الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

So he recited:

Nítorí náà ó kà á:

O seeker of this base world, truly it is a trap of doom and a settling place of troubles.

Ìwọ olùwá ayé àìní ìyì, lóòótọ́ ó jẹ́ pàkúté ìparun àti ibùjókòó ìṣòro.

A dwelling that, when it makes you laugh today, will make you weep tomorrow; what a wretched abode it is!

Ibùgbé tí bó bá mú ọ rẹ́rìn-ín lónìí, yóò mú ọ sọkún lọ́la; ibùgbé búburú ni!

And when its cloud looms, no thirst is quenched by it, for its rain is but a deception.

Tí ìkùùkù rẹ̀ bá síjú, kò ní pa òùngbẹ ẹnikẹ́ni, nítorí òjò rẹ̀ ẹ̀tàn ni.

Its raids never cease, and its captive is not ransomed even by the greatest of dangers.

Ìkógun rẹ̀ kì í dópin, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni a kò le ra ẹ̀rú rẹ̀ padà pẹ̀lú ewu tó tóbi jù lọ.

How many are proud in its delusion, until they appear rebellious, exceeding all bounds.

Mélòó ni ó ń ṣe ìgbéraga nínú ẹ̀tàn rẹ̀, títí wọ́n fi di alaigbọran, tí wọ́n kọjá gbogbo ààlà.

It turned its shield's back to him, plunged the knife into him, and leapt to take revenge.

Ó yí ẹ̀yìn abọ ìṣọ sí i, ó fi ọ̀bẹ gún un, ó sì bẹ́ sókè láti gbẹ̀san.

So rise above letting your life pass wasted in it, in vain, without gaining any benefit.

Nítorí náà, má jẹ́ kí ẹ̀mí rẹ ó lọ lásán nínú rẹ̀, láìní èrè kankan.

Cut off the ties of its love and pursuit, you'll find guidance and the comfort of secrets.

Gé gbogbo ìdè ìfẹ́ rẹ̀ àti wíwá rẹ̀ kúrò, ìwọ yóò rí ìtọ́sọ́nà àti ìtẹ́lọ́rùn àwọn àṣírí.

And watch when it makes peace, for its deceit is the war of enemies and the pounce of the treacherous.

Kí o sì ṣọ́ra nígbà tó bá ń ṣe àlàáfíà, nítorí ẹ̀tàn rẹ̀ ni ogun àwọn ọ̀tá àti ìdojúkọ àwọn ẹlẹ́tàn.