يَقولُ لَهُ فِداكَ أَبو نُواسِ

So who will convey to this oath-taker a message from me,

Saying to him: 'May Abu Nuwas be your ransom!'