لا أحبُّ الرئيس ذا العزِّ يُضْحي
جارُه والرجال مستعبِدوهُ
I do not love the mighty chief whose neighbor passes the day
while the men hold him enslaved,
حاملٌ مِنَّةً لهم إن كَفوهُ
شرَّهمْ داخِرٌ إن اضطهدوهُ
feeling indebted to them if they spare him
the chief’s harm, and abject if they oppress him—
كاليتيم الممسّحِ الرأس إن شا
ء ذوو مسْحِ رأسِهِ قَفَدوهُ
like an orphan whose head is stroked: if they wish,
those who stroke his head strike him on the nape.
Sol 5.6