وصف سعاد

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

Suʿād ti lọ, nítorí náà, ọkàn mi lónìí jẹ́ ohun tí ó ṣe àárẹ —tí ń nifẹ, tó ń tọ̀ ọ́ lẹ́yìn, tí wọ́n kò ti rí ìgbàlà fún ohùn tí wọ́n dé mọlẹ.

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

Kí ni Suʿād, ní òwúrọ́ ìrìnàjò rẹ nígbà tí wọ́n lọ, bí kò ṣe ẹni tí ó ní ohùn dídùn, tí ó rẹ́ ojú sílẹ̀, tí ó fi Tìro le 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 Ó tẹrẹ ní nígbà tí ó bá ń bọ̀, tí ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ sì kún nígbà tí ó bá yí padà—wọn kì ń kígbe kúkúrú tàbí gígùn nípa 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.

Wọn fi òtútù ropọ pẹ̀lú omi Maḥniyah—ti ó mọ́, ní àfonífojì kan, tí afẹ́fẹ́ yí ká.

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

Afẹ́fẹ́ ń fọ erùpẹ̀ kúrò lórí rẹ̀, omi láti inú kùrukùru alẹ́, funfun ti o òtútù, náà sì ń fọọ mọ.

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 ayo —ìbáṣe pé ó jẹ́ olóòótọ́ sí ohun tí ó ṣèlérí, tàbí ìbáṣe pé ìmọ̀ràn dídára jẹ́ ohun tí ó jẹ́ ìtẹ́wọ́gbà!

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

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

So she does not remain in any state she is in—just as the masquerade changes colors in its garments.

Nítorí náà, kò ki ń dúró ní ipò kankan tí ó wà—gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹ̀mí Eégún ṣe ń yí àwọ̀ padà nínú aṣọ ẹkú rẹ̀.

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

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò kí ń dìrọmọ ìfẹ́ tí ó fẹ́ —bí kò ṣe bí àwọn ásẹ ṣe ń mu omi dání.