سَأَلتُ أَبا يوسُفٍ حاجَةً

فَقالَ أَجِئُ بِها في غَدِ

I asked Abu Yusuf for a favor

He said he'd grant it the next day

وَأَودَعُ إِنجازَها مَوضِعاً

مِنَ المَنعِ تَقصُرُ عَنهُ يَدي

And he'd fulfill it in a place

That's beyond my grasp in every way

وَلَو كانَ عِندِيَ عِلمٌ بِهِ

لَما كُنتُ أَجعَلُهُ مَقصَدي

Had I known that it was out of reach

I wouldn't have made it my aim

فَإِيّاكَ تَشرَبُ ميعادَهُ

فَتُشرَقَ بِالطَمَعِ الأَنكَدِ

So beware drinking from his promise

Lest with hope you're left distressed

فَكَم سَلَّطَ السِلَّ مِن مِطلِهِ

فَأَضنى بِهِ جَسَدَ المَوعِدِ

For how often has hope unleashed

Torment on the body of trust

لَعَمري لِخِسَّةُ طَبعِ الفَتى

تَدُلُّ عَلى خِسَّةِ المَولِدِ

By my life a man's lowly nature

Reveals the lowness of his birth