I tried all my best to pay attention in class today and it definitely worth it. I learnt some few things and it caught my attention.
One is a beautiful Yoruba poem called IWA. It flows like the Osun river in my mind but works like Sango in my Life.
It was written by 'late Chief J.F. Odunjo.'
A renowned Yoruba playwright, poet, politician and statesman.
To'ju iwa re, ore mi,
Ola a ma si lo n'ile eni,
Ewa a si ma si l'ara enia.
Olowo oni 'nd'olosi b'o d'ola,
Okun l'ola, okun n'igbi oro,
Gbogbo won l'o nsi lo n'ile eni;
Sugbon iwa ni m'ba ni de sare'e,
Owo ko je nkan fun ni.
Iwa l'ewa omo enia,
Bi o l'owo bi o ko ni'wa nko?
Tani je f'inu tan e ba s'ohun rere?
Tabi ki o je obirin rogbodo,
Ti o ba jina si'wa ti eda nfe,
Tani je fe o s'ile bi aya?
Tabi ki o je onijibiti enia,
Bi o tile mo iwe amodaju;
Tani je gbe'se aje fun o se?
Toju Iwa re, ore mi,
Iwa ko si, eko d'egbe;
Gbogbo aiye ni 'nfe 'ni t'o je rere.
ALAWIYE
Enhance your character, my friend,
Prosperity could depart from one's home,
And beauty could retreat from people's bodies.
Today's rich could become poor tomorrow,
Opulence is like ocean's surfs; it is like ocean's waves,
They come and go from one's home as they please;
But, only good character follows one to the grave.
Money is not everything to anyone,
Good character is the beauty of a mortal,
What if you are wealthy without good character?
Who would trust you with something serious?
Perhaps, you are a gorgeous woman,
If you are far from societal norms,
Who would marry you as a wife?
Or you are a fraudulent person,
May be you are well educated;
Who would transact business with you?
Enhance your character, my friend,
In the absence of character, education is a waste;
The whole world appreciates a well-mannered person.
And One other one that caught my attention as Yoruba from Nigeria , the one that stood out for me is a classic poetry titled "ISE L'OGUN ISE" which literally means that for a man to conquer or not to experience poverty, he must work hard.
No man on earth wish to be poor, poverty is a detestable experience. A life of affluent is always a young lad's fantasy. Wealth is not easily come by, life is not a bed of roses, man doesn't become rich overnight, it all boils down on being hardworking.
For poverty, a disgusting cunt, to be forestalled, the elders believe that it's earlier made known to the young because a stitch in time saves now. That's basically what brought up the poetry and virtually all Nigerian who are Yorubas know it. It's an interesting piece and very motivational.
Ise l'ogun ise
(Work is the antidote indigency)
Mura s'ise ore mi
(Be hardworking, my friend)
Ise la fi n'deni giga
(Labour is the major tool for elevation or for one to attain a higher height, he must work)
Bi a ko ba reni feyin ti
(If we do not have anyone to rely on)
Bi ole la'nri
(We appear indolent)
Bi a ko ba reni gbekele
(If we have no one to support us)
A tera mo'se eni
(We just have to work harder)
Iya re le lowo lowo
(You may have a wealthy mother )
Baba re le lesin lekan
(You may have a father with a stable full of horses)
Bi o ba gbo'ju lewon
(If you depend on them)
O te tan ni mo so fun o
(I tell you, You are close to shame and disgrace)
Ohun ti a ko ba ji'ya fun
(Whatever one does not earn through work hard)
Se kii le pe lowo
(usually does not last)
Ohun ti a ba fara sise fun
(Whatever gain one seriously labours for)
Nii pe lowo eni
(Usually lasts with one)
Apa lara
(Your arm is your most trusted ally)
Egunpa niyekan
(The elbow is a sibling)
B'aye ba n'fe o loni
(If you are loved by the world today)
Bi o ba lowo lowo
(If you have money)
Aye a ma fe o lola
(The world will still love you till tomorrow)
Tabi ki o wa ni'po atata
(probably if you occupy a prestigious post)
Aye a ma ye o si terinterin
(The world will honour you with smiles)
Je k'o de'ni tin rago
(Wait till you are poor)
Aye a ma yinmu si o
(The world will smirk at you)
Eko si'nso ni d'oga
(Education also elevates one to higher positions)
Mura ki o ko dara dara
(Make sure you acquire it well)
Bi o si r'opo eniyan
(if you see a lot of people)
Ti won f'eko s'erin rinrin
(Making mockery of education hillariously)
Dakun ma f'ara we won
(Please do not emulate them or be their friends)
Iya n'bo fun'omo ti ko gbon
(Suffering beckons for the foolish child)
Ekun n'be fun'omo to nsa kiri
(Tears are lying in wait for the truant child)
Ma f'owuro sere ore mi
(Do not toy with your early years)
Mura si'se ojo'nlo
(Work hard; make hay while the sun shines)
I love those poems alot.
After the 'Bell' being rung. We use one iron pole as bell and is to be beaten with a stick. We are quite creative.
I stayed back in class trying to digest the poems I learnt.
"Hardwork is the antidote to poverty."
I don't want my mom to suffer and depend on a man. I want to be great and beat poverty.
I buried my face in my palms with a sigh.
My brothers look up to me. My mom also looks up to me as her first child and her only daughter.
How should I start?
Where should I start from?
Tears as cold as me fell from my almond shaped eyes. As if the sun noticed my predicament, it lowered itself to comfort me a little but it didn't work a bit.
" Morenikeji"
A cool voice called me notifying me that I wasn't the only one in the class. I hated when someone sees me in my weakest state. I hated it when someone sees me crying apart from my mom.
It was counted as a privilege of someone sees me crying or sad. A rare occurrence bringing a rare privilege.
I didn't look up using 'Style style' to clean the tears from my face and put on my poker face as if nothing happened. They didn't see anything at all.
" Why are you crying?"
I flinched and looked up immediately to meet the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life.
He was standing in front giving me some space and giving me a look that might usually annoy me if anyone else apart from my mom gives me.
A look of concern.
Without thinking I got up and hugged him as tight as I can with my childish strength.
He felt warm and safe just as my mom.
I felt his body stiff before he started patting me on my head.
I cried as much as I could with just hugging him.
It looked like Ọlọrun saw me and sent him, my guardian angel.
The tears that began to fall became warm and refreshing unlike before.