ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ النَّوَى تُخَفِّف مِنْ

وَجْدِي قَلِيلاً فَزَادَ مَا أَجِدُ

I thought yearning would lessen my anguish a little, but it only increased what I feel

O comfort of the soul, he who is parted from you, what comfort can he find?

يَا رَاحَةَ الرُّوحِ مَنْ تُفَارِقُهُ

رَاحَتُهُ أَيَّ غُنْيَةٍ يَجِدُ

What can I do about a love that enchains me? Is there any escape when my heart is fettered?

If I disobey His commands one day, my repentance to Him is guaranteed tomorrow

مَا حِيلَتِي فِي هَوىً يَصَفِّدُنِي

هَلْ مِنْ نَجَاةٍ وَقَلْبِيَ الصَّفدُ

O cupbearer, pass around the cups amongst the companions, let them sparkle

And o companions, drink your pleasures in uncountable draughts

إِذَا عَصَى بِيَ يَوْمِي أَوَامِرَهُ

فَكَافِلٌ تَوْبَتِي إِلَيْهِ غَدُ

For I relish your enjoyment, my thirstiest organ being my liver

I have returned to Him who holds my soul, though I will not taste it, for loyalty is what I promise

أَيْ سَاقِيَ الرَّاحِ أَجْرِهَا وَأَدِرْ

عَلَى الرِّفَاقِ الأَقْدَاحَ تَتَّقدُ

And I promised I would yearn to see a group suffering from thirst like me, if they ever come to water

They said the madness of the epileptics lies in their desires, but it is reason for those who yearn and keep away

وَيَا رِفَاقُ اشْرَبُوا نُخُوبَكمُ

شُرْباً دِرَاكاً لاَ يُحْصِهَا عَدَدُ

That is reason, but it is ignorance when the body weakens and the skin stretches thin

O my friends, life is all regret over what is missed, and all misery

فَإِنَّني أَنْتَشِي بِنَشْوَتِكُمْ

أَظْمَأَ مَا بَاتَ مِنِّي الكَبِدُ

So drown your preoccupations in the night, for its darkness will not save them from dissipation

Oh, how excellent is the setback of worries when the cup foams with a wave that expels them

وَعَدْتُ مَنْ فِي يَدَيْهِ رُوْحِيَ لاَ

أَذُوقُهَا والْوَفَاءُ مَا أَعِدُ

It is a cup, the sea overflowing with joy, while the cupbearers of sorrow walk in chains

With what words can I explain my darkness which startles me amidst the groves?

وَعُدْتُ أَشْتَاقُ أَنْ أَرَى زُمَراً

تَعُبُّها كَالْعِطَاشِ إِنْ وَرَدُوا

I seek eloquence for what troubles me, but I have no skill in making it clear

I have a youthful folly and ingratitude is its nature. Woe to the hearts from the evil they beget!

قَالُوا جُنُونُ الصَّرْعَى بِشَهْوَتِهِمْ

عَقْلٌ لِمَنْ يَشْتَهِي وَيَبْتَعِدُ

If my heart intended to destroy it in anger, it advised me that life does not last

ذَلِكَ عَقْلٌ لَكِنَّه سَفَهٌ

إِذَا وَهَى الجِسْمُ وَانْتَهَى الجَلَدُ

يَا صَحْبِيَ العُمْرُ كُلُّهُ أَسَفٌ

عَلَى فَوَاتٍ وَكُلُّهُ نَكَدُ

فَغَرِّقُوا فِي الطِّلاَ شَوَاغِلَكُمْ

لاَ يُنْجِهَا مِنْ ثُبُورِهَا مَدَدُ

يَا حَبَّذَا نَكْبَةُ الهُمُومِ وَقَدْ

حُفَّت بِمَوْجٍ فِي الكَأْسِ يَطَّرِدُ

كَأْسٌ هِيَ الْبَحْرُ بِالسُّرُورِ طَغَى

وَجَارِيَاتُ الأَسَى بِهِ قِدَدُ

بِأَيِّ لَفظٍ أَبُثُّ مَظْلَمَتِي

يَرَاعَتِي فِي البَنَانِ تَرْتَعِدُ

أَبْغِي بَيَاناً لِمَا يُخَامِرُنِي

مِنْهَا وَمَالِي فِي أَنْ أُبِينَ يَدُ

بِي صَبْوَةٌ وَالعُقُوقُ شِيمَتُهَا

وَيْحَ قُلُوبٍ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَلِدُ

إِنْ هَمَّ قَلْبي بوَأْدِهَا حَنِقاً

نَهَاهُ أَنَّ الحَيَاةَ مَا يَئِدُ