قد غشيت الروض أبغي فرجة

وأسرى الهم يوم المهرجان

I visited the garden seeking diversion

and to dispel care on the festival day.

طابت الجلسة في مقصفه

فوق كرسي لضيقٍ بالخوان

It was pleasant sitting in its café,

on a chair, for lack of room at the table.

وعليه فت طربوشي إلى

جنبه تلك العصى كالصولجان

And on it my fez lay crumpled; at

its side was that cane, like a scepter.

بيميني ممسكاً أنبوبتي

ويساري اللي نفاث الدخان

In my right hand I held my pipe,

and in my left, the hose that puffed smoke.

شيشة الفرس صفا بللورها

جلبوها تحفةً من أصفهان

A Persian hookah, its crystal clear—

they brought it as a treasure from Isfahan.

ولها كركرة لو في الدجى

تبعث الخوفَ إلى قلب الجبان

It had a gurgle that, in the darkness,

would strike fear into a coward's heart.

وعليها حجر في ناره

كعيون الليث حمراء سخان

And on it a bowl, glowing in its fire,

red and hot as the eyes of a lion.

أحمدي اللون والنارُ به

إن هذا من أعاجيب الزمان

Ahmadi in color, with fire inside it—

truly, this is among the wonders of the age.

رحت زهواً في خيال بالغ

أنا منه مؤمنٌ بين الجنان

Proudly I drifted into an extravagant fantasy:

through it, I was a believer amid paradise's gardens.

لكن المحفل في الدنيا زهنا

فكأني من ضيوف الزعفران

But the gathering was in this world [final word unclear],

as though I were one of al-Za'faran's guests.

وخيالي شاعري ليته

دام لي لولا الطواغيت الحسان

My fancy was poetic—would that it

had lasted for me, but for those lovely tyrants!

فاتنتني غادة فاتنةٌ

وأنا ما عدت سهل الإفتتان

A captivating young woman flirted with me,

though I was no longer easily captivated.

كانت الدهياءُ مع جاراتها

نسوةَ الصديق يوم الامتحان

The crafty woman and her neighbors were

the Truthful One's women on the day of trial.

يتهامسن بسر خلته

همزات الجن من قبل الأذان

They whispered a secret that I took for

the promptings of jinn before the call to prayer.

قلت ماذا تنتويه هذه

من مشيح لابسٍ ثوبَ الصيان

I said, 'What does this woman mean to do

with one who turns away, wearing chastity's robe?'

شاغلتني ومضت تلعب بي

غير أني كنتُ ذاك الألعبان

She distracted me and went on toying with me,

but I was that wily player.

فحذرت الغب من حب التي

عرضت لي وهي بيضاء عوان

So I feared the consequences of loving her

who came my way, fair-skinned and middle-aged.

قمت لما أسرت في خدعها

فتبدلت مكاناً بالمكان

I rose when I was caught in her wiles,

and exchanged one place for another.

فاتر اللمح وفي فترته

صامت التأنيب وارتاح اللسان

Languid was my glance, and in its languor

lay silent reproach; my tongue was at rest.

قالت النسوة يشمتن بها

أفلت الشيخُ فأعطينا الرهان

The women said, gloating over her,

'The old man escaped—so pay us the wager!'

فشيوخ الحب لاقوا حظهم

من حسانٍ ودنان وجفان

For love's elders have had their share

of beauties, wine jars, and serving bowls.

ذاك يومٌ كان حلماً وانقضى

بين إنسٍ هن في الفتنة جان

That day was a dream, and it passed,

among mortal women who were jinn in their allure.

يا بنات اليوم ولي جلينا

إنما الأسنان إن تعلو سنان

O girls of today, our generation has passed [reading uncertain];

years, when they mount, are only spearheads

تخذو الشيخ إذا شاء الهوى

وإذا كان هوى فهو الجنان

that wound the old man when he longs for love;

and if there is passion, it is madness.

وإذا لاح عجوزٌ عاشقاً

كان هذا العشق منه الهذيان

And if an old man appears in love,

this love of his is delirium.