1. خِلَّيَّ لا تبعداني

    عن العيون الرواني

    My two friends, do not keep me away

    from those gazing eyes.

  2. وعاطياني الحميّا

    على وجوه الحسان

    And pass me the potent wine

    before the faces of the fair.

  3. إن أقض بالحب نحبي

    بين ازدحام القناني

    If I meet my death through love

    amid a throng of bottles,

  4. نوحا علي وقولا

    قضى صريع الغواني

    lament over me, both of you, and say:

    "He died, a victim of beautiful women;

  5. وما له قط ذنبٌ

    سوى ابتكار المعاني

    and he was never guilty of any sin

    save devising new poetic ideas,

  6. يصوغها من جنان

    كأنه من جمان

    which he fashions from a heart

    that seems to be made of pearls."

  7. لو يعلم الناس قدري

    وقيمتي يا زماني

    If people knew my worth

    and my value, O time of mine,

  8. هاموا وساموا بشعري

    قدامةً وابن هاني

    they would be enraptured and, with my verse, rival

    Qudamah and Ibn Hani;

  9. وسالموا من يراعي ال

    مضلَّع الهندواني

    and, because of my reed pen, make peace with the

    broad-bladed Indian sword.

  10. ولو رأت عين ليلى

    تغزلي وافتناني

    And if Layla's eye beheld

    my love poetry and my artistry,

  11. قالت ألا ليت ربي

    بمثل هذا حباني

    she would say: "Ah, would that my Lord

    had favored me with someone like this!

  12. فطاب في الحب عيشي

    على نحيب المثاني

    Then my life in love would be sweet

    to the sobbing of the lute strings;

  13. فأول الناس هذا

    وقيس في الحب ثاني

    for this man ranks first among men,

    and Qays ranks second in love."