أقولI say وأغصانand the branches الشبابyouth وريقةleafy
أقول وأغصان الشباب وريقة
وقلبيand my heart بكاساستby the cups (probable reading) الغرامpassion صريعstricken
وقلبي بكاساست الغرام صريع
I say, while the branches of youth are leafy,
I say, and the branches of youth are a leaf,
And my heart lies stricken by the cups of passion:
And my heart lies slain by the wine of passion-
إذاif المرءa man لمnot يطرحcast رداءcloak شبابهhis youth
إذا المرء لم يطرح رداء شبابه
علىupon زهرblossoms اللذاتpleasures فهوthen he is وضيعbase
على زهر اللذات فهو وضيع
If a man does not cast the cloak of his youth
If a man casts not his youth's cloak on the flower
Upon the blossoms of pleasure, then he is base.
Of pleasures, he is contemptible and wretched.