وصف سعاد

Suʿād has departed, so my heart today is stricken—enamored, following her, its captive has not been ransomed.

Ṣuʿād ti lọ, nítorí náà, ọkàn mi lónìí jẹ́ ohun tí ó gbà—olólùfẹ́, tó ń tọ̀ ọ́ lẹ́yìn, tí a kò ti ra ìgbèkùn rẹ̀ padà.

And what is Suʿād, on the morning of parting when they departed, but a sweet-voiced one with downcast, kohl-darkened eyes?

Kí ni Ṣuʿād, ní òwúrọ́ ìyàtọ̀ nígbà tí wọ́n lọ, bí kò ṣe ẹni tí ó ní ohùn aládùn, tí ó rẹ́ ojú sílẹ̀, tí ó fi ìdàkuda pa ojú rẹ̀?

A slender-waisted one when she approaches, full-hipped when she turns away—neither shortness nor tallness is complained of in her.

Ẹni tí ẹ̀gbẹ̀ rẹ̀ dín nígbà tí ó ń bọ̀, tí ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ pọ̀ nígbà tí ó ń yí padà—a kò ṣàròyé kúkúrú tàbí gígùn nínú rẹ̀.

She reveals bright cheeks when she smiles—as if they were a watering-hole mixed with pure wine.

Ó ń fi ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ rẹ̀ tí ó mọ́lẹ̀ hàn nígbà tí ó rẹ́rìn-ín—bí ẹni pé wọ́n jẹ́ omi-ọ̀gbà tí a dà pọ̀ pẹ̀lú wáìnì mímọ́.

It was mixed with coldness from the water of Maḥniyah—pure, in a valley, that became encompassed by winds.

A fi òtútù pọ̀ pẹ̀lú omi Maḥniyah—mímọ́, ní àfonífojì kan, tí afẹ́fẹ́ yí ká.

The winds clear the dust from it, and (rain) from a night-pouring cloud, white and cold, exceeds it.

Afẹ́fẹ́ ń fọ erùpẹ̀ kúrò lórí rẹ̀, omi láti inú kùrukùru alẹ́, funfun àti òtútù, tó ju rẹ̀ lọ.

Woe to her as a close friend—if only she had been true to what she promised, or if only good counsel were accepted!

Ègbé ni fún un gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọ̀rẹ́ tí ó sún mọ́—ìbáṣe pé ó jẹ́ olóòótọ́ sí ohun tí ó ṣèlérí, tàbí ìbáṣe pé ìmọ̀ràn dídára jẹ́ ohun tí a gbà!

But she is a friend in whose blood is mixed calamity, obsessive passion, broken promises, and change.

Ṣùgbọ́n ó jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ tí a ti dà pọ̀ nínú ẹ̀jẹ̀ rẹ̀: àjálù, ìfẹ́-ọkàn àìdánilójú, ìkọ̀lẹ́rì, àti ìyípadà.

So she does not remain in any state she is in—just as the ghūl (malevolent spirit) changes colors in its garments.

Nítorí náà, kò dúró ní ipò kankan tí ó wà—gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹ̀mí ǹkan (ghūl) ṣe ń yí àwọ̀ padà nínú aṣọ rẹ̀.

And she does not hold to the union she claimed—except as sieves hold water.

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò dímú mu nínú ìsọ̀kan tí ó sọ pé ó dúró—bí kò ṣe bí àwọn ṣíṣẹ́-ọmọ ṣe ń mu omi dámú.