الْمَقَامَةُ القهقرية

So I began to blame him.

Nítorí náà, mo bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í bá a wí.

For his eastern and western travels.

Nítorí ìrìn àjò rẹ̀ sí ìlà-õrùn àti ìwọ̀-õrùn.

He recited the word of declaration of Power to God, and that of our return to Him.

O ka oro ikede Agbara fun Olorun, ati ti ipadabọ wa si ọdọ Rẹ.

Then he recited from a grieving heart:

Lẹ́yìn náà, ó kọ láti inú ọkàn tí ó ń ṣàárẹ̀:

Time has drawn its sword against me.

Àkókò ti fà idà rẹ̀ sí mi.

To terrify me and sharpen its edge.

Láti mú mí bẹ̀rù mi, ó sì tí pọn idà rẹ

It has drawn tears from my eyes unwillingly.

Ó ti fà omijé kúrò ní ojú mi láìfẹ́.

And made its edge flow.

Ó sì mú kí etírẹ dá omijé.

It has made me wander in the horizon.

Ó ti mú mi rìn ní òfurufú.

I fold its east and traverse its west.

Mo ká ìlà-õrùn rẹ̀ mo sì rìn ìwọ̀-õrùn rẹ̀.