بُليتُ بخَطّافِ العمائمِ بُرهَةً

يُحَرِّقُ بالمهماز منهُ ضُلوعي

I was tormented for a while by the executioner's noose

It scorches my ribs with its claw

وأمسَيْتُ في حَبْسِ الولايةِ مودَعاً

تَسيلُ على قضمِ الشَعيرِ دُموعي

And I found myself jailed in the governor's custody

My tears pouring over crushed barley bread

وَقُلتُ لَعَلِّي بالحكيمِ إذا رأى

سَقامي يداوي علَتي وخضوعي

And I said maybe if the wise one saw

My sickness, he would cure my ailment and submission

فأمسى عليقي نهبَ غلمانِ دارِه

فَضوعفَ همِّي عندَهُ وقطوعي

But instead my provisions became prey for the boys of his house

And my worries seemed insignificant to him, and my despair

وَورَّطَ شَعري قلَةُ المسح عنْدَهُ

إلى أنْ دَعا بالحلِّ منهُ جميعي

And the infrequency of my grooming before him

Led him to summon my complete shaving

وَقَدْ جئتُ قَصْداً للأميرِ فإنّهُ

سَيَرْسُمُ لي من فَضلهِ برَبيعي

Yet still I came seeking the prince

For he will outline for me from his bounty my deliverance