Oika Poem by Babatunde Idowu Ebenezer

If ever I was dirty,
It was not for lack of water,
But for lack of the will to wet my body.
For who lacks water in Ipetu-Ijesa?
Who does not know the road to Oika
The stream that never dries?

Let your coldness calm my nerves
Oh you elegant stream,
Flowing with vigour yet in patience
To hasten to reach your estuaries,
And serve the indigenes and strangers alike
In a cool and fulfilled manner only you possess.

Splash upon the rock and soak my clothes,
Oh, Oika the beauty amidst bamboos.
Splash so I could plunge headlong into you,
Cutting across your bowel like knife,
The feel of your body on mine an indescribable event
Like the gentle touch of a beautiful maiden.

Listen! Listen! The cacklings of the swimming children!
Hear! Hear! The laughters of their joyful parents!
Listen! Listen! The whisperings of the adolescent lovers!
Look! Look! The fins of the catfish below!
See! See! The tail of the squirrel on the tree!
Look! Look! The long rods of the fisher boys!

Remember! The day I almost drowned in you!
Remember! The day I cut my head on your rock!
Remember! The memories of the moments we shared together!
Remember! How you became my sanctuary from troubles!
Remember! The day a mad woman chased me from your banks!
Remember! The Saturday morning that Funke gave me my first kiss!

Tell Ajalaye to take care of my beloved stream,
Remind Orisapetu to preserve her from drying,
Let Osolo ensure her bamboos are not wiped out,
Her waters let it be drunk in Wasimi,
Let Children come from Obalende to swim in her,
Pray let her fish be eaten in Ifofin.

Adodo, Ogegere, Aise, Akunrin, Olukorojo
Bow you all and pay obeisance to Oika.
Acknowledge her as the Queen over you all,
And you shall all forever flow with strenght.
Dare to disrespect her and be all of you dried forever.
Bring a crown and crown my beloved Oika the Queen!