طافَ بِالكَأسِ عَلى عُشّاقِهِ

طافَ بِالكَأسِ عَلى عُشّاقِهِ

رَشَأٌ كَالبَدرِ في إِشراقِهِ

رَشَأٌ كَالبَدرِ في إِشراقِهِ

He made the rounds with the cup among his lovers—

He passed the cup among his lovers,

a young gazelle, like the full moon in his radiance.

A teardrop like the full moon in its glory.

فَكَأَنَّ الراحَ مِن وَجنَتِهِ

فَكَأَنَّ الراحَ مِن وَجنَتِهِ

وَكَأَنَّ الماءَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ

وَكَأَنَّ الماءَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ

So it was as though the wine came from his cheek,

As if the basil scent came from his cheek,

and as though the water came from his character.

And the water was from his noble nature.

لَيِّنُ العِطفِ وَلَكِن لَم يَزَل

لَيِّنُ العِطفِ وَلَكِن لَم يَزَل

قاسِيَ القَلبِ عَلى مُشتاقِهِ

قاسِيَ القَلبِ عَلى مُشتاقِهِ

Supple of flank, yet he has never ceased

Gentle of manner yet his heart remained

to be hard-hearted toward the one who longs for him.

Hard on those who longed for him.

لَم يَكُن أَوهى قوًى مِن خَصرِهِ

لَم يَكُن أَوهى قوًى مِن خَصرِهِ

غَيرُ صَبري عَنهُ أَو ميثاقِهِ

غَيرُ صَبري عَنهُ أَو ميثاقِهِ

Nothing was weaker in strength than his waist,

Nothing made me weaker than his waist

except my patience in his absence, or his pledge.

Except my patience with him or his covenant.