– Ode to the Elusive World
© Dele Ajaja
Òkun l’ayé; ènìyàn l’ọ̀sà,
Ẹni tí ò mọ̀’wẹ̀ k’ó má’ṣe bẹ́ s’ódò.
Ilé ayé, ilé ogun!
Ẹni a ní kó f’ẹ́ni l’ójú, ata l’ó fi s’ẹ́nu,
Ẹni a ní kó ti’ni l’ẹ́hìn, ẹ̀gún l’ó fi s’ọ́wọ́,
Ẹni à bá f’ọ̀rọ̀ lọ̀, ó j’áláròkiri ẹni.
À ńw’àkísà, inú ńbáláṣọ,
À ńj’ẹ̀fọ́ sùn, inú ńbẹ́lẹ́ran,
Kásà! Ọmọ aráyé le.
(ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DELE AJAJA)
The world is an ocean; humans are its lagoons,
Unacquainted swimmers are advised not to dive into the deep.
The world is a battleground!
The one we implore to blow dust out of our eyes, has a mouth full of pepper,
The one we intend to rest on, has thorns in his hands,
The one we anticipate as a confidante is a blabbermouth.
We are wearing rags; those who don trendy garments are incensed,
We are treading the dirt; the horse-riders are irritated,
We are eating vegetables for dinner; those who munch meat are affronted.
Perplexing! Humans are puzzling.
IMAGE: Be wary of the waves of the world.
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