لا يصرف الهمَّ إلّا شدوُ محسنة

لا يصرف الهمَّ إلّا شدوُ محسنة

أَو منظرٌ حسنٌ تهواهُ أو قدحُ

أَو منظرٌ حسنٌ تهواهُ أو قدحُ

Nothing dispels sorrow but a gifted songstress’s singing,

Nothing dispels sorrow but a skilled songstress’s singing,

Nothing dispels sorrow except the singing of a skilled songstress,

or a lovely sight you long for, or a goblet.

Or a lovely sight you love, or a cup.

Or a beautiful sight that you desire, or a flowing cup.

والراح للهمّ أَنقاها فخذ طرفاً

والراح للهمّ أَنقاها فخذ طرفاً

مِنها وَدع أمّة فِي شربها قدحوا

مِنها وَدع أمّة فِي شربها قدحوا

Wine is the purest cleanser of care—so take a draught

And wine clears sorrow best of all; so take a little

And wine is the purest remedy for care, so take a share of it,

of it, and ignore those who have censured drinking it.

Of it, and disregard those who have condemned its drinking.

And leave aside the crowd who have slandered its drinking.

بكر يخالُ إذا ما المزجُ خالَطها

بكر يخالُ إذا ما المزجُ خالَطها

سقاتها أنّهم زنداً بها قدحوا

سقاتها أنّهم زنداً بها قدحوا

A virgin wine: when the mixture mingles with it,

Virgin wine: when the mixing water mingles with her, it seems

A virgin vintage; one imagines, when the water mingles with it,

its pourers fancy they have struck fire from a flint with it.

To her cupbearers that they have struck fire from a firestick with her.

That its cupbearers have struck a flint within to spark fire.