من لي بأسمر كالخطي معتدلاً

من لي بأسمر كالخطي معتدلاً

به أحاديث وجدي في الورى سمر

به أحاديث وجدي في الورى سمر

Who will bring me a dusky one, upright as a Khatti spear?

I long for one with olive skin, well-built

Tales of my longing for him are evening talk among people.

With whom to share my inner thoughts and wiles

أهاب بي والدجى قر وأنمله

أهاب بي والدجى قر وأنمله

تدير نار سلاف ما لها شرر

تدير نار سلاف ما لها شرر

He called to me while the darkness was cold, and his fingertips

He comes to me when night falls, drawing near

Were passing round the fire of pure wine, which had no sparks.

And kindles gentle flames without wild fires

كأنا هي في كاساتها ذهب

كأنا هي في كاساتها ذهب

سكب ترصع في حافاته درر

سكب ترصع في حافاته درر

As though it were gold within its cups,

As if his goblets were of purest gold

Molten, with pearls set along its edges.

Inlaid with gems around the rims entire

فيا لها ليلة في ظلها جمعت

فيا لها ليلة في ظلها جمعت

منها ومنه لعيني الشمس والقمر

منها ومنه لعيني الشمس والقمر

Ah, what a night! In its shade were brought together

Oh, blessed night! In its shade we’re embraced

From the wine and from him, before my eyes, the sun and the moon.

My eyes behold the sun, the moon entire