زَعَمَتْ عاذلتي أني لما

حَفِظَ البخل من المال مضيعُ

My accuser claimed I was wasteful

When I was generous with wealth

كلَّفتني عذرة الباخل إذ

طرق الطارق والناس هجوعُ

Yet blamed me when a beggar knocked

And people were starving and frail

ليس لي عذر وعندي بلغةٌ

إنّما العذر لمن لا يستطيعُ

I have no excuse, though fluent in speech

Excuses are only for those who can't give