رَقّ الزُّجاجُ وَرَقَّت الخَمرُ

رَقّ الزُّجاجُ وَرَقَّت الخَمرُ

فَتشابَها فَتَشاكل الأَمرُ

فَتشابَها فَتَشاكل الأَمرُ

The glass grew fine and clear, and the wine grew fine and clear.

The glass gently wept, the wine softly bubbled

So the two resembled each other, and the matter became confused.

So alike they seemed, so confusion doubled

فَكَأَنَّها خَمرٌ وَلا قَدح

فَكَأَنَّها خَمرٌ وَلا قَدح

وَكَأَنَّها قَدحٌ وَلا خَمرُ

وَكَأَنَّها قَدحٌ وَلا خَمرُ

So it seems to be wine, with no cup,

As though it was wine, and no glass was there

And it seems to be a cup, with no wine.

And as though the glass held wine that wasn't there