Classic Poem

(1)

" Rejected by men and by God the Forgiving, O Kablay!
You're a wonderful sample of riotous living, O Kablay!
You're a wag, you're a joker, no end to your fun,
Of living and dead you are sparing of none,
Such a limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay!

(2)

" Neither wizard, diviner nor warlock you fear, O Kablay!
Nor the dervish's prayer, nor the dreams of the Seer, O Kablay!
Nor Shapshal's revolver, nor mujtahid's rage:
'Tis hard to believe you will die of old age,
You limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay!

(3)

" Times a hundred I've told you your project will fail, O Kablay!
While half of the nation are wrapped in a veil, O Kablay!
Can Islam in you and your circle prevail?
With fresh words of folly your friends you'll regale,
You limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay!

(4)

" At the heels of the dervish you bark and you bite, O Kablay!
Break the Dominie's windows and let in the light, O Kablay!
While this trumpet of yours doth all secrets proclaim;
Yes, blazon them forth, for what know you of shame?
You limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay!

(5)

" To hell with the folk, if with hunger they pine, O Kablay!
Devil take them, the brutes, since they cannot combine, O Kablay!
Since opium hath stolen their courage away,
With your minstrels and singers be merry and gay,
You limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay!

(6)

" In Persia will bribes ever go out of fashion, O Kablay?
Will the mullas for justice develop a passion, O, Kablay?
From magic and murshids can Islam win free?
Bid the dead come to life, for 'twill easier be,
You limb of the Devil and son of a gun, O Kablay! "