لامية الشنفرى

If it be human, humans doesn't behave like this.

Tí ó bá jẹ́ ènìyàn, báyìí kọ́ ní ènìyàn tí ṣe.

And on a day of Sirius (Sun), its saliva melts.

Ní ọjọ́ irawọ̀ Siriọsi (Òrun), ìtọ́ rẹ̀ ń tú.

Its serpents writhe in the blazing heat.

Àwọn ejò rẹ̀ ń yí ká nínú ooru.

I set my face toward it, with no barrier before it.

Mo dojú kọ́ ọ́, kò sí ìdènà níwájú rẹ̀.

No covering except the shabby cloth!.

Kò sí àbò bí kò ṣe àṣọ́ tí o tí ṣá tí o tí yá

A the hair of the head that, when the wind flies, it scatters out...

Àti Irun orí, nígbà tí afẹ́fẹ́ bá fẹ́ lùú, yóò fẹ́ jáde...

Lice of the head will be blown out from its sides, since the hair is uncombed.

Àwọn kòkòrò Irun orí wọ́n yóò fẹ́ jáde ní ẹgbẹ́ rẹ̀, torí wípé kò rí ìtọjú.

Far removed from oil’s touch, always on dryness

Kò ní ìpará, gbigbẹ́ ní gbogbo ìgbà,

It has a dirt that is avoiding cleansing, for a year.

Ó ní ìdọ̀tí tí ó kọ ìwẹ̀, fún ọdún kan

And a wilderness like the back of a shield, I traversed it.

Mo kọjá aginjù bí ẹ̀yìn ídà, tí kò ní ohunkóhun.