الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

If I could observe his mark.

Tí mo bá lè rí àmì rẹ̀.

But the crowd did not reveal him.

Ṣùgbọ́n àwọn ènìyàn kò jẹ́ kí n rí i.

Nor did it clear a path for me to approach him.

Kò sì ṣí ọ̀nà fún mi láti sún mọ́ ọ́.

When the rows dispersed.

Nígbà tí àwọn ìlà náà tànù.

And the standing ones fled.

Àwọn tó dúró sì sá lọ.

I recognized him, and he was Abu Zayd and the young man was his servant.

Mo mọ̀ ọ́, ó sì jẹ́ Abu Zayd àti pé ọ̀dọ́kùnrin náà jẹ́ ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀.

Then I understood his intention in what he did.

Lẹ́yìn náà, mo mọ̀ èrò rẹ̀ nínú ohun tí ó ṣe.

I almost rushed to him to introduce myself.

Mo fẹrẹ́ sáré lọ sí i láti mọ̀ ara mi fún un.

But he signaled me with a glance.

Ṣùgbọ́n ó fi ojú kan mi.

And stopped me with a gesture of his hand.

Ó sì dá mi dúró pẹ̀lú ìfíhàn ọwọ́ rẹ̀.