لامية الشنفرى

Were hunger, snows, fear, and thunders

Wọ́n jẹ́ èébì, òkúta yìnyín, ìbẹrù, àti arà

I widowed women and orphaned children.

Mo sọ àwọn obìnrin di opó, mo sì sọ́ àwọn ọmọ di òrùkàn

And I returned as I began, while the night grew darker.

Mo padà bí mo ṣe bẹ̀rẹ̀, nígbà tí òkùnkùn òrú n dúdú gidigidi

And at Ghumaysa, two groups sat about me.

Ní Ghumaysa, ẹgbẹ́ méjì jókòó nípa mi.

Two parties: one questioned, the other asking.

Ẹgbẹ́ méjì: ọ̀kan ń dáhùn, ìkejì ń béèrè.

They said: our dogs barked in the night.

Wọ́n ní: àwọn ajá wa ké ní òru.

We said: was it a wolf prowling, or an hyena wandering?

A ní: ṣé ikòko ló ń rìn, tàbí ajagbó ló ń kọ̀ já?

It was but a faint sound, then it subsided.

Kò jẹ́ bí kò ṣe ìró kékeré, lẹ́yìn náà ó dákẹ́.

We said: was it a sand-grouse startled, or a falcon disturbed?

A ní: ṣé ẹyẹ Tatanbara ní wọn dẹ̀rùbà ní, tàbí àṣá?

If it be of jinn, its late night movement is damn creepy!.

Tí ó bá jẹ́ ti alujanú ní, kí kọ já rẹ lóru yìí kayefi ní!.