هَلاَّ رَدَدْتَ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ الْكاشِحِ

وَقَبِلْتَ مِنَ الصَّدِيقِ النَّاصِحِ

Why did you not respond to the hostile enemy,

And accept the sincere friend's advice?

الآن حِينَ مَلأتَ قَلْبِي رَغْبَةً

أَعْقَبْتهَا ظُلْماً بِيَأْسٍ قادِحِ

Now when you've filled my heart with yearning,

You followed it with injustice and despair.

وتَكَلَّفَتْ نَفْسِي إلَيْكَ بِمُنْيَةٍ

أَلْتَذُّها مِثْلَ الزُّلالِ التَّايِحِ

And my soul longed for you with affection,

I savored it like gushing fresh water.

أَبْعَدْتَ ظَنّي بَعْدَ مَا قَرَّبْتَهُ

وَلَسَوْفَ تَذْكُرُ فِي فَسَادِي صالِحِي

You dismissed my hopes after you brought them near,

And you will recall my righteousness when I'm corrupt.

ما للإِمامِ تَنَكَّرَتْ أَخْلاَقُهُ

مِنْ قَوْلِ هاجٍ فِي مَكانِ مدَائحِي

How could the imam's morals change

From the words of one raging instead of my praises?

فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ أَرْتَجي إِنْصافَ مَنْ

يَجْرِي إلَى ظُلْمِي بِقَوْل الْكاشِحِ

Each day I hope for justice from one

Who rushes to do me wrong with harsh words.

جَمْرِي إذَا ما شِئْتَ طافٍ خامِدٌ

وَإذا تَشاءُ فَكَالشِّهابِ الَّلائِحِ

My embers, when you wish, lie dormant,

And when you want, flare up like leaping flames.

وَالنَّارُ قَدْ يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ ضِياؤُها

حَتَّى تُحَرِّكها بَنانُ القادِحِ

The fire's glow can be hidden from you

Until you stir it with fiery brands.