أدِرْها فوجْهُ الصُّبْحِ قد كادَ أن يَبْدو

وفي كلِّ غُصْنٍ ساجِعٌ غَرِدٌ يَشْدو

Pass it around—for the face of dawn has nearly appeared,

and on every bough a sweet-voiced songster sings.

وخُذْها على آسِ الرّياضِ ووَرْدِهِ

فهَذا عِذارٌ للرِّياضِ وذا خَدُّ

Take it amid the garden’s myrtle and roses:

this is the garden’s down, and that its cheek.

كأنّ سَقيطَ الطّلِّ في الرّوْضِ والصَّبا

تَهاداهُ طِفْلٌ والخُزامَى لهُ مَهْدُ

As though the fallen dew in the garden, with the east breeze

rocking it gently, were a child, and lavender its cradle.

كأنّ لِطافَ القُضْبِ منْ فوْقِ وَرْدِها

مَراوِدُ تَسْتَشْفي بِها أعْيُنٌ رُمْدُ

As though the slender twigs above its roses

were kohl applicators with which inflamed eyes seek healing.

كأنّ نَضيرَ الغُصْنِ جيدٌ مُنعَّمٌ

يرفُّ منَ الزّهْرِ الجَنيِّ بهِ عِقْدُ

As though the fresh bough were a pampered neck,

with a necklace of newly gathered blossoms fluttering upon it.

كأنّ انْسِيابَ النّهْرِ بيْنَ ظِلالِها

حُسامٌ صَقيلٌ والظِّلالُ لهُ غِمْدُ

As though the river’s gliding between its shadows

were a polished sword, with the shadows for its sheath.

كأنّ الصَّبا عنْدَ الهُبوبِ تحيّةٌ

بطَيِّبها تخْتَصُّ أنْدَلُسَ الهِنْدُ

As though the east breeze, when it blows, were a greeting

by whose fragrance India’s Andalusia is singled out.

فبادِرْ الى اللّذّاتِ منْ قَبْلِ فوْتِها

فمَهْما تولّتْ ساعَةٌ ما لَها رَدُّ

So hasten to pleasures before they slip away,

for once an hour departs, it cannot be recalled.