وَمُعْتَدِلٍ يسعَى إليَّ بكأسِه

وَمُعْتَدِلٍ يسعَى إليَّ بكأسِه

وقَد كادَ ضَوْءُ الصُّبحِ باللَّيلِ يَفْتِكُ

وقَد كادَ ضَوْءُ الصُّبحِ باللَّيلِ يَفْتِكُ

And one of graceful build hastens toward me with his cup,

With one who strives towards me with his cup

while dawn's light had nearly slain the night.

And dawn's light had nearly exposed the night

وقد حَجَبَ الغَيْمُ السَّماءَ كأنَّما

وقد حَجَبَ الغَيْمُ السَّماءَ كأنَّما

يُزَرُّ عليها منه ثَوْبٌ مُمَسَّكُ

يُزَرُّ عليها منه ثَوْبٌ مُمَسَّكُ

And clouds had veiled the sky, as though

The clouds have veiled the sky as though

a musk-dyed robe of cloud were being buttoned over it.

A garment clings fast upon it

ظَلَلْنا نَبُثُّ الوَجْدَ والكأسُ دائِرٌ

ظَلَلْنا نَبُثُّ الوَجْدَ والكأسُ دائِرٌ

ونَهتِكُ أستارَ الهَوى فتَهَتَّكُ

ونَهتِكُ أستارَ الهَوى فتَهَتَّكُ

We spent the day pouring out our longing as the cup went round,

We sat scattering passion and the cup circulated

and tearing away love's veils until they were rent.

Rending the veils of love asunder

فَمَجلِسُنا في الماءِ يَهوي ويَرتقي

فَمَجلِسُنا في الماءِ يَهوي ويَرتقي

وإبريقُنا في الكأسِ يَبكي ويَضْحَكُ

وإبريقُنا في الكأسِ يَبكي ويَضْحَكُ

So our gathering sinks and rises in the water,

So our gathering in the wine sinks and rises

and in the cup our pitcher weeps and laughs.

And our pitcher in the cup weeps and laughs