1. Do you not know the worth of a man, Bishr,
For I regard him higher in humanity

2. He dwelled between the dunes in the wild
And knew no home but the cave

3. But revelation descended upon him in his cloak
Enough of your boasting and his pride

4. Is there in your cloak other than Daiyan
Who grew wealthy when he led the tribe

5. An old woman saw Bishr one day
And guessed about him, wary and concerned

6. She said, you seek a bride
But your cousin's daughter is more fitting

7. He asked, is she beautiful?
She said, in beauty she brings glad tidings

8. Her hair is like the night
The full moon wished to pass through it

9. Her braids are like captive ropes
With which she takes Arab hearts captive

10. Bishr hurried to his uncle Nushwan in panic
And confronted him, meeting his rebuke

11. He said to him, do you refuse my curse? Tell me
Will Fatima be married to other than my blood?

12. Do you prevent her from me, though my arm
Built bridges for the hopes of the tribe?

13. Who else for the public but Bishr
Repels the calamities of the raids, ruddy?

14. How many firstborns have I given you of my blood
Yet you unjustly refuse me the firstborn

15. He wandered bareheaded, raving in anger
Destroying at times, raging at others

16. He rebelled against his tribe with harm
Thus becoming a ferocious wolf or more injurious

17. The tribesmen clamored against his harm
And his uncle dreaded fear and panic

18. So he drew him near, having plotted
To make him fall into a deadly trap

19. He said, if you are valiant
Get me Fatima's dowry from Khuza'ah

20. The passion of the Arab coursed through him
And he saddled his dowry horse to attack

21. He carried in his saddlebags a sword
From which the fire of death spewed embers

22. The ambush was icy and fearsome
As if a screen from Hell covered it

23. At times the forest's rustling conversed with him
At others, ghosts of memories conversed with him

24. While Bishr was folding and spreading the desert
On hopes like a carpet

25. Suddenly, his steed shuddered and faltered
Stiffened by the silence, hesitant and bristling

26. He sheathed his eyes in the darkness
And saw in its folds a hissing viper

27. Overflowing fury flashed in his eyelids
As he said, "My steed is stung!"

28. When he grabbed it, he unsheathed his polished sword
And said, "Grow, for you will never flee"

29. I will not return, O lion, until
The flies swarm thickly around you

30. Bishr unleashed his blade upon it
Tearing its ribs, ten in all

31. The universe exploded in revolt
Casting its sword upon the night, bringing dawn

32. The bloody scene intoxicated Bishr
How much blood of his slain did he drink like wine

33. He tore off his shirt and dictated on it
With prolonged blood, a poem

34. Fatima, had you witnessed in desolate Khabat
Your brother meeting the hissing viper

35. He continued his journey filled with it
To reach Marib, though the road was difficult

36. The calls of morning wafted fragrantly
Scattered by the breeze, perfumed

37. While love was plundering him bare
A snake's hiss passed into his ears

38. He saw a snake rise toward him
From the bushes, colored like ashes

39. The dawn poured its wine upon it
It swayed, drunk from the dawn's intoxication

40. It wound, glittering like glass
Across the grass, its belly and back

41. He said, your brother was a burden upon me
But you are heavier than him in burden

42. Was his soul reincarnated
In the skin of snakes, seeking revenge?

43. He met it with a chest resigned in patience
And it met him with a chest narrowed in patience

44. It would recoil to ambush him
And strike its head at the horse in betrayal

45. What will happen if we are struck
By a calamity, God knows best

46. Bishr, the horsemen’s return in us
And our defender if times darken

47. I have sent him to a miserable death
As if I dug a grave for the tribe

48. If he survives the lion son of Datha
He will not survive the viper, writhing

49. He prepared to catch up to him, his blood
Inciting him while his eyes were thankful

50. On a horse that seemed like jinn were galloping
With its legs, disappearing unbridled

51. When he caught up to his living nephew
While the beast recoiled from him, wary and careful

52. He said, leave the snake be, for I see you
As the most open-chest of Arabs

53. You are more deserving than the chieftains of my people
Of Fatima, so be to me a son and in-law

54. Then passion ignited Bishr’s palm
Sending his drawn sword aflame

55. He fed his opponent the fingers of his left hand
And poured death from his right hand like a river

56. His uncle kissed his hand in love
And said, I came to seek excuse from you

57. Come back with me where the palaces
Stand for your wedding today most splendid

58. For the rocks of the forest have witnessed, my son
That you are the horseman of the Arabs, soaring

59. They returned while the branches leaned drunkenly
As if the witnessing had made them drunk

60. Inclining affectionately on his hands along the way
Kissing each, right and left

61. While they were traversing the wild
And Bishr was strewing verses of pride

62. Suddenly, a veiled eyed man from Najd
Blocked his path, insistent

63. And said, enough of your boasting, O rebel
For your pride has deafened my ears

64. You killed an animal and killed a worm
Filling your jaws with rubbish and filth

65. Bishr said, who are you? He said, I am
The herald of death, I have come to you openly

66. I am time, and my days are blazing
If you face me, you face the epoch

67. Death appeared wrathfully in both of them
Thrusting and parrying their swords

68. The veiled eyed man struck Bishr
So he recoiled from him, failing and breaking

69. Bishr shouted at him, do you refuse my curse? Lift
Your veil, do not conceal yourself from me

70. The opponent said, unveiling his face
I am your son, so look upon the most righteous son

71. Bishr was reminded of memories of a time
That had aged, leaving yearning in his chest

72. He kissed him and said, I see you, my son
As more deserving of Fatima, daughter of the uncles