ومَعْسُولٍ سَعَىنَحْوي

بِقَدٍّ منه عَسَّالِ

Toward me came one with lips sweet as honey

Bearing a cup as graceful as a gazelle

وليلُ الشِّعْرِ يُخْفيهِ

وَصُبْحُ الثَّغْرِ مِ القالي

And the night of poetry veiled him

While dawn's smile shone from his face

أتى بالراحِ فَرَّاحاً

ولم يصغِ لعُذَّالِ

He brought comfort, easing my troubles

And paid no heed to the blamer's cries

كأنَّ الشَّمْسَ شَرّاقاً

باعلا كفِّه العالي

As though the radiant sun itself

Raised high its hand to set me free

مُعَتِّقُها أبو جَهْلٍ

فَلَمْ تُوصَفْ بأمثَالِ

My bonds loosed by Father Ignorance

With no similes to describe the deed

شَرِبْتُ كأنَّني أهوى

ألاقي ألفَ رِئْبَالِ

I drank as if I loved and longed

To meet a thousand playful does

كأنِّي بين شُهْب الجوِّ

قدْ جَرَّرْتُ أذْيَالي

As though amidst the shooting stars

I dragged my flowing train behind