1. An ill wind blew for Wahb,
The month of February brought storms.

2. From an open wound its burning truly spread,
Never leaving its furnace.

3. Had it blown through an encampment,
It would have left no tent standing.

4. It passed by our ears and noses,
Offending hearing and minds.

5. And it brought us the news of Mufleeh's death,
A horseman who protected the harem.

6. As if it and Mufleeh's death
Had advanced the tribulations of Judgement Day.

7. O announcer whose tidings outran the post,
Galloping, leaving leagues behind.

8. You have become the finest announcer, the greatest,
Since your knowledge encompasses all secrets.

9. O Wahb, if you have begotten a girl child
Then white hair has come upon you early.

10. He who cannot stop being cuckolded
Begets daughters and miscarries births.

11. Women give birth to men, but
Men give birth to men, for certain.

12. If I were like you and then begot like her,
I would strike my disgracer with whips.

13. And I would not have trodden the carpet of the Caliph's house
Until death without piercing lances.

14. You have committed a grave crime, so punish it
And let her have more than mere threats.

15. For threats with only words increase
Her sins, from the past and recent.

16. The minister said, after you condemned her,
"Stand and find her a cradle and swaddling clothes."

17. This is the punishment for one who exhausts his servants
Until he makes them drip sweat from their armpits,

18. And invents tales without hesitation,
Even if it shed the Prophet's blood.

19. Your famous birth witnessed that she
Was born from an unhealing wound.

20. Oh Wahb, shame on you! You knew her stupidity -
Why did you not call for a seamstress to sew her shut?

21. She sneezed and sneezing fits her, for she
Is forever dripping mucus.

22. Leave serving the Caliphs, do not expose yourself,
And cease, enough of what you are up to!

23. He who is cautious with the Caliphs and their rule
Takes care in his affairs and is cautious.

24. What is this swelling you overlooked,
You who in medicine surpass Hippocrates?

25. When you passed we used to say,
"May your bounty last, excellent calligrapher!"

26. But now when you pass we say,
"No lasting bounty, you lousy scribe!"

27. Oh House of Wahb, tell me of yourselves -
Why do you not see justice and equity?

28. How can your announcer's voice carry freely
While your coin is too heavy?

29. Cut your wasteful announcer down to size,
At judgement you'll be asked for each grain.

30. Or let your announcer and singer go -
Alas, you have no vigor for singing!

31. If you kept them both, they would complement each other,
Spreading a carpet for you with the travelers.

32. But you neglected one, the announcer,
So rectify this imbalance!

33. Your writing has been exposed and your glory deflated,
In disgrace your stature toppled down.

34. Resume your work if your announcer
Yesterday voided all the past.

35. And if at a council you and your father
Do not resemble Jacob and the Tribes,

36. You were cursed as sons and he as father -
You are not guided on the path of righteousness.

37. Neither the latecaliph sanctified your surviving son,
Nor did your seamstress sew a seam.

38. Since in Adam's loins you were but sperm,
Twisted in its affairs and cast down.