الْمَقَامَةُ القهقرية

The Retrograde Maqama

Ìwé Ẹ̀kọ̀ Ìpadàbo

Al-Harith ibn Hammam narrated: I observed in some places of separation, and in the aspirations of the eye, a group of young men adorned with the marks of wisdom.

Hárìsù ọmọ Hammam sọ ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀ pé: “Mo ṣàkíyèsí ní àwọn ibi ìpínyà kan, àti nínú àfojúsùn ojú, àwùjọ àwọn ọ̀dọ́kùnrin kan tí wọ́n fi àmì ọgbọ́n ṣe lọ́ṣọ̀ọ́.

And the sweetness of the stars of the night. They were engaged in a debate of strong blast, and a contest of exceeding blaze.

Àti àdùn àwọn ìràwọ̀ alẹ́. Wọ́n ń bá ara wọn jomitoro ọ̀rọ̀ tí àtẹ̀gùn rẹ̀ lágbára, àti ijide ti ẹ̀gbóná rẹ pọju,

I was moved by their intent towards discourse, and by the sweetness of the fruits of debate.

Ìfẹ́ àjùmọ̀sọ wọn sì gbé mi lọ, àti àdùn èso ìjomitoro ọrọ náà wun mí

When I joined their group and aligned myself with their ranks, they said: Are you among those who can be challenged in battle?

Nigbati mo darapọ mọ ẹgbẹ́ wọn, ti mo si se déédéé pẹ̀lú àwọn ipò wọn, nwọn sọ pé: Ǹjẹ́ ìwọ wà nínú àwọn ti wọn le kọjú ìjà sí nínú ogun?

And do you cast your bucket among the buckets?

Tí ó ń fi agbè rẹ̀ sí agbè àwọn ẹlòmíràn?

I said: Rather, I am among the spectators of war, not among the sons of thrust and strike.

Mo sọ pé: Kàkà bẹ́ẹ̀, mo wà lára ​​àwọn olùwòrán ogun, kì í ṣe àwọn ọmọ ọgbẹ àti ìkọlù.

So they turned away from my argument and immersed themselves in their own disputes.

Nítorí náà, wọ́n kọ̀ láti bá mi sọrọ̀, wọ́n sì tẹ̀ síwájú nínú ọrọ ìfànfà wọn,

Among them, in the midst of their circle, and the crown of their companionship, was an elder who had been worn by worries.

laaarin ayika wọn, ati níbi adé ibakẹgbẹ wọn, ni alagba kan ti o tí rù nípasẹ̀ àwọn àdánwò wà,

And scorched by the hot winds until he became thinner than a pen and drier than a scythe.

Àwọn afẹ́fẹ́ gbígbóná sì kọlu débi pé ó gbẹ jù gege ìkọ̀wé lọ tí ó sì gbẹ ju ọbẹ sìkàìtì lọ