إِذا اِعتَصَمَ الوالي بِإِغلاقِ بابِهِ

وَرَدَّ ذَوي الحاجاتِ دونَ حجابِهِ

When the governor shuts his door

And turns away those with needs before his veil

ظَنَنتُ بِهِ إِحدى ثَلاثَ وَرُبَّما

نَزَعتُ بِظَنّ واقِع بِصَوابِهِ

I think him one of three, and perhaps

I tear away the veil with a thought hitting the mark

فَقُلتُ بِهِ مَسٌّ مِنَ العيِّ ظاهِر

فَفي إِذنِهِ لِلناسِ إِظهارُ ما بِهِ

So I say he has an obvious affliction of the eye

So in allowing people in, his affliction is revealed

فَإِن لَم يَكُن عيُّ اللِسانِ فَغالِب

مِنَ البُخلِ يَحمي مالَهُ عَن طِلابِهِ

But if there is no affliction of his tongue, then most likely

It is miserliness, guarding his money from seekers

فَإِن لَم يَكُن هَذا وَلا ذا فَريبَةٌ

يُصِرُّ عَلَيها عِندَ إِغلاقِ بابِهِ

And if it is neither this nor that, then it is suspicion

He stubbornly harbors when shutting his door