كَتَبْتُ وَعِنْدَنَا وَرْدٌ وَرَاحُ

كَتَبْتُ وَعِنْدَنَا وَرْدٌ وَرَاحُ

وإِخْوَانٌ نُحِبُّهُمُ مِلاَحُ

وإِخْوَانٌ نُحِبُّهُمُ مِلاَحُ

I wrote while we had roses and wine,

I wrote while roses and friends we love are with us,

And charming friends whom we love,

And the conversationalist, with her perfumed fragrance,

وَبَيْضَاءُ السَّوَالِفِ ذَاتُ عُوْدٍ

وَبَيْضَاءُ السَّوَالِفِ ذَاتُ عُوْدٍ

تُنَاغِيْها مَثَالِثُهُ الفِصَاحُ

تُنَاغِيْها مَثَالِثُهُ الفِصَاحُ

And a fair-necked woman with an oud,

Her companions converse with eloquent speech.

Its eloquent third strings conversing with her;

She has legs whiter than the does of Rome,

وَأَحْوَرُ من ظِبَاءِ الرُّومِ ساقٍ

وَأَحْوَرُ من ظِبَاءِ الرُّومِ ساقٍ

كَغُصْنِ الْبَانِ تَثْنِيْهِ الرِّيَاحُ

كَغُصْنِ الْبَانِ تَثْنِيْهِ الرِّيَاحُ

And a dark-eyed cupbearer, one of the gazelles of Rum,

Bent like boughs of acacia by the winds.

Like a bān-tree bough bent by the winds.

A charming beauty called Najah,

بَدِيْعُ مَلاَحَةٍ يُدْعَى نَجَاحاً

بَدِيْعُ مَلاَحَةٍ يُدْعَى نَجَاحاً

وَلَكِنْ ما لِمَوْعِدِهِ نَجَاحُ

وَلَكِنْ ما لِمَوْعِدِهِ نَجَاحُ

Exquisite in charm, he is called Najah,

But alas, her tryst holds no success.

Yet his promise meets with no success.

She has eyes that stand arrayed on her brow,

لَهُ طُرَرٌ تُصَفُّ على جَبِيْنٍ

لَهُ طُرَرٌ تُصَفُّ على جَبِيْنٍ

كَمِثْلِ اللَّيْلِ قَابَلَهُ الصَّبَاحُ

كَمِثْلِ اللَّيْلِ قَابَلَهُ الصَّبَاحُ

He has forelocks arrayed across his brow,

Like the night encountered by dawn.

Like night met by the dawn.

Adorned with belts, she’s of those

تَحَلَّى بِالمَنَاطِقِ وَهْوَ مِمْنْ

تَحَلَّى بِالمَنَاطِقِ وَهْوَ مِمْنْ

يَلِيْقُ بِهِ القَلائِدُ وَالوِشَاحُ

يَلِيْقُ بِهِ القَلائِدُ وَالوِشَاحُ

He has adorned himself with girdles, and is among those

Who deserve necklaces and veils.

Whom necklaces and a sash befit.

Radiant beams, honey bees’ combs,

وَسَاطِعَةُ الشُّعَاعِ رضَابُ نَحْلٍ

وَسَاطِعَةُ الشُّعَاعِ رضَابُ نَحْلٍ

حَلاَلٌ الشُّرْبِ لَيْسَ بِهَا جُنَاحُ

حَلاَلٌ الشُّرْبِ لَيْسَ بِهَا جُنَاحُ

And a radiant draught—the nectar of bees—

Lawful drinks without any sin.

Lawful to drink, with no sin in it.

To the wine-pourer generosity with pouring,

وللوسْمِيِّ بالقَطْرِ ابْتِدَارٌ

وللوسْمِيِّ بالقَطْرِ ابْتِدَارٌ

وللشَّرْب ابْتِهَاج وَارْتِيَاحُ

وللشَّرْب ابْتِهَاج وَارْتِيَاحُ

And the first autumn rain rushes down in drops,

For drinking, cheer and comfort.

And the drinkers have gladness and delight.

Their drink is joy and recollection,

شرابُهُمُ سُرورٌ وادِّكارُ

شرابُهُمُ سُرورٌ وادِّكارُ

وشَدْوُهُمُ اخْتِيارٌ واقْتِرَاحُ

وشَدْوُهُمُ اخْتِيارٌ واقْتِرَاحُ

Their drink is joy and remembrance,

And their fervor, choice and suggestion.

And their singing is by choice and request.

Between the cups and tambourines is war,

وَبَيْنَ الزِّيْرِ والمِضْرَابِ حَرْبٌ

وَبَيْنَ الزِّيْرِ والمِضْرَابِ حَرْبٌ

وَبَيْنَ الماءِ والرّاحِ اصْطِلاَحُ

وَبَيْنَ الماءِ والرّاحِ اصْطِلاَحُ

And between the treble string and the plectrum is war,

And between the water and the winds, peace.

And between water and wine is accord.

So we visited, shamelessly did we visit,

فَزُرْنَا غَيْرَ مُحْتِشِمِ تَزُرْنَا

فَزُرْنَا غَيْرَ مُحْتِشِمِ تَزُرْنَا

بِزَوْرَتِكَ المكارِمُ والسّمَاحُ

بِزَوْرَتِكَ المكارِمُ والسّمَاحُ

So visit us without reserve; we shall be visited,

With your refinement, generosity and lenience.

Through your visit, by noble virtues and generosity.