وعد الزيارة ثم أخلَفْ

ما ضرّهُ لو كان يُنصِفْ

He promised a visit, then broke his word

It would not have harmed him, had he been fair

وسَطا عليّ وظنّ أنّ

الدمعَ من عينيهِ يذْرِفْ

He was hostile towards me, and thought

Tears would stream from my eyes

واللهِ لولا حرمةٌ

لطرحتُ أسبابَ التكلّفْ

By God, were it not for propriety

I would have cast off all pretense

وسلَلْتُ من غِمْدِ الهِجا

ءِ على وَريدِ المدحِ مُرهَفْ

And drawn from the scabbard of satire

A sharp blade upon the vein of praise