لا عُذرَ لِلعاذِلِ في الكاسِ

فَما أَرى في الكاسِ مِن باسِ

The blamer has no excuse for blaming the wine cup

For I see no evil in the cup

وَيلي مِنَ الناسِ وَمِن لَومِهِم

ما لَقِيَ الناسُ مِنَ الناسِ

Woe to me from people and their blaming

People have never suffered from people

مُهَفهَفِ الخَصرِ هَضيمِ الحَشا

مُشَوَّقٍ بِالوَعدِ مَكّاسِ

With a slender waist and sunken eyes

Yearning for the promise, passing the cup

وَقامَ في العاتِقِ مَنديلُهُ

يُديرُ كَأساً بَينَ جُلّاسِ

His scarf wrapped around his neck

Circling a cup amongst boon companions

وَيَدخُلُ الآذانَ مِن أَمسِهِ

مِن تَحتِ إِكليلٍ مِنَ الآسِ

Penetrating ears since last night

Under a wreath of myrtle

وَشَمَّرَ الذَيلَ إِلى خَصرِهِ

وَحَثَّنا بِالرَطلِ وَالكاسِ

He tucked up his garment to his waist

And urged us on with flagon and cup

وَطالَما عَذَّبَني هَجرُهُ

وَوَكَّلَ القَلبَ بِوِسواسِ

Long has his estrangement tormented me

Afflicting my heart with disquieting thoughts

لَمّا أَتَتني رُسُلُه بِالرِضا

أُنسيتُ ما مَرَّ عَلى راسي

When his messengers brought me reconciliation

I forgot all that had passed

وَلَم أَزَل وَاللَيلُ سُترٌ لَنا

مِن دونِ رُقابٍ وَحُرّاسِ

And I have not ceased, while the night cloaks us

With no overseers or guards

أَشكو إِلى غَمزَةِ عَينَيهِ ما

قاسَيتُهُ مِن قَلبِهِ القاسي

To complain to the glances of his eyes for what

I suffered from his cruel heart

في لَيلَةٍ ما مِثلَها لَيلَةٌ

لَستُ لَها ما عِشتُ بِالناسي

On a night the like of which no night ever was

As long as I live among people