وَإِنَّ سَفَاهَ الشَّيْخِ لَا حِلْمَ بَعْدَهُ ۞ وَإِنَّ الْفَتَى بَعْدَ السَّفَاهَةِ يَحْلُمِ
The folly of an old man leaves little expectation of later restraint, whereas a young person may yet grow into patience and good judgment after youthful folly.
Safāh is folly or lack of restraint, while ḥilm is forbearance and sound judgment. Al-shaykh / al-fatā contrasts old age with youth. The verse expresses the poet’s experienced generalization about opportunities for change; it should not be converted into an absolute rule about the capacities of every older or younger person.