1. هَذا الظَلامُ أَثارَ كامِنَ دائي

    يا ساقِيَيَّ عَلَيَّ بِالصَهباءِ

    This darkness has stirred my dormant malady.

    O my two cupbearers, bring me the tawny wine,

  2. بِالكاسِ أَو بِالطاسِ أَو بِاِثنَيهِما

    أَو بِالدِنانِ فَإِنَّ فيهِ شِفائي

    In a cup or a bowl, or in both,

    Or in wine jars—for in it lies my cure.

  3. مَشمولَةٌ لَولا التُقى لَعَجِبتُ مِن

    تَحريمِها وَالذَنبُ لِلقُدَماءِ

    Wine cooled by the north wind—were it not for piety, I would marvel at

    Its prohibition; the blame lies with those of old.

  4. قَرِبوا الصَلاةَ وَهُم سُكارى بَعدَما

    نَزَلَ الكِتابُ بِحِكمَةٍ وَجَلاءِ

    They approached prayer while drunk, after

    The Book had descended with wisdom and clarity.

  5. يا زَوجَةَ اِبنِ المُزنِ يا أُختَ الهَنا

    يا ضَرَّةَ الأَحزانِ في الأَحشاءِ

    O wife of the son of the rain clouds, O sister of joy,

    O rival wife to sorrows within the breast,

  6. يا طِبَّ جالينوسَ في أَنواعِهِ

    ما لي أَراكِ كَثيرَةِ الأَعداءِ

    O Galen's medicine in all its forms,

    Why do I see you with so many enemies?

  7. عَصَروكِ مِن خَدَّي سُهَيلٍ خُلسَةً

    ثُمَّ اِختَبَأتِ بِمُهجَةِ الظَلماءِ

    They pressed you stealthily from Suhayl's cheeks,

    Then you hid within the heart of the dark night.

  8. فَلَبِثتِ فيها قَبلَ نوحٍ حِقبَةً

    وَتَداوَلَتكِ أَنامِلُ الآناءِ

    So you lingered there for an age before Noah,

    And the fingertips of the hours passed you from hand to hand,

  9. حَتّى أَتاحَ اللَهُ أَن تَتَجَمَّلي

    بِيَدِ الكَريمِ وَراحَةِ الأُدَباءِ

    Until God allowed you to adorn yourself

    In a generous man's hand and the palm of men of letters.

  10. يا صاحِبي كَيفَ النُزوعُ عَنِ الطِلا

    وَلَقَد بُليتُ مِنَ الهُمومِ بِداءِ

    O my friend, how can I renounce wine,

    When I have been afflicted with a sickness born of cares?

  11. وَاللَيلُ أَرشَدَهُ أَبوهُ لِشِقوَتي

    وَكَذا البَنونُ عَلى هَوى الآباءِ

    And night's father has guided it to torment me;

    And so sons follow their fathers' inclinations.

  12. أَلَّفتُ بَينَ اِبنِ السَحابِ وَبَينَها

    فَرَأَيتُ صِحَّةَ ما حَكاهُ الطائي

    I united the son of the clouds with her,

    Then saw the truth of what al-Ta'i recounted:

  13. صَعُبَت وَراضَ المَزجُ سَيِّئَ خُلقِها

    فَتَعَلَّمَت مِن حُسنِ خُلقِ الماءِ

    She was unruly, and mixing tamed her ill temper,

    So she learned from the good nature of water.