كَيْفَ حَالُ السَّجينَ لَمْ يُعْدَمِ

الْقُوتَ وَلَكِنْ يُدْمَى مِنَ التَّقَيِّيدِ

How is the prisoner who lacks no food, yet is tortured by confinement?

A dog roaming free between houses is better off

إِنَّ كَلْباً بَيْنَ البُيُوتِ طَلِيقاً

لَهْوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ضَيْغَمِ فِي الْحَدِيدِ

Than a lion in chains.

Who will intercede for me with the Caliph?

مَنْ شَفِيعِي لَدَى الْخَلِيفَةِ إِنِّي

لَمَ أَكُنْ بِالْعَتيِّ أَوْ بِالمُرَيدِ

I was neither disobedient nor mutinous.

The thief who stole a sheep, my family's livelihood,

سَارِقُ الشَاةِ وَهْيَ رِزْقُ عِيَالِي

لَقِيَ الْحَتْفَ مِنْ يَدَيْ صندِيدِ

Was put to death by the executioner's blade.

They considered it an assault against me, but

شَنَّها غارَةً عَلَيَّ وَلَكِنْ

بَاءَ بِالْحَدِّ وَالقَصَاصِ الشَّدِيدِ

He met severe punishment and retribution.