While on his travels
Jesus passed by a rotting skull
He commanded it to speak
The skull said
“Spirit of God
My name is Balwan ibn Hafs
King of Yemen
I lived a thousand years
Begat a thousand sons
Deflowered a thousand virgins
Routed a thousand armies
Killed a thousand tyrants
And conquered a thousand cities
Let him who hears my tale
Not be tempted by the world
For it was like nothing so much
As the dream of a sleeper”
Jesus wept.
–adapted from Tarif Khalidi, The Muslim Jesus
