تَصامَمْتُ عن لَومِ العذولِ كأنَّما

رَمى الوجدُ يومَ البينِ سمعِيَ بِالوَقْرِ

I have turned a deaf ear to the blame of the censurers as though

when love struck me in the days of separation, my hearing was struck deaf by its blow.

وقد كنتُ معذوراً بآنِفةِ الصِّبَا

فهَل ليَ بعد الشَّيبِ في الجهلِ مِن عُذرِ

I was excused in the folly of youth,

but now that my hair is turning gray, is there any excuse left for ignorance?

وغيرُ ملومٍ مدلجٌ ضلَّ إِنما

يُلام إذا ما ضَلَّ في وضَحِ الفَجرِ

He who goes astray is not to be blamed when it is dark,

but only when he loses his way in broad daylight.