Thursday, October 3, 2024
THE WORLD IS AN OCEAN

THE WORLD IS AN OCEAN

– 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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