Ta'mot'iye Poem by Tosin Abegunde

Just like the furs of Yerepe leaf,
I burn even to the marrow,
The surface of s/he that dares me.
Oriji leaf says you forgive me:
Perhaps I struck amis,
I am on my clarion call, mind you!

If I so erred, it is humanly,
You just must eat ebure, because
Both young and old bend for razor
For the needles always obey cloth,
And toads ever pay loyalty to river
Orisaoke will by no means reject
The opinion of a Chameleon.

A Cobra has its authority in mouth
As that of a Boa rests in its tongue
Giant rat reserves it own on its tail
For what reason will you be angry
When a strainer takes in water,
Immediately, it all erodes
So says my enviable mothers
Who with double cent wrapper,
Robe their body yet not grounded
The air lords that walk on wind
Eating both flesh and bone a' once
The mid-night's most famous
Ogalantians of Osoronga kindom,
Thus command you to be pacified!

Ogbo leaf says you must hear me
Ogba leaf says you must accep' me
'Cos Sango agrees with Bitter Cola
Orisa disagrees not with Cola
Shea Butter melts, sightin' the Sun
So shall you evil intent disolve,
That wish me for bad.

I am a Scorpion to be dreaded
Like the sting' of Hornet and Wasp
Striking like the venom of snakes
Dare me like a roaring lion
And reverend me like naked wire
Because I live like a sheet erosion
Mindless of valley and plain.
Think not of halting my being
For I belong to Oyigiyigi lineage,
And Adingboranku is my ancestor,
So, I dont mind your age or stand
That does not mean I am rude
It is because I am Ta'mot'iye!