تَلقى الفَتى يَلقى أَخاهُ وَخِدنَهُ

في لَحنِ مَنطِقِهِ بِما لا يُغفَرُ

The lad meets his brother and bosom friend

In a tone of speech that cannot be forgiven

وَيَقولُ كُنتُ مُمازِحاً وَمُلاعِباً

هَيهاتَ نارُكَ في الحَشا تَتَسَعَّرُ

And says, I was joking and fooling around

Alas! Your fire spreads in the brushwood

أَلهَبتَها وَطَفِقتَ تَضحَكُ لاهِياً

عَمّا بِهِ وَفُؤادُهُ يَتَفَطَّرُ

You ignited it and began to laugh heedlessly

Oblivious to the heart that breaks apart

أَو ما عَلِمتَ وَمِثلُ جَهلِكَ غالِبٌ

إِنَّ المِزاحَ هُوَ السِبابُ الأَكبَرُ

Or you did not know, and ignorance like yours prevails

That jest is the greatest blame