يا زمنا ضمّني وضمّهم

إما بهم أو فبي إلى سقر

O time, trap me and trap them,

Either with them or me to hellfire.

بهم ولا بي فإنهم سفل

مال بهم غيهم إلي الكدر

With them not me, for they are the dregs,

Inclined to them without them to misery.

تبرمي بالحياة بينهم

تبرّم المستحير عن صخر

You are vexed with life among them,

Vexed are the bewildered from the rock.

أفنيت ساداتهم وخيرتهم

ثمّت خليتني مع الغرر

I have wasted their best and finest,

Then left me with the scoundrels.

إن قلت شعرا تضاحكوا هزؤا

وبتّ من جهلهم على غرر

If I recite poetry they laugh mockingly,

And I remain in their ignorance upon the scoundrels.

لا حذر منهم بمعرفتي

مع فطنتي بالخلاص والحذر

No caution from them in my knowledge,

With my wisdom of salvation and caution.

في صور الناس لا سقوا مطرا

وكيف للظالمين بالمطر

In the images of people who did not drink rain,

And how can the oppressors have rain?

حتى إذا ما بلوت قيمتهم

وجدتهم في القياس كالبقر

Until when I tested their value,

I found them in measure like cattle.

جنايتي إن جنيت تلزمني

وإن جنوا بالقضاء والقدر

My crime if I commit is binding upon me,

And if they commit by destiny and decree.

فما لهذا الحديث من نظر

مخالف للكتاب والخبر

So there is no consideration in this talk,

Contrary to the Scripture and Tradition.