وَلَيلَةٍ زارَني فَقيهٌ
في رُشدِهِ لَيسَ بِالفَقيهِ
One night a learned man visited me
In his wisdom, he was no sage
رَأى بِيُمنايَ كَأسَ خَمرٍ
فَظَلَّ يَنأى وَيَتَّقيهِ
He saw a cup of wine in my right hand
So he shunned it wary of sin
فَقُلتُ هَلّا فَقالَ كَلّا
فَقُلتُ لِمَ لا فَقالَ إيهِ
I said, why not? He said, no way
I said, why not? He said, shame!
ما ذاكَ فَنّي فَقُلتُ عَدلٌ
أَنَزِّهُ الكَأسَ عَن سَفيهِ
I said it's justice, he's no fool
To presume the cup's vice within