Who’s forty years—well-nigh, not quite?

Who is about the medium height?

Who has a beard as black as night?

The Mahdi.

Whose eyes with fire and passion gleam?

Whose hue is that of coffee cream?

Whose face shows many a scar and seam?

The Mahdi’s.

Who’s thinner e’en than Sally B?

Who on his cheeks has gashes three?