1. الوَردُ يَضحَكُ وَالأَوتارُ تَصطَخِبُ

    وَالنايُ يَندُبُ أَشجاناً وَيَنتَحِبُ

    The roses laugh, and the strings clamor;

    And the reed flute laments sorrows and sobs.

  2. وَالراحُ تُعرَضُ في نَورِ الرَبيعِ كَما

    تُجلى العَروسُ عَلَيها الدُرُّ وَالذَهَبُ

    And wine is displayed amid spring's blossoms, as

    The bride is unveiled, pearls and gold upon her.

  3. وَاللَهوُ يُلحِقُ مَغبوقاً بِمُصطَبِحٍ

    وَالدَورُ سِيّانِ مَحثوثٌ وَمُنتَخَبُ

    And revelry joins the evening drinker to the morning drinker;

    And the rounds are alike, whether hurried or chosen.

  4. وَكُلَّما اِنسَكَبَت في الكَأسِ آنِيَةً

    أَقسَمتُ أَنَّ شُعاعَ الشَمسِ يَنسَكِبُ

    And whenever it poured hot into the cup,

    I swore that the sun's radiance was pouring forth.

  5. وَالقَومُ إِخوانُ صِدقٍ بَينَهُم نَسَبٌ

    مِنَ المَوَدَّةِ لَم يُعدَل بِهِ نَسَبُ

    And the company are true brothers, bound by a kinship

    Of affection unmatched by any kinship.

  6. تَراضَعوا دِرَّةَ الصَهباءِ بَينَهُمُ

    وَأَوجَبوا لِرَضيعِ الكَأسِ ما يَجِبُ

    They suckled together on the flowing milk of tawny wine,

    And acknowledged all that is owed to the cup's nursling.

  7. لا يَحفَظونَ عَلى السَكرانِ زَلَّتَهُ

    وَلا يَريبُكَ مِن أَخلاقِهِم رِيَبُ

    They do not hold a drunkard's lapse against him,

    And no doubts about their character trouble you.

  8. نِعمَ المُؤَدِّبَةُ الأَيّامُ وَالحِقَبُ

    وَلِلزَمانِ عَلى عِلّاتِهِ عُقَبُ

    What excellent teachers the days and ages are!

    And time, for all its faults, has its turns.