1. إذا كنت ندماني فخذها وسقّني

    ودع عنك من رآك تكرع في الخمر

    If you are my drinking companion, take it and pour me a drink,

    And disregard whoever saw you guzzling wine.

  2. فإني امرؤٌ لا أشرب الخمر في الدجا

    ولكنني أحسو النبيذ من التمر

    For I am a man who drinks no wine in night’s darkness,

    But I sip nabidh brewed from dates,

  3. حياً وتقى للَه واللَه عالمٌ

    بكل الذي نأتيه في السر والجهر

    Out of modesty and reverence for God—and God knows

    All that we do in secret and openly.

  4. ومثلك قد جرّبته وخيرتُه

    أبا مطر والحين أسبابُه تجري

    And one like you I have tested and chosen,

    Abu Matar, while doom’s causes run their course.

  5. حساها كمُستدمى الغزالِ عتيقةً

    إذا شعشعت بالماء طيبة النشرِ

    He sipped it, well-aged, like blood drawn from a gazelle,

    Sweetly fragrant when diluted with water.

  6. أقام عليها دهره كلّ ليلةٍ

    يشافهها حتى يرى وضح الفجر

    He remained with it all his life, night after night,

    Putting his lips to it until he saw the brightness of dawn.

  7. فاصبح ميتاً ميتة الكلب ضحكةً

    لاصحابه حتى يُدَهدَهَ في القبرِ

    So by morning he was dead—a dog’s death, a laughingstock

    To his companions, until he was tumbled into the grave.

  8. فما إن بكاه غير دنٍّ ومزهرٍ

    وغانيةٍ كالبدر واضحة الثغر

    None wept for him but a wine jar and a lute,

    And a beauty like the full moon, with gleaming teeth,

  9. وباطيةٍ كانت له خدن زنيَةٍ

    يعاقِرها والليل معتكر الستر

    And a wine bowl that had been his partner in illicit love,

    With which he caroused while night’s veil lay thick and dark.