أَلَمَّ بي في لَيلَةٍ بَدرُها

أَلَمَّ بي في لَيلَةٍ بَدرُها

كَمِثلِ مِرآةٍ بَدَت تَصدا

كَمِثلِ مِرآةٍ بَدَت تَصدا

There came to me, on a night whose full moon

In a night whose full moon

Was like a mirror that seemed to tarnish,

Shone like a mirror unveiled,

مُنَعَّمٌ أَسيافُ أَلحاظِهِ

مُنَعَّمٌ أَسيافُ أَلحاظِهِ

قَد جَعَلَت قَلبي لَها غَمدا

قَد جَعَلَت قَلبي لَها غَمدا

A pampered man, the swords of whose glances

With swords of glances keen-edged yet gentle

Had made my heart their sheath.

My heart became its sheath enthralled.

فَلَم تَزَل تَعمَلُ كاساتُنا

فَلَم تَزَل تَعمَلُ كاساتُنا

حَتّى اِكتَسَت وَجنَتُهُ وَردا

حَتّى اِكتَسَت وَجنَتُهُ وَردا

So our cups never ceased their work

Our cups went round until

Until his cheek was clothed in roses.

His cheek grew rosy red,

وَدَحرَجَ السُكرُ بِنا فَاِنثَنى

وَدَحرَجَ السُكرُ بِنا فَاِنثَنى

مِن فَوقِ خَدّي واضِعاً خَدّا

مِن فَوقِ خَدّي واضِعاً خَدّا

And drunkenness sent us rolling; then he bent

When sugar rolled over sending him

Over my cheek, laying his cheek upon mine.

To lay his cheek against my cheek instead.

وَلَم أَنَل مِنهُ سِوى رُؤيَةٍ

وَلَم أَنَل مِنهُ سِوى رُؤيَةٍ

حَلَت فَكانَت في فَمي شَهدا

حَلَت فَكانَت في فَمي شَهدا

And from him I gained nothing but a glimpse

The only taste of him I got

That grew sweet and became honey in my mouth.

Was a vision that settled on my mouth like mead,

وَمَن يَكُن مِثلي لا يَرتَضي

وَمَن يَكُن مِثلي لا يَرتَضي

لِنَفسِهِ ما يُسخِطُ المَجدا

لِنَفسِهِ ما يُسخِطُ المَجدا

And whoever is like me will not accept

He who is like me will never be content

For himself what offends honor.

With what would shame the virtuous deed.