وخضرٌ منَ الدوْحَاتِ لميٌ ظِلالُها

وخضرٌ منَ الدوْحَاتِ لميٌ ظِلالُها

وصلتُ صَبُوحًا بها بغَبُوقِ

وصلتُ صَبُوحًا بها بغَبُوقِ

And green, spreading trees with dusky shadows—

Green are the palms, their shade covering the valleys,

Beneath them I joined a morning draught to an evening one.

I reached them one morn, traveling with my yearning,

ومشمُولَة رقت فلمْ تَرْضَ صاحِبا

ومشمُولَة رقت فلمْ تَرْضَ صاحِبا

لها غيْرَ مشْمُولِ النطاقِ رقِيقِ

لها غيْرَ مشْمُولِ النطاقِ رقِيقِ

And wine cooled by the north wind, so delicate it would accept no companion

Delicate, she swayed, unhappy with any but

For itself, save a delicate one, slender at the girdle.

Her slender-waisted lover so gentle and kind.

يَفيضُ على كَف المُديرِ شُعاعُها

يَفيضُ على كَف المُديرِ شُعاعُها

كأن منهُ عليهِ درعَ خَلُوقِ

كأن منهُ عليهِ درعَ خَلُوقِ

Its radiance spills over the cupbearer’s palm,

Her radiance spills on the wine-bearer's palm

As though its light clothed him in armor of saffron perfume.

As if it were a coat of mail he put on,

إذا شَجها بالماءِ حلى كؤوسِهَا

إذا شَجها بالماءِ حلى كؤوسِهَا

بِدُر فَحَلتْ خَدهُ بِعَقيق

بِدُر فَحَلتْ خَدهُ بِعَقيق

When he mixes it with water, he adorns its goblets

When he pours her pure liquor in goblets

With pearls; in turn, it adorns his cheek with agate.

Pearls form on his cheeks from her dazzling light.

وما هيَ إلا الشمْسُ تُشْرِقُ منْ فَم

وما هيَ إلا الشمْسُ تُشْرِقُ منْ فَم

وقد أذِنَتْ في وجْنَةٍ بشُروق

وقد أذِنَتْ في وجْنَةٍ بشُروق

And it is nothing but the sun, rising from a mouth,

She is but the sun rising from the mouth

And has granted leave for sunrise upon a cheek.

Of the flask, giving notice she will shine,

أدؤرْها على الروْضِ الذي راقَ حُسنُهُ

أدؤرْها على الروْضِ الذي راقَ حُسنُهُ

فكَمْ لك منْ مرْأى هناكَ أَنِيق

فكَمْ لك منْ مرْأى هناكَ أَنِيق

Pass it round amid the garden whose beauty delights,

I passed her round in the garden, its beauty alluring,

For how many lovely sights await you there!

What splendid scenes for you there to behold!

إذا أعينُ النوارِ أيقَضَها الحَيا

إذا أعينُ النوارِ أيقَضَها الحَيا

تضاحكَتِ الأكْواسُ فعلَ عشِيقِ

تضاحكَتِ الأكْواسُ فعلَ عشِيقِ

When rain awakens the eyes of the blossoms,

When the brilliant stars awaken, dawn laughs,

The goblets laugh together, as a lover does.

And the goblets smile at their passionate lover.