سَقياً لِبَغدادَ وَأَيّامِها

إِذ دَهرُنا نَطويهِ بِالقَصفِ

May the rains bless Baghdad and her days,

When we used to fold away our time in revelry,

مَع فِتيَةٍ مِثلَ نُجومِ الدُجى

لَم يَطبَعوا يَوماً عَلى خَسفِ

In the company of youths like stars of the deep night,

Who were never once stamped with the mark of disgrace.

تيجانُهُم حِلمٌ إِذا ما سُقوا

قَد فُصِّصَت بِالجودِ وَالظُرفِ

Their crowns are forbearance when the wine is poured,

Encrusted with gems of generosity and charm.

وَمُدَّ مِن أَبصارِهِم أَشمُسٌ

تَقصُرُ عَنها غايَةُ الوَصفِ

From their gazes, suns extend forth,

Beyond the reach of the utmost description.

يَسقيهُمُ ذو وَفرَةٍ أَحوَرٌ

يُسيلُ صُدغاً فاتِرُ الطَرفِ

Giving them drink is a dark-eyed youth with flowing locks,

Who lets his ringlets fall, languid in his glance.

يُكَسِّرُ الراءَ وَتَكسيرُها

يَدعو إِلى السُقمِ مَعَ الحَتفِ

He softens the sound of the 'R' when he speaks, and that softening

Summons love-sickness along with fatal doom.

إِن رامَ إِعجالاً أَبى رَدفُهُ

أَو رامَ عَطفاً جُرَّ لِلعَطفِ

If he seeks to hasten, the weight of his hips forbids it;

And if he seeks to turn, he is dragged into the sway.

يَسقيهُمُ حَمراءَ ياقوتَةٌ

تُسرِجُ في الكَأسِ وَفي الكَفِّ

He serves them a vintage red as a ruby,

That glows like a lamp in the cup and in the palm.

يَسقيهُمُ مَمزوجَةً تارَةً

وَتارَةً يَسقي مِنَ الصِرفِ

At times he pours it mixed with water,

And at other times he serves it pure.

حَتّى رَماهُ السُكرُ في طَرفِهِ

فَباحَ مِن سُكرٍ بِما يُخفي

Until intoxication struck his gaze,

And in his drunkenness, he divulged what he usually conceals.

ثُمَّ تَغَنّى طَرَباً عِندَهُم

وَهوَ مِنَ القَومِ عَلى خَوفِ

Then, filled with emotion, he sang among them,

Though fearful of the people watching:

ما أَولَعَ العَينَينِ بِالوَكفِ

إِذا تَنَحَّت غُرَّةُ الأَنفِ

"How prone are the eyes to weeping,

Whenever the radiant face of the beloved departs."