الْمَقَامَةُ الْكُوفِيَّةُ

From longing for my son.

Nítorí ìfẹ́ ọmọ mi.

So I joined his wing.

Nítorí náà, mo darapọ̀ mọ́ ìyẹ́ rẹ̀.

Until I facilitated his success.

Títí tí mo fi mú kí ó ṣe àṣeyọrí.

When he secured the money in his purse.

Nígbà tí ó fi owó náà pamọ́ sínú àpò rẹ̀.

The lines of his joy brightened.

Àwọn ìlà ayọ̀ rẹ̀ mọ́lẹ̀.

And he said to me: May you be rewarded well for your footsteps.

Ó sì sọ fún mi pé: Kí Ọlọ́run san ọ́ lẹ́san rere fún ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ.

And may Allah be my successor over you.

Kí Ọlọ́run jẹ́ arọ́pò mi lórí rẹ.

I said: I want to follow you to see your noble son.

Mo sọ pé: Mo fẹ́ tẹ̀lé ọ láti rí ọmọ rẹ ọlọ́gbọ́n,

And to converse with him so that he may respond.

Kí n sì bá a sọ̀rọ̀ kí ó lè dáhùn.

He looked at me with the look of a deceiver to the deceived.

Ó wò mí pẹ̀lú ìwòye ẹlẹ́tàn sí ẹni tí a tàn jẹ.