لامية الشنفرى

When the hard stony ground meets my hoofs, sparks and pebbles flew out from it.

Nígbà tí ilẹ̀ olokuta líle tẹ́ bàtà mi, iná pẹlú òkúta wẹwẹ máa ń tà jáde láti inú rẹ̀.

I prolong the stretching of hunger until I kill it, and I turn away from its mention completely, so that I become oblivious.

Mo máa ń ṣe ìdánwò ebi lọ́nà pípẹ títí èmi yóò fi pa á, mo sì kọ ìrántí rẹ̀ sílẹ̀ pátápátá, tí èmi yóò fi gbàgbé é.

I lick the dust of the earth so that no person who presumes to give may see that he has any favor over me.

Mo máa ń la erùpẹ̀ ilẹ̀ kí ẹnìkan tí ń má ń siregun, má bàa rí iregun ṣe lórí mi.

Were it not for avoiding blame, no drink or food by which one lives would be found except with me.

Bí kì í ṣe fún ìṣọra kúrò lọ́wọ́ èébú, kò ní sí ohun mímu tàbí oúnjẹ tí a fi ń ṣayè tí a lè rí, àyàfi lọ́dọ̀ mi.

But a bitter soul does not stay with me upon disgrace except for a short while until I move away.

Ṣùgbọ́n ọkàn kíkorò kì í pẹ̀lú mi lórí ẹ̀gàn bí kì í ṣe fún ìgbà díẹ̀ títí èmi yóò fi yí padà.

I fold my intestines over emptiness just as a Marī thread is folded—dyed and twisted.

Mo máa ń kó àwọn ifun mi pa mọ́ lórí òfo (ebi) gangan bí obìnrin Maari tí fọwọ́ ń t ka okùn, tí wọ́n ń tà á, tí ó ní àro, tí wọ́n sì ń lọ.

I go forth upon meager food just as a swift, sandy-colored camel goes forth—whom the deserts pass along one to another.

Mo máa ń jí lòwurọ lórí oúnjẹ tí ó kéré bí ràkúnmí aláwọ̀ iyanrìn tí ó yára, tí àwọn aṣálẹ̀ ń gbé fún ara wọn.

He sets forth folded with hunger, facing the wind, barefoot, plunging into the tails of ravines and rushing.

Ó ń lọ ní aláìjẹun, ń kojú afẹ́fẹ́, ní aláìbàtà, ń bọ́ sínú àwọn odò gbígbẹ, ó sì ń yára.

Then when food bent him from the direction he headed, he called, and lean ones like him answered him.

Nígbà tí oúnjẹ wọ́ kúrò níbí to gbèrò latí lọ, ó pe ìpè, àwọn tí ó gbẹ bíi rẹ̀ sì dá a lóhùn.

Faces with streaks of white as if they were arrows in the hands of a gambler shaking them.

Àwọn ojú tí ó ní àwọ̀ funfun bí ẹni pé ọfà ni wọ́n lọ́wọ́ ònítẹtẹ tí ó ń gbọn wọn.