فَإِنَّ هَذا الوَطبَ لي ضائِرٌ

فَإِنَّ هَذا الوَطبَ لي ضائِرٌ

في ظاهِرِ الأَمرِ وَفي الغامِضِ

في ظاهِرِ الأَمرِ وَفي الغامِضِ

For this leather milk-bag does me harm,

This hot drink is harmful to me

For truly, this milk-skin brings me harm,

In the matter's outward and hidden aspects.

Apparently and in reality

In what is outward and what is concealed;

إِن كُنتَ تَسقيني فَمِن قهوةٍ

إِن كُنتَ تَسقيني فَمِن قهوةٍ

صَفراءَ مثلِ المُهرَةِ الناهِضِ

صَفراءَ مثلِ المُهرَةِ الناهِضِ

If you are to give me drink, let it be wine,

If you serve me coffee

If you are to pour me a drink, let it be wine,

Yellow as a filly rising to her feet.

Pale yellow like the raised torch

Golden, like a rearing young filly,

تَنزو الفَقاقيعُ إِذا شُعشِعَت

تَنزو الفَقاقيعُ إِذا شُعشِعَت

نَزوَ جَرادِ البلَد الرامِضِ

نَزوَ جَرادِ البلَد الرامِضِ

The bubbles leap when it is diluted with water,

Bubbles froth when it is stirred

Its bubbles leaping when it is diluted,

Like locusts leaping on sun-scorched ground.

Like locusts swarming the ravaged land

Like the leaping of locusts on sun-scorched earth.