الْمَقَامَةُ الرقطاء

And I was then poor and destitute.

Nígbà náà, Èmi jẹ́ talákà àtí aláìní.

I had neither a bud nor a speck of a dust.

Mi ò ní ọ̀mùdún tàbí ìpín kàn nínú pàntí.

So my empty hands forced me.

Nítorí náà, ọwọ́ mi tí ó ṣófo mú mi.

To resort to debt.

Láti jẹ gbèsè owó.

So I borrowed under bad terms.

Nítorí náà, mo jẹ gbèsè lórí ìpinnu burúkú.

From someone with difficult manners.

Látọ̀dọ̀ ẹni tí ó ní ìwà ìṣòro.

And I imagined the ease of marketing my poetry.

Mo sì rò pé ìtajà mimọ orin mí yóò jẹ́ irọrùn.

So I expanded in spending.

Nítorí náà, mo ṣe ìnáwó to pọ.

I did not wake up until I realized the debt has become heavy, and its payment is due.

Emi kò tají fá tí gbèsè wúwo jumí lọ́, tí sisan náà tí di òranyàn.

And its claimant was persistent.

Àti pé ẹni tó ní ẹ̀tọ́ rẹ̀ ń bẹ pẹlú mí.