قُم فَاِغتَنِم غَفلَةَ الزَمانِ

قُم فَاِغتَنِم غَفلَةَ الزَمانِ

ما دُمتَ مِنهُ عَلى أَمانِ

ما دُمتَ مِنهُ عَلى أَمانِ

Rise, and take advantage of Time's heedlessness,

Arise, seize the heedless moment

As long as you remain safe from it.

While you remain secure from fate’s advance

ما دامَ عودُ الشَبابِ غَضّا

ما دامَ عودُ الشَبابِ غَضّا

تَرغَبُ في وَصلِكَ الغَواني

تَرغَبُ في وَصلِكَ الغَواني

As long as youth's bough remains tender,

While the sapling of youth remains fresh

Beautiful women long for union with you.

And the lovesick maidens long for your union

تَفتَضُّ عَذراءَ بِنتَ كَرَمٍ

تَفتَضُّ عَذراءَ بِنتَ كَرَمٍ

أَنحَلَها المَكثُ في الدِنانِ

أَنحَلَها المَكثُ في الدِنانِ

You deflower a virgin, daughter of the vine,

A highborn beauty weakened by waiting

Whom lingering in wine jars has made slender.

Her inhibitions melted away by wine

تَضحَكُ في كَأسِها سُروراً

تَضحَكُ في كَأسِها سُروراً

إِذا بَكَت أَعيُنُ القَناني

إِذا بَكَت أَعيُنُ القَناني

She laughs in her goblet for joy

Laughing with joy in her cup

When the eyes of the bottles weep.

While the eyes of the singers grow teary

ما رَقَصَت في الكُؤوسِ إِلّا

ما رَقَصَت في الكُؤوسِ إِلّا

نَقَّطَها المَزجُ بِالجُمانِ

نَقَّطَها المَزجُ بِالجُمانِ

She never dances in the cups but

She danced not but for the wine

The mixing dots her with pearls,

That adorned her cup with bubbles

حَتّى تَراها مِنّا عِقالاً

حَتّى تَراها مِنّا عِقالاً

لِليَدِ وَالرِجلِ وَاللِسانِ

لِليَدِ وَالرِجلِ وَاللِسانِ

Until you see her as our fetter—

Until you see her, intoxicated,

For hand and foot and tongue.

Devoid of hand, foot or tongue