تبتُ يا خمر عنك كَرهاً وقد كن

تبتُ يا خمر عنك كَرهاً وقد كن

ت أعاصي في صحتي كل زجرِ

ت أعاصي في صحتي كل زجرِ

I have renounced you, O wine, against my will, though I once

I renounced you, o wine, though once you were

defied every rebuke when I was well.

My disobedience when in health each censure;

ونهاني الطبيب عنك ولا أج

ونهاني الطبيب عنك ولا أج

هل للطب أي نهي وأمرِ

هل للطب أي نهي وأمرِ

The physician has forbidden you to me, and I am not

And though the doctor warned me against you, can

ignorant of any prohibition or command of medicine.

Medicine make unlawful that which it makes pure?

لا أرى منك في الضنى طب بطني

لا أرى منك في الضنى طب بطني

بعدما كنت في الأسى طب صدري

بعدما كنت في الأسى طب صدري

In wasting illness, I find in you no cure for my belly,

I see you bring no remedy for my care

after you had been a cure for my breast in sorrow.

Though once you were remedy for my despair.

ليت دائي مما يعالج بالخم

ليت دائي مما يعالج بالخم

ر فألقى العذول فيها بعذري

ر فألقى العذول فيها بعذري

If only my ailment were one treated with

Would that my sickness were of those made well

wine, so I could face the reproacher with my excuse for it.

By wine, then my excuse would be lawful and fair.

كنت أشكو بالشعر هنداً فأمسى

كنت أشكو بالشعر هنداً فأمسى

لتَشَكِّي السقام والسهد شعري

لتَشَكِّي السقام والسهد شعري

I used to complain of Hind in poetry; now

With verse I once complained of love, but now

my poetry is for lamenting sickness and sleeplessness.

My verse complains of sickness and care instead.