تَرَكتُ لسافي الريحِ بانةَ عَرعَرا

تَرَكتُ لسافي الريحِ بانةَ عَرعَرا

وَزرتُ لِصافي السراحِ حانةَ عكبَرا

وَزرتُ لِصافي السراحِ حانةَ عكبَرا

I left Ar‘ar's moringa tree to the wind's drifting dust.

I left my tongue to the merciful wind, stumbling

And visited Ukbara's tavern for pure wine.

And I visited the tavern of pure drink, tottering

وَقُلتُ لعلجٍ يَعبد الخمر زُفَّها

وَقُلتُ لعلجٍ يَعبد الخمر زُفَّها

مُشَعشَعَةً قَد شاهَدت عَصرَ قَيصَرا

مُشَعشَعَةً قَد شاهَدت عَصرَ قَيصَرا

I told a foreign unbeliever who worshipped wine, 'Lead her forth like a bride,

And I said to a server who worships wine, pour it

mixed with water—she has witnessed Caesar's age.'

Dazzling, for I have seen the era of Caesar

فَناوَلَنيها لَو تَفَرَّقنورُها

فَناوَلَنيها لَو تَفَرَّقنورُها

عَلى الدَهر نالَ اللَيلُ منها تَحَيُّرا

عَلى الدَهر نالَ اللَيلُ منها تَحَيُّرا

So he handed her to me; if her light were scattered

If he had poured it to me, and its light

across all time, night would be dazzled by her.

Had scattered over existence, the night would have gained from it, perplexed

وَأَوسِعني آساً وَورداً وَنَرجساً

وَأَوسِعني آساً وَورداً وَنَرجساً

وَأَحضَرَني ناياً وَطبلاً وَمزهرا

وَأَحضَرَني ناياً وَطبلاً وَمزهرا

He lavished on me myrtle, roses, and narcissi,

And given me more affliction, roses, and narcissi

and brought me a reed flute, a drum, and a lute.

And brought me a flute, drums and blossoms

هنالِكَ أَعطَيتُ البطالَة حَقَّها

هنالِكَ أَعطَيتُ البطالَة حَقَّها

وَأَلفَيتُ هتكَ الستر مجداً وَمَفخَرا

وَأَلفَيتُ هتكَ الستر مجداً وَمَفخَرا

There I gave idleness its due,

Thereupon I gave idleness its due

and found rending the veil a glory and a source of pride.

And deemed revealing the veil glorious and a matter of pride

كَأَنّي الصَبا جَرياً إِلى حومَة الصِبا

كَأَنّي الصَبا جَرياً إِلى حومَة الصِبا

أُناغي صَبِيّاً من جلندا مُزَنَّرا

أُناغي صَبِيّاً من جلندا مُزَنَّرا

As though I were the east wind, racing into the heart of youth,

As if I were youth running to the folly of youth

I murmured tenderly to a boy from Julanda, wearing a zunnar girdle.

Entertaining a boy from Galanda adorned

فَعانَقتُهُ وَالراحُ قَد عَقرت بِنا

فَعانَقتُهُ وَالراحُ قَد عَقرت بِنا

فَكَرَّرتُ تَقبيلاً وَقد أَقبَل الكرى

فَكَرَّرتُ تَقبيلاً وَقد أَقبَل الكرى

So I embraced him, while wine had taken its toll on us,

I embraced him while the wind blew around us

and repeated my kisses as slumber drew near.

I repeated kisses while fate drew near

وَصَدَّ عَن المَعنى النعاس وَصادَني

وَصَدَّ عَن المَعنى النعاس وَصادَني

إِلى أَن تَصَدّى الصُبحُ يَلمَعُ مُسفِرا

إِلى أَن تَصَدّى الصُبحُ يَلمَعُ مُسفِرا

Drowsiness kept me from my aim and ensnared me,

Drowsiness barred me from meaning and led me

until dawn appeared, gleaming bright.

Until the dawn shone out, brightening

وَهَبَّت شَمالٌ نَظَّمَت شَملَ بُغيَتي

وَهَبَّت شَمالٌ نَظَّمَت شَملَ بُغيَتي

فَطارَت بِه عَنّي الشُمولُ تَطَيُّرا

فَطارَت بِه عَنّي الشُمولُ تَطَيُّرا

A north wind blew, gathering together all I sought;

And a north wind blew, gathering my scattered resolve

so the wine flew away from me with it, in dread of an ill omen.

Blowing it away from me fluttering

فَكانَ الَّذي لَولا الحَياءُ أَذَعتُهُ

فَكانَ الَّذي لَولا الحَياءُ أَذَعتُهُ

وَلا خَير في عيشِ الفَتى ان تَسَتَّرا

وَلا خَير في عيشِ الفَتى ان تَسَتَّرا

Then happened what, but for modesty, I would divulge.

That which I would have proclaimed, had it not been for modesty

And no good lies in a young man's life if he keeps himself concealed.

For there is no good in the life of a youth who conceals