ياO معشَرَcompany of الفتيانthe young men ماwhat عندَكُمْwith you (plural)
يا معشَرَ الفتيان ما عندَكُمْ
فيconcerning حائمٍone circling thirstily ذيدَwas driven away عنfrom الوِرْدِthe watering place
في حائمٍ ذيدَ عن الوِرْدِ
O company of young men, what say you
Of one circling in thirst, driven from the watering place?
آلىhe swore علىconcerning الخمرةwine لاnot ذاقهاhe would taste it
آلى على الخمرة لا ذاقها
ماas long as عاشhe lived إِلاّexcept زمنthe season of الوَرْدِroses
ما عاش إِلاّ زمن الوَرْدِ
He swore he would never taste wine
As long as he lived, except in the season of roses.
وقدand already مضىhas passed الوَرْدُthe roses فهلso is there رخصةٌa dispensation
وقد مضى الوَرْدُ فهل رخصةٌ
فيfor أنthat يكونbe الوَردُthe rose منfrom خدِّa cheek
في أن يكون الوَردُ من خدِّ
And now the roses are gone—so is there leave
For the rose to come from a cheek?