إِن كُنتَ نَدماني أَبا مالِك

إِن كُنتَ نَدماني أَبا مالِك

فاسقِ أَبا الهِنديِّ بِالكُندَرَهْ

فاسقِ أَبا الهِنديِّ بِالكُندَرَهْ

If you are my drinking companion, Abu Malik,

If you are my cup-companion, O Abu Malik,

then serve Abu al-Hindi, in the kundarah cup,

Then pour for Abu Al-Hindi into the large goblet,

مِن قَهوةٍ صَهباءَ كَرخيَّةً

مِن قَهوةٍ صَهباءَ كَرخيَّةً

تأخُذُ بِالرأسِ وَبالحَنجَرَةْ

تأخُذُ بِالرأسِ وَبالحَنجَرَةْ

some tawny wine from Karkh

Some reddish-brown wine from Karkh,

that takes hold of the head and throat.

That seizes both the head and the throat,

تُسكبُ مِن زقٍّ لَنا مُسنَدٍ

تُسكبُ مِن زقٍّ لَنا مُسنَدٍ

اسحَم رشاش لَهُ قَرقَرهْ

اسحَم رشاش لَهُ قَرقَرهْ

It is poured for us from a propped-up wineskin,

Poured for us from a propped-up wineskin,

black and spattering, with a gurgling sound.

Dark and spurting, with a gurgling sound;

كَأَنَّما أَكرُعُه إِذ بَدَت

كَأَنَّما أَكرُعُه إِذ بَدَت

أَيدي لصوص قُطِعت مُنكرَهْ

أَيدي لصوص قُطِعت مُنكرَهْ

As though its legs, when they appeared,

As if its tied legs, when they appear,

were thieves’ hands, cut off and hideous.

Are the severed, grotesque hands of thieves.