I would not have directed my hopes to family or governor
Èmi kì bá ti fi ìrètí mi sí ìdílé tàbí gómìnà kan
Nor would I have dragged my coattails
Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni n kò ní fa etí aṣọ mi
On the path of my humiliation
Lórí ọ̀nà ìrẹ̀sílẹ̀ mi
My prayer niche is more fitting for me
Ibi àdúrà mi ló yẹ mí jù
And my rags are nobler for me
Àwọn aṣọ àkísà mi sì ní ọlá jù fún mi
Is there a free man who sees fit to lighten my burdens by a mithqal
Ṣé ẹnìkan wà tí yóò fẹ́ láti dín ẹrù mi kù pẹ̀lú ìwọ̀n kékeré kan?
And extinguish the heat of my anxiety
Kí ó sì pa ooru ìdàmú mi
With a shirt and trousers
Pẹ̀lú ẹ̀wù àti ṣòkòtò
Al-Harith bin Hammam said
Hárìsù ọmọ Hammam sọ pé
When I reviewed the garment of verses
Nígbà tí mo ṣàyẹ̀wò aṣọ àwọn ẹsẹ