Translated from the Arabic by Yasmine Seale
Dress the water with wine
and fill my cup until
I drop.
Pour out a round
for everyone: they’ll make you
their imam.
God curse the man who gives
reluctantly, no matter that he prays
and keeps the fast.
أَلبِسِ الماءَ المُداما وَاِسقِني حَتّى أَناما
وَأَفضي جودَكَ في النا سِ تَكُن فيهِم أَماما
لَعَنَ اللَهُ أَخا البُخ لِ وَإِن صَلّى وَصاما
Copyright © 2026 Yasmine Seale. Used with the permission of the translator.