نطق العود فعاتب من نطق

نطق العود فعاتب من نطق

واصطبحها مزة أو فاغتبق

واصطبحها مزة أو فاغتبق

The lute has spoken; rebuke whoever speaks.

The lute spoke, so it blamed the one who spoke

And drink this tart wine in the morning, or else in the evening.

And whispered to it in the morning, or enveloped it

لا تدعها قهوة كرخيه

لا تدعها قهوة كرخيه

لم يدعها نوح اذ خاف الغرق

لم يدعها نوح اذ خاف الغرق

Do not forsake it, this wine of Karkh;

Do not leave it bitter coffee

Noah did not forsake it when he feared drowning.

Noah did not leave it when he feared drowning

خلتها في كأسها ان شعشعت

خلتها في كأسها ان شعشعت

شفقا تلبس اثواب الفلق

شفقا تلبس اثواب الفلق

In its cup, when mixed with water, I thought it

Leave it in its cup if it shone

a sunset glow wearing the robes of dawn.

Dressed in the clothes of dawn

قهوة رقت وراقت كأبي

قهوة رقت وراقت كأبي

عمرو الرائق خلقا وخلق

عمرو الرائق خلقا وخلق

A wine grown delicate and clear, like Abu

Coffee softened and thinned like my father

Amr, pleasing in form and character.

Amr, pure in creation and nature

حاجب ما إن ثنى انمله

حاجب ما إن ثنى انمله

بالعطايا والمنايا تندفق

بالعطايا والمنايا تندفق

A chamberlain who has never curled his fingers—

An eyebrow, when its hair is bent

they gush with gifts and death.

With gifts and sorrows it flows

هو والافضال روض وصبا

هو والافضال روض وصبا

هو والعلياء عقد وعنق

هو والعلياء عقد وعنق

He and generosity are a garden and the east wind.

He and generosity are a meadow and youth

He and lofty glory are a necklace and a neck.

He and the virtuous are a necklace and neck

هو والاملاك ان قيسوا به

هو والاملاك ان قيسوا به

مهيع بين بنيات الطرق

مهيع بين بنيات الطرق

He, among kings—if they are measured against him—

He and the angels, if compared to him

is a broad highway amid the roads’ little offshoots.

Lost between the daughters of the roads