لامية الشنفرى

Or like the locust nymph that has been sent forth—its rear urges it on—swift, brought down by a rising, honey-seeking one.

Tàbí bí eṣúṣú tí a ránṣẹ́ tí ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ ń rọ̀ ọ́ lọ, tí ó yára, tí ẹni tí ó ń gun òkè, tí ó ń wá oyin, ṣubú sọ̀kalẹ̀.

With slit mouths, as if their cheeks were splits in the sticks—frowning and stern.

Àwọn ẹnu wọn dàbí ẹni tí a gé, bí ẹni pé ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ wọn jẹ́ àwọn pípín nínú àwọn ọ̀pá—wọn ń rérín-ín, wọn sì ń rẹ́rẹ́.

Then he cried out and she cried out openly, as if she and he were a bereaved Noah upon a high place.

Ó pariwo, ó sì pariwo pẹ̀lú ní gbangba, bí ẹni pé òun àti òun ni Núhù aláìní ọmọ lórí ibi gíga.

And he closed his eyes and she closed hers, and he consoled himself and she was consoled by him—destitute women strengthened her, and a destitute man strengthened him.

Ó pa ojú rẹ̀ mọ́, ó sì pa ojú rẹ̀ mọ́, ó tù ara rẹ̀ nínú, a sì tù ú nínú pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ — àwọn aláìní gbé e ró, aláìní sì gbé e ró.

He complained and she complained, then he relented and she relented afterward. And surely patience, if complaining does not benefit, is more becoming.

Ó ṣàròyé, ó sì ṣàròyé, lẹ́yìn náà ó ronú pìwà dà, òun náà sì ronú pìwà dà. Ìfaradà ní ẹwà ju ẹkún lọ bí ẹkún kò bá ṣàǹfààní.

He fulfilled and she fulfilled with swift initiatives, yet all of it, despite difficulty from what one conceals, is still seemly.

Ó ṣẹ àdéhùn, ó sì ṣẹ àdéhùn pẹ̀lú ìkánjú, ṣùgbọ́n gbogbo rẹ̀, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé inira wà nínú ohun tí a fi pamọ́, ó tún lọ́ṣọ̀ọ́.

And the dusky sandgrouse drink the leftover water from my vessels after they have traveled a distance at night, their sides rustling.

Àwọn ẹyẹ kúkùndunku máa ń mu omi ìkùkù nínú àwọn ohun èlò mi lẹ́yìn tí wọ́n ti rìn jìnnà ní alẹ́, ẹ̀gbẹ́ wọn sì ń dún.

I intended and she intended, and we raced. Then she let down (her veil), and from me a forward one rolled up his sleeves—deliberately.

Mo fẹ́, ó fẹ́, a sì díje. Lẹ́yìn náà ó sọ ìborí rẹ̀ kalẹ̀, látọ̀dọ̀ mi, apá ìwájú kan ká a sókè—bí ẹni tí ó lọra.

So I turned away from her while she stumbled over her own stallion’s base, as beards and a crop from her touched it.

Mo yí i padà lẹ́yìn mi nígbà tí ó kọsẹ̀ lórí ìpìlẹ̀ akọ ẹṣin rẹ̀, tí àwọn irùngbọ̀n àti àpò kan láti ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀ fi ọwọ́ kan rẹ̀.

As if her valley’s bottom was his two stone enclosures, and around him were gathered groups from traveling tribes who had alighted.

Bí ẹni pé ìsàlẹ̀ àfonífojì rẹ̀ jẹ́ àgọ́ òkúta rẹ̀ méjèèjì, àwọn ẹgbẹ́ láti àwọn ẹ̀yà arìnrìn-àjò tí ó balẹ̀ sì wà ní àyíká rẹ̀.