1. يا مَليحاً قَد تَجلّى

    فيهِ أَهلُ الحَيّ هاموا

    O beautiful one who has revealed himself,

    the people of the quarter went mad with love for him,

  2. سِيَما لَمّا تَحلّى

    وَحَلا فيهِ الغَرامُ

    especially when he adorned himself,

    and passion grew sweet in him.

  3. قُلت لَمّا لاحَ يجلى

    وَاِنجلى عَنّي الظَلامُ

    I said, when he appeared, shining forth,

    and the darkness cleared away from me:

  4. هَكَذا العَيشُ وَإِلّا

    فَعَلى العَيش السَلامُ

    This is life—otherwise,

    then farewell to life!

  5. حَبَّذا لَمّا سَقاني

    صَفوَ كَأسِ الحُبِّ صِرفا

    How lovely it was when he gave me to drink

    the pure draught of love's cup, unmixed,

  6. وَحَباني بِالتَداني

    وَاِنثَنَى جيداً وَعطفا

    and favored me with nearness,

    and bent his neck and flank.

  7. مُبعدٌ في القَلبِ حَلا

    وَجَلى عَنّي الظَلام

    One kept afar grew sweet in my heart,

    and cleared the darkness away from me.

  8. هَكَذا العَيش وَإِلا

    فَعَلى العَيشِ السَلام

    This is life—otherwise,

    then farewell to life!

  9. يا خَليّ البالِ هَلّا

    تَدخل الحان وَتَعشق

    O carefree one, will you not

    enter the tavern and fall in love?

  10. إِنّ لَيل الصَدّ وَلّى

    وَصَباحُ الوَصلِ أَشرَق

    Indeed, the night of rejection has passed,

    and the morning of union has shone forth.

  11. وَمقامُ الحَبِّ جَلّ

    لا يُضاهيهِ مَقامُ

    And love's station is exalted;

    no station equals it.

  12. هَكَذا العَيشُ وَإِلّا

    فَعَلى العَيشِ السَلامُ

    This is life—otherwise,

    then farewell to life!