Khalid ibn Yazid al-Katib

Khalid ibn Yazid al-Tamimi, Abu'l-Haytham, of Khurasani origin; the most capable katib of the army at Baghdad, with transmitted verse; he lived long and grew confused at the end; he boon-companioned 'Ali ibn Hisham and rose among his nadims until killed, then accompanied al-Fadl ibn Marwan, who mentioned him to al-Mu'tasim at the Mahuza before Samarra' was built — he was brought, asked to recite, and admired; when Samarra' was built he spoke his famous lines on it, al-Fadl conveyed them to al-Mu'tasim, and he received three hundred and fifty dinars. ¹

His ode opens: 'If you disdain me, then leave me be, O one who leaves the body without a heart'; he used to walk while the boys of the stable stoned him crying 'O Khalid, O barid (post-cold)' — he would answer 'Woe to you! I am barid and I am the one who says' and recite his verse; he died in 262. ¹