مقصورة ابن دريد

When the tender branch withers, know then that its utmost end is exhaustion and ruin

Nígbà tí ẹ̀ka tútù bá rọ, mọ̀ nítòótọ́ pé ìparí rẹ̀ jẹ́ àárẹ̀ àti ìparun

I am grieved—nay, rather choked by an anguish whose obstinacy is more deadly to me than mere sorrow

Mo ní ìbànújẹ́—rárá, ìkorò kan ti fún mi pa mọ́lẹ̀ tí agídí rẹ̀ burú ju ìbànújẹ́ lásán lọ fún mi

If my fortitude prevents tears from my eyes, yet my heart remains captive to the pathways of weeping

Bí ìfarabalẹ̀ mi bá dènà omijé kúrò lójú mi, síbẹ̀síbẹ̀ ọkàn mi wà ní ìgbèkùn sí ọ̀nà ẹkún

If dreams had whispered to me what I encounter while awake, destruction would have deafened me to all else

Bí àlá bá ti sọ fún mi ohun tí mo ń kojú nígbà tí mo jí, ìparun ìbá ti di etí mi sí gbogbo ohun míì

A station which I never imagined any person of ambition or wisdom would accept for themselves,

Ipò kan tí n kò rò pé ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó ní pàtàkì kán tàbí ọgbọ́n yóò fẹràn fún ara rẹ̀,

The nature of a deceptive cloud with its lightning flash, and a standing between hope and wishful desire

Ìwà àwọsánmọ̀ ẹ̀tàn pẹ̀lú mọ̀nàmọ́ná rẹ̀, àti dúró láàárín ìrètí àti ìfẹ́ àfojúsùn

In every day there is an unhealthy dwelling that drains the water of my lifeblood, or a bitter crossing

Ní gbogbo ọjọ́ ni ibùgbé aláìlera kan wà tí ń fa omi ẹ̀jẹ̀ ayé mi, tàbí ìrékọjá kikórò

I never thought that time would bend me upon such adversity that even the desert lizard of the rocky hills would not accept,

N kò rò rárá pé àsìkò yóò tẹ́ mi ba sí inú ìpọ́njú tí agílíntí orí òkè kò lè gbà,

I patch together life upon hardship, for if I seek a sip, I seek a difficult end.

Mo ń ṣètò ìgbésí ayé lórí ìṣòro, bí mo bá fẹ́ mu díẹ̀, mo fẹ́ ìparí tó nira nìyẹn.

Will time return to me a full cycle, to what it accustomed me, or is it never to be hoped?

Ṣé àkókò yóò dá mi padà sí ìgbà kan pípẹ́, sí ohun tí ó ti mú mi mọ́, tàbí kò ní ṣẹlẹ̀ rárá?