1. أعفريت من الجن

    أم القائد دى وَيت

    Is he an ifrit of the jinn,

    or the commander De Wet?

  2. فلا باد ولا خاف

    ولا حىّ ولا ميت

    For he is neither visible nor hidden,

    and neither alive nor dead.

  3. ولا يمسكه قبر

    ولا يحبسه بيت

    Nor does a grave hold him,

    nor does a house confine him.

  4. ويوما شأنه كيت

    ويوما أمره كيت

    And one day his condition is such-and-such,

    and one day his situation is such-and-such.

  5. فيا دى ويت يا ليت

    وهل ينفعكم ليت

    So, O De Wet—if only!

    And does 'if only' avail you?

  6. فما في سُرُج الص

    بر على أهوالها زيت

    For in the lamps of pa-

    tience, despite their terrors, there is no oil.