دُرّا بَعثتَ مُفصّلاً بِجُمانِ

أَو رَوضَةً مِسكيَّةَ الريحانِ

Pearls you sent, strung in necklaces,

Or a musky, fragrant garden of basil.

لا بَل عُروسا قَد زَفَفتَ تولّدت

ما بَينَ فكرٍ ناقِدٍ وَبَنانِ

Nay, but a bride you have brought before me,

Born of thoughtful, critical mind and insight.

سَمعا لأمرك إِذ دعوتَ إِلى الَّتي

تَدَعُ القُلوبَ قَليلَة الأَحزانِ

Hearkening to your call to her who leaves

Hearts little troubled with sorrow.

أَمّا الكُؤوس فَقَد جَرَت ما بَينَنا

بَيدَي غَزالٍ ساحِرِ الأَجفانِ

As for cups, they passed amongst us

In the hands of a gazelle, bewitching of eyelids,

خَنِثٍ يَسقيني المُدام بطُرفه

وَبِكَفِّهِ وَمَتى أَشأ غَنّاني

An effeminate one who gives me wine with his glances

And his palms, singing to me whenever he wishes.

فِعلاً لعمرُك لم أَكُن لأضَيعهُ

لا تَحسَبنّا مِن بَني سَهوانِ

By your life! I would not squander it -

Do not reckon us among the heedless.