The Insect Repelling Smoke of the Prophet
The one they called the prophet of wisdom
Gathered many aromatic herbs of the valley
He looked for every shape and every variety
The pungent smelling acrid sticky flowers
The blooms that repelled the biting insects
The vegetation that kept bugs at a distance
But in particular he gathered a golden herb
That held the healing properties like honey
And was sweet and pleasing to the divine
When he had gathered four large baskets
He laid the herbs out to dry in the sunshine
The next day he heaped up a pile of herbs
Amongst them aloes, banes and heliotrope
And the golden dried buds of al-qanu-bast
He set blaze to the pile blowin’ out the flame
So it smouldered and emitted dense smoke
He bathed, fumigated and cleaned his body
The insecticidal vapours kept the lice away
Aromatic smoke killin’ irritatin’ pests and nits
Purified and protected from bites and itches
He felt invigorated, refreshed by a smoke bath
His head began to glow with happy thoughts
He felt a divine jubilation in his heart and spirit
Blessed and sanctified by the kisses of nature
The prophet was wise in his choice of herbage
