وافي إليك بلهوه النيروزُ

وافي إليك بلهوه النيروزُ

فاستَجلِ بكرَ الدنِّ وهي عجوزُ

فاستَجلِ بكرَ الدنِّ وهي عجوزُ

Nawruz has come to you with its merriment.

The messenger comes to you with the joy of Nayrouz

So unveil the wine jar's virgin, though she is aged.

So hasten the blossoms of the world, though they are old

صفراءُ تبدو في لجين كؤوسها

صفراءُ تبدو في لجين كؤوسها

بعد المزاجَ كأنها الإبريزُ

بعد المزاجَ كأنها الإبريزُ

Yellow, she appears in the silver of her cups,

Yellow it seems in the cups of her dress

After dilution, as though she were pure gold.

After being enjoyed, as if it were Ebreez

يُبدي المزاجُ لها حبَاباً طالعَّا

يُبدي المزاجُ لها حبَاباً طالعَّا

فأعجب لشمسٍ للنجوم تجوزُ

فأعجب لشمسٍ للنجوم تجوزُ

Dilution brings forth rising bubbles upon her;

Enjoyment shows for it ascendant bubbles

So marvel at a sun that the stars may share.

So wonderful for a sun whose stars she marries

كم خاطرٍ أمسى يُقسِّم فكرهُ

كم خاطرٍ أمسى يُقسِّم فكرهُ

فيها وغايةُ أمره التعجيزُ

فيها وغايةُ أمره التعجيزُ

Many a mind has spent the evening dividing its thought

How many thoughts have spent the night dividing their thoughts

On her, and the outcome of its endeavor is bafflement.

About it, and the result of the matter is amazement

فكأنما هي كلَّما تحتادُه

فكأنما هي كلَّما تحتادُه

وتحيله التخييرُ والتَّمييزُ

وتحيله التخييرُ والتَّمييزُ

So it is as though she, whenever [unclear verb concerning him],

So it is as if whenever it converges with him

And transforms him—choice and discernment [unclear syntax].

And makes him prefer and distinguish

يسعى بها ظبيٌ كأنَّ قوامَهُ

يسعى بها ظبيٌ كأنَّ قوامَهُ

غُصنٌ بأنفاسِ الصَّبا مَهزُوزُ

غُصنٌ بأنفاسِ الصَّبا مَهزُوزُ

A gazelle carries her about, his stature like

He strives with it like a gazelle whose stature

A bough shaken by the east wind's breath.

Is a branch windswept by the morning breeze

ذو وجنة حمراءَ في ديباجَها

ذو وجنة حمراءَ في ديباجَها

من خزِّ وشي عذارِه مَهزُوزُ

من خزِّ وشي عذارِه مَهزُوزُ

He has a red cheek, in whose brocade

With a red cheek in its raiment

The silken tracery of his cheek-down quivers.

Of peach and the locks of its hair windswept

يرنُوا إليك بمقلة سَّمارةٍ

يرنُوا إليك بمقلة سَّمارةٍ

هاروتُ في أجفانِها مَركوزُ

هاروتُ في أجفانِها مَركوزُ

He gazes toward you with a night-speaking eye [uncertain reading];

They cast glances at you with the eyelids of a wakeful one

Harut is lodged in its eyelids.

Harut's eye engraved upon it

فالوجد يفصل عنه منى مثلما

فالوجد يفصل عنه منى مثلما

أني رأيت الصَّبر وَهو يَعُوزُ

أني رأيت الصَّبر وَهو يَعُوزُ

So longing cuts hopes away from him, just as

So ecstasy separates from it as I saw

I have seen patience running short.

Patience while it was in want

ولكم أميل إليه وهو ممَّنعُ

ولكم أميل إليه وهو ممَّنعُ

ولكم أذل لديه وهو عزيزُ

ولكم أذل لديه وهو عزيزُ

And how often I incline toward him, though he is unapproachable;

And how much I incline toward it though it is forbidden

And how often I humble myself before him, while he is exalted.

And how much I humble myself before it though it is mighty

واحسرتي لو أنَّ لي بوصالهِ

واحسرتي لو أنَّ لي بوصالهِ

يوما به على رَغمِ الوشاة أفوز

يوما به على رَغمِ الوشاة أفوز

Alas for me! If only, through union with him,

And my regret that I have not through union with it

I might win him one day, despite the talebearers.

One day despite the envious won victory