قَد عَلا الديوانَ كابَه

مُذ تَوَلَّهُ اِبنُ سابَه

Gloom has risen over the Diwan,

Since Ibn Sabah took charge of it.

يا غُرابَ البَينِ في الشُؤ

مِ وَميزابَ الجَنابَه

O raven of separation in ill omen,

And gutter of ritual impurity,

يا كِتاباً بِطَلاقٍ

يا عَزاءً بِمُصابَه

O writ of divorce,

O condolence for a calamity,

يا مِثالاً مِن هُمومٍ

يا تَباريحَ كَآبَه

O effigy carved from worries,

O agonizing fit of melancholy,

يا رَغيفاً رَدَّهُ البَق

قالُ يَبساً وَصَلابَه

O loaf of bread returned by the grocer

For its dryness and hardness,

ما عَلى وَجهٍ بِهِ قا

بَلتَني اليَومَ مَهابَه

There is no dignity upon the face

With which you met me today.

كاتِبٌ أَيضاً وَما مَر

رَ عَلى رَأسِ الكِتابَه

A scribe, too? When he has not even passed

The very threshold of the art of writing.