أَولى الأُمورِ بِضَيعَةٍ وَفَسادِ

أَمرٌ يُدَبِّرهُ أَبو عَبّادِ

The foremost of affairs tending to ruin and corruption

Is a matter directed by Abu 'Abbas.

خَرِقٌ عَلى جُلَسائِهِ فَكَأَنَّهُم

حَضَروا لِمَلحَمَةٍ وَيَومِ جِلادِ

With holes in his gown, his courtiers are as though

They came for a battle and day of flogging.

يَسطو عَلى كُتّابِهِ بِدَواتِهِ

فَمُرَمَّل وَمُضَمَّخٌ بِمِدادِ

They assault his writers with their pens

So one is smeared and stained with ink.

فَكَأَنَّهُ مِن دَيرِ هِزقِلَ مُفلِتٌ

حَرِدٌ يَجُرُّ سَلاسِلَ الأَقيادِ

As though he escaped from the monastery of Mar Hizqil,

A frenzied monk dragging chains and shackles.

فَاِشدُد أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وِثاقَهُ

فَأَصَحُّ مِنهُ بَقِيَّةَ الحَدّادِ

So tighten, O Commander of the Faithful, his bonds,

For he is more fitting than him for the remainder of blacksmiths.