1. عَجِبتُ لِشارِبٍ بِزُجاجِ راحٍ

    دُوَينَ العَقلِ سُدءاً مِن حَديدِ

    I marveled at a drinker who, with glasses of wine,

    Raised an iron barrier just before his reason.

  2. وَلَم يَحتَج إِلى عَونٍ بِقَطرٍ

    وَلَم يَكُ صاحِبَ الأَيدِ الشَديدِ

    And needed no help with molten copper,

    Nor possessed formidable strength.

  3. رَأى شَمسَ المُدامِ تَغورُ فيهِ

    وَتَطلُعُ في ذُرى قَدَحٍ جَديدِ

    He saw the sun of wine sink into him,

    And rise at the rim of a new goblet.

  4. مُقيماً غَيرَ ذي سَفَرٍ تَكَفّا

    بِنَدمانيهِ مِن جَمِّ العَديدِ

    Staying put, making no journey, he contented himself

    With his two drinking companions instead of a vast multitude.

  5. كَذي القِرنَينِ لَكِن ضَلَّ هَذا

    وَيُسَّرَ ذاكَ لِلرَأي السَديدِ

    Like Dhu al-Qarnayn—but this man went astray,

    While that one was guided to sound judgment.