1. Your glance at me is falsely coy
Proof that your calm has been disturbed

2. Yet I never accused you, rather
I protected bonds you sought to sever with the sword

3. I warned you of a matter that would
Rebound upon you, how oft did I defend you against folly

4. You who are king, it was more fitting for you
To make the pilgrimage, leaving passion to the wanton

5. I see you look at me in sorrow
As though you wish I drink from the cup of death

6. I would excuse you if you sinned or sought
Anything but truth and trod the path of wrong

7. But thank God I never was
One to guide you toward anything but righteousness and custom

8. Many a one wearied with tyranny
And injustice and violence has burdened me

9. O prosperous people of Yemen duties
Lie upon you that have not slipped from your shoulders

10. Have you thought well of tyrants
Who are your bane if you would understand what could heal you

11. You established an imam to make progress in life
Yet he made progress only in tearing you to pieces

12. You brought him forth to behold a radiant universe
Yet he plunged you instead into the darkness beneath the ceiling

13. You sought true glory by appointing him
And so it was, but only in fancy and mirage

14. At first you pledged him allegiance with ranks
Surrounding like rows of shields, rank upon rank

15. You bartered him your souls and wealth
And won in exchange only perdition

16. You chose him out of ignorance to be destroyed
So you were like sheep seeking slaughter with stupidity

17. Is it not time to face him with defiant roar
Or drive him to despair and dejection?

18. Then bring in his son, the sword Ahmad
That you may speak to him most frankly in outrage

19. If you deem him fit to rule, you will
Swear loyalty, if not, then cast him back

20. As for me, I despair of his justice through time
And find in his family enough to serve as a lesson

21. The house of Hameed ad-Deen is obstructed
From doing good for Islam and the homeland, custom

22. It has a family of lazy fools and bunglers
Wanton toward its people, rough