أَما تَرى يَومَنا قَد جاءَ بِالعَجَبِ

فَلا يُعَطِّلُ مِن لَهوٍ وَمِن طَرَبِ

Do you not see how our day has come with wonders,

Leaving no time for frivolity and joy?

فَقامَ مِثلَ قَضيبٍ حَرَّكَتهُ صَباً

حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الأَدَبِ

He stood like a rod stirred by the morning breeze,

Of beautiful features, well-mannered and polite,

يَزِفُّ كَأساً بِمِنديلٍ مُتَوَّجَةٍ

وَرَأسُها فَضَّةٌ وَالجِسمُ مِن ذَهَبِ

Bearing a goblet with a napkin wrapped around,

Its top silver and its body made of gold.

لا تَخلُنا صِحَّةٌ مِن أَن نَنَعَّمَها

أَو فَاِتَّقِ اللَهَ وَاِعمَل صالِحاً وَتُبِ

May good health not stop us from enjoying it,

Or, be conscious of God and do good deeds and repent.

عِدني بِشَرٍّ وَلا أَلحاكَ في خُلُفٍ

فَرُبَّما نَفَعَ التَعليلُ بِالكَذِبِ

Promise me something good and do not insist on refusal,

For sometimes a white lie brings benefit.

مَن لي بِساكِنَةِ الأَصدافِ مِن لُجَجٍ

يَعومُ غَوّاصُها في غَمرَةِ العَطَبِ

Who will provide me with a hut made of oyster shells

Where its diver swims in deep, murky waters?

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ مِن لَحظٍ أُرَدِّدَهُ

مُفَرَّغٍ مِن جَميعِ القَرفِ وَالرِيَبِ

I ask God’s forgiveness for an amorous glance

Poured out, empty of all wickedness and doubt.

كَما تَحَكَّمَ في العُنوانِ قارِءُهُ

وَلا يُفَضُّ خَواتيماً عَنِ الكُتُبِ

As the title dictated to the reader,

Not divulging secrets beyond the books.