لله من يوم بليت بصاحب

ضخم الخليفة كالهزبر الضاري

Since the day I was afflicted by a companion

With a big ego like a raging lion

وغدا عليّ بأمره متحكماً

كتحكم الحجّاج في الأنصار

And he became controlling over me in his command

Like al-Hajjaj's control over al-Ansar

إني أريد لك الشفاء وربّما

كان الشفاء بلسعة من نار

I wish you healing, and perhaps

The healing could be by a sting of fire

إياك أن تبدي حراكا واصطبر

فالصبر يا ذا شيمة الأحرار

Beware of making any move, and be patient

For patience is the trait of the noble ones

الله أكبر حين قام مشمراً

كابن الزبيبة قاصد العمّار

God is Greater when he stood up ready

Like Ibn al-Zubayr heading to al-Ammar

وأتى بميسمه العريض ولونه

كلسان طير أو بريق شرار

And he came with his wide-bladed sword that was colored

Like the tongue of a bird or the glint of sparks

فأكب مني الركبتين وكفّه

صخر يعانق جذوة من نار

So he bent my knees and his palm was

A rock embracing a spark of fire

يا ويح جسمي حين ذاق سعيره

وأصرَّ فيه بشدة وقرار

Oh woe to my body when it tasted his hellfire

And he was severe and determined with it

فعرفت من وادي السعير مقامه

وسطقت أهذي كتلة من قار

So I knew his position from hellfire valley

And I poured out my cheeks like a piece of tar

إن كان مالك خازن دار اللظى

فحمدان خازنها بهذي الدار

If Malik is the keeper of the abode of agony

Then Hamdan is its keeper in this house

هلاّ تراه بها يعذّب قومه

لا يعرف الأبرار من فجّار

If only you could see him torturing his people there

Unable to distinguish the good from the evil

عفواً أخي فلقد قصدت دعابة

فحذار منك مدى الحياة حذار

Sorry brother, I only meant it as a joke

So beware of me for life, beware

الطين عندهم علاج نافع

يشفي البطين وكل ذي إضرار

Mud to them is effective medicine

That heals the abdomen and all harm

يا ويحهم لو عُلِّموا فتعلّموا

لكن دار الجهل دار بوار

Oh woe to them, if only they were taught and learned

But the abode of ignorance is a barren abode