أَعاذِلَ قد آلمْتِ ويْكِ فَلُومي

وما بَلَغ الإِشراكَ ذَنْبُ عَديمِ

O reproachful woman, you have pained me—woe to you! Then blame me.

A destitute man’s offense does not amount to idolatry.

لقد أَسْقطَتْ حقِّي عليكِ صَبابتي

كما أَسْقطَ الإفلاسُ حقَّ غريمِ

My passion has indeed annulled the claim I had upon you,

just as insolvency annuls a creditor’s claim.

وأَعذرُ ما أَدْمى الجُفونَ منَ البُكا

كريمٌ رأى الدُّنيا بكفِّ لئيمِ

Most excusable for weeping until his eyelids bleed

is a noble man who sees the world held in a base man’s palm.

أرى كلِّ فَدمٍ قَد تَبحبَحَ في الغِنى

وذُو الظَّرف لا تلْقاهُ غيرَ عَديمِ

I see every dullard ensconced at ease in wealth,

while a man of wit is never found except destitute.