قُلْ لِلْخَليفَةِ يا ابْنَ عَمِّ مُحَمَّدٍ

أَشْكِلْ وَزيرَكَ إِنَّهُ رَكَّالُ

Say to the Caliph, O cousin of Muhammad,

Restrain your minister, he is a worthless man.

قَدْ أَحْجَمَ المُتَظَلِّمونَ مَخافَةً

مِنْهُ وَقالوا ما نَرومُ مُحالُ

The oppressed have shrunk in fear of him,

And said, "We dare not seek the impossible."

مَا دامَ مُطْلَقَةً عَلَيْنا رِجْلُهُ

أَوْ دَامَ لِلْنَزِقِ الجَهولِ مَقَالُ

As long as his foot is free to kick us,

Or his ignorant tongue free to attack us,

قَدْ نَالَ مِنْ أَعْراضِنَا بِلِسَانِهِ

وَلِرِجْلِهِ بَيْنَ الصُّدورِ مَجالُ

He has assailed our honor with his tongue,

And with his foot stepped roughshod over our hearts.

إِمْنَعْهُ مِنْ رَكْلِ الرِّجَالِ وإِنْ تُرِدْ

مَالاً فَعِنْدَ وَزيرِكَ الأَمْوالُ

Stop him from kicking men, and if you want

Money, your minister has ample funds.