لا شَيء أَملَحُ مِن ساقٍ عَلى عُنُق

لا شَيء أَملَحُ مِن ساقٍ عَلى عُنُق

وَمِن مناقَلَةٍ كَأساً عَلى طَبَقِ

وَمِن مناقَلَةٍ كَأساً عَلى طَبَقِ

Nothing is lovelier than a leg upon a neck,

Nothing is more refreshing than a leg on a neck,

Or passing a cup upon a tray,

And passing around a cup on a tray,

وَمِن مُواصَلةٍ مِن بَعدِ مَعتَبَةٍ

وَمِن مُواصَلةٍ مِن بَعدِ مَعتَبَةٍ

وَمِن مُراسَلَةِ الأَحبابِ بِالحَدَقِ

وَمِن مُراسَلَةِ الأَحبابِ بِالحَدَقِ

Or reunion after reproach,

And continuing after an estrangement,

Or exchanging messages with loved ones through the eyes.

And corresponding with loved ones with glances.

جَرَيتُ جَريَ طَموحٍ في الصِّبا طَلَقاً

جَرَيتُ جَريَ طَموحٍ في الصِّبا طَلَقاً

وَما خَرَجتُ لِصَرفِ الدَّهرِ عَن طَلَقي

وَما خَرَجتُ لِصَرفِ الدَّهرِ عَن طَلَقي

I ran like a spirited steed, unrestrained in youth;

I flowed freely in my youth like an ambition,

And time’s vicissitudes never turned me from my course.

And I did not deviate from my freedom for the passage of time,

وَلا اِنثَنَيتُ لِداعي المَوتِ يَومَ وَغىً

وَلا اِنثَنَيتُ لِداعي المَوتِ يَومَ وَغىً

كَما اِنثَنَيتُ وَحَبلُ الحُبِّ في عُنُقي

كَما اِنثَنَيتُ وَحَبلُ الحُبِّ في عُنُقي

Nor did I yield to death’s summons on a day of battle

And I did not bend to the caller of death on a day of turmoil,

As I yielded with love’s rope around my neck.

As I bent when the rope of love was around my neck.