المزن أنهل ساكبه

كالدرّ من أعين الغمام

The rain-clouds have poured their rain in torrents,

Like pearls from the eyes of the clouds.

والرّوض فاحت أطايبه

والزهر قد فتح الكمام

And the garden's fragrances have spread,

And the flowers have opened their sheaths.

والبدر جاشت كتائبه

حتى هزم عسكر الظلام

And the full moon's battalions have surged forth,

Until it routed the army of darkness.

والعذب نوم مراقبه

قم يا نديم هات لي المدام

And the sweet beloved has lulled his watcher to sleep.

Rise, O drinking companion, bring me wine:

صهبا تشعشع كاللهب

يا قوتها فيه الحب

Tawny wine, sparkling like flame.

O its potency—in it is love!

وقل لدرىّ الشنب

يشرب ويسقى صويحبه

And tell the one with pearl-bright teeth

To drink and give his dear companion drink:

نبت الكروم صفوة الكرام

والراح قد طاب شاربه

The vines' yield, the choice of noble men.

And wine's drinker has found delight;

لا عتب في ذا ولا ملام

هذا مقام جامع الكمال

There is no reproach in this, nor blame.

This is a place embracing all perfection,

من خمر رائق وخمر ريق

اشرب وان حلّ بك ملام

With clear wine and the wine of saliva.

Drink, even if blame befalls you,

فالريق يطفي لك الحريق

من فيّ عذب اللما الغزال

For saliva quenches the blaze for you,

From the mouth of the sweet, dusky-lipped gazelle.

الحسن والزين به يليق

غصن يلاعب ذوائبه

Beauty and grace befit him.

A bough, he toys with his tresses;

يفترّ عن جوهر النظام

قد قدّد الجيب النهود

He smiles, revealing strung pearls.

The breasts have torn the neckline,

وزين الورد الخدود

مهلا تحت البنود

And roses have adorned the cheeks.

Take care beneath the banners!

يرمي على قوس حاجبه

من المقل لحظ كالسهام

He shoots with the bow of his eyebrow,

From his eyes, a glance like arrows.

ما حسن يوسف يناسبه

كلا ولا البدر في التمام

Yusuf's beauty does not match his;

No, nor the moon at its fullest.

إذا بدا يخجل الشموس

وان مشى يزري الغصون

When he appears, he puts the suns to shame,

And when he walks, he shames the boughs,

وان نطق يسلب النفوس

بالجدّ تارة وبالجنون

And when he speaks, he steals souls,

Sometimes in earnest, and sometimes in madness.

الحظ له والخطا يبوس

في طاقيه ساجي العيون

Fortune is his, and kisses his footsteps.

In a skullcap, he is languid-eyed;

والغيد تخضع لجانبه

وتعترف أن له التمام

And graceful maidens bow in his presence,

And acknowledge that perfection is his.

وهتانة قد زانها

ودعجها في أعيانها

And a tearful maiden, now adorned,

And dark luster in her eyes;

في صدرها رمانها

ان زين الدرّ ثاقبه

Her pomegranates are upon her chest.

If a pearl is adorned by its piercer,

فثغرها زانه الوشام

يقال لم لا تواظبه

Then her mouth is adorned by the tattooer.

They ask, 'Why do you not keep company with him?'

ودونه الضرب بالحسام

الدّهر مطبوع بالكدر

Yet sword-blows bar the way to him.

Time is stamped with trouble,

فاستعمل الصفو ما استطعت

لا بدّ أن ينفذ القدر

So enjoy serenity as much as you can.

Fate must inevitably be fulfilled,

صبرت أو لم تكن صبرت

اصبر وان حلّ بك ضجر

Whether you have been patient or have not.

Be patient, even if vexation befalls you,

واستعطف اللَه ما قدرت

ما خاب في الناس طالبه

And seek God's compassion as much as you can.

No seeker of Him among humankind has failed,

أصلاً ولا جاره يضام

يغضب إذا لم تطالبه

Ever; nor is His protégé oppressed.

He grows angry if you do not ask Him,

وابن آدم يغضبه

كثر السؤال ويكربه

But the son of Adam is angered

By frequent requests, which also distress him.

غمرت وعمت مواهبه

فأوجده واعدم الأنام

His gifts have overflowed and embraced all.

So affirm His existence, and reckon humankind as nothing.

لم يخش تعنيف حاجبه

ولن يضيق بابه الزحام

One does not fear His gatekeeper's rebuke,

And crowds will never constrict His door.