لامية الشنفرى

Or like the Bee nymph that has been sent forth—its rear urges it on—swift, brought down by a rising, honey-seeking one.

Tàbí bí kòkòrò Oyin tí a ránṣẹ́ tí ìjọ rẹ̀ ń rọ̀ ọ́ lọ nipasẹ awọn igi, tí ẹni tí ó ń gun òkè, tí ó ń wá oyin kó ìparun bá wọn.

With slit mouths, as if their cheeks were like the splits in sticks—frowning and stern.

Ẹ̀lẹ́nu yiyá ní wọn dàbí, bí ẹni pé ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ wọn jẹ́ àwọn palaka ọ̀pá—wọn lejú, wọn sì gboyà.

Then he cried out and they cried out openly, as if them and he, on a high terrain ,were a bereaved mothers.

Ó pariwo, àwọn náà sì pariwo pẹ̀lú ní gbangba, bí ẹni pé àwọn àti òun, lori òke, dà gẹgẹ bí àwọn abiyamo ẹ̀lẹ́kún tí wọn sofo ọmọ

And he closed his eyes and she closed hers, and he consoled himself and they were consoled by him too.

O dàkẹ (O pajude), àwọn náà sì dàkẹ, ó tù ara rẹ̀ nínú, àwọn náà sì tù ú ara wọn nínú pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ — àwọn obìnrin òpó aláìní na n daro rẹ, òun aláìní ìyàwó náà sì daro wọn.

He complained and they complained too, then he relented and she relented afterward. And surely patience, if complaining does not benefit, is more becoming.

Ó kígbe, àwọn náà sì kígbe, lẹ́yìn náà ó ronú pìwà dà, àwọn náà sì ronú pìwà dà. Ìfaradà ní ẹwà ju ẹkún lọ bí ẹkún kò bá ṣàǹfààní.

He returned and they returned too with swift initiatives, yet all of them, despite (hungry) suffering from what they conceals, were still patient.

Ó padà, àwọn náà sì yísẹ padà pẹ̀lú ìyára, ṣùgbọ́n gbogbo wọn, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé èébì wà nínú ohun tí wọ́n ń bá fínra, wọ́n ń ṣe sùúrù.

And the dusky sandgrouse drink the leftover water from my vessels after it had traveled a distance at night, while it sides rustling.

Ẹ̀yẹ Tátánbàrá máa ń mu omi àmúkù mí ninu kòndó, lẹ́yìn tí ó ti rìn jìnnà ní alẹ́, tí ẹ̀gbẹ́ rẹ sì ń dún.

I intended and she intended, and we raced. Then she let down (its wings), and from me, rose a challenger while being patient.

Mo gbèrò, òun náà sì gbèrò, a sì díje. Lẹ́yìn náà ó tú iyẹ rẹ̀ kalẹ̀, Ṣa dede ni Oludije bá dìde làti ara mi—bí ẹni tí ó lọra.

So I surpassed her and she stumbled over at the back of my hero, as her neck and bottom were touching each other

Mo yí i padà lẹ́yìn mi nígbà tí ó kọsẹ̀ lórí ìpìlẹ̀ akọ ẹṣin rẹ̀, tí àwọn irùngbọ̀n àti àpò kan láti ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀ fi ọwọ́ kan rẹ̀.

As if her valley’s bottom was his two stone enclosures, and around him were gathered groups from traveling tribes who had alighted.

Bí ẹni pé ìsàlẹ̀ àfonífojì rẹ̀ jẹ́ àgọ́ òkúta rẹ̀ méjèèjì, àwọn ẹgbẹ́ láti àwọn ẹ̀yà arìnrìn-àjò tí ó balẹ̀ sì wà ní àyíká rẹ̀.