1. خذ يا نديمُ وهات غيرَ مطّبٍ

    كأساً تبسَّمُ عن دمٍ أو عندمِ

    Take, O drinking companion, and bring without delay

    A cup that smiles, revealing blood or dragon’s-blood resin.

  2. تجلى فتضحك والغمام معبّسٌ

    يبكي وتشرق في الزمان المظلم

    She is unveiled and laughs, while the cloud scowls,

    Weeping, while she shines in a time of darkness.

  3. عذراء في درّ الحباب منظَّماً

    والدرُّ ليس يزين غيرَ منظم

    A virgin amid strung pearls of foam—

    And pearls lend no beauty unless strung.

  4. هذا ووجهُ الروض طلقٌ سافرٌ

    بسوى ثغور أقاحهِ لم يلثم

    All this, while the garden’s face is cheerful and unveiled,

    Veiled by nothing but the mouths of its daisies.

  5. وعيون نرجسه جرى دمع الندى

    فيها ولسنَ وان نعسنَ بنوَّم

    And the eyes of its narcissi: tears of dew have flowed

    Within them; though they drowse, they are not asleep.

  6. والبدرُ في جنح الظلام وعمرهُ

    في العنفوان كغرَّةٍ من أدهم

    And the full moon, in darkness’s folds, with its life

    In its prime, is like a white blaze on a black horse.

  7. وكأنما زنجَّيةٌ محبوبةٌ

    جليت فنقَّطها المحبّ بدرهم

    And it is as though a beloved Zanj woman

    Were unveiled, and her lover gave her a dirham.