I Am Poem by Adebola Afolabi

Adeb́ oĺ a ́ òòòòò
Ìshòlá omo Adé
Omo ìyíọlásemí, omo Adégbóyèga
Ìshol̀ á
Omo tápà
Adé Omo Ọba Olójòkú ti ilu Òjòkú
Òjòkú, mosè mo jalú omo Arógun díyàn
Mo deĺe ́mo kiẹ́ oooo
Adeb́ oĺa ́Omo Oba
(Rezthapoet, Rezthapoet)


I am
I am that pride
The fruit beneath the tree
I am
I am that bride
The beauty, adorning the heritage
I am
The son of lions by generations,
Generation, I am - X, generation Y, generation Z
A new sprout, sprite of trite lineage
Heir Apparent, here apparent
A patent, I am
Blue by the blood
Blue pill beneath the skin
On my day of birth, I came by umbilical - blue by the cord
The trumpet, was blown

Like in biblical times
So cynical minds, align for this blue eyed melanin bundle of royalty
A gathering of THOMASES,
doubtful eyes before whom I was born
Of no loyalty,
to dreams
I beam, sweetness to life like molasses
(Adebola, I am)
The crown, to greatness (I am)
The throne, to greatness
I am that twin to whom defeat and mediocrity are no food -
they are tasteless (Omo Taíý e, ́ I am)
I am that twin

Bridge/Horn:
Hmmmm
O seun, Oseun
A laĺ e ̀ ilu ̀ Òjok̀ u ́ yo ́ gbè ọ́
Hmm/m
Waá̀ sere
Hmm
Oriḱ i: ̀
Èjir̀ e ́ ara ́ is̀ okuǹ
Eduń jobi ́arómo sẹ̀
Òdé kí ilé kún
Òkuń òdẹ̀ dẹ̀ terut̀ erù
Wíní wíní lójú orogún
Èjì wọ̀ rọ̀ loj́ u ́ ìya rẹ̀
̀Ọbẹ́ kìsì bẹ́ kẹ́ sé

Ófẹsẹ̀ méjéèjì bẹ́ sí ile ́ alaḱ iś à
Ọmọ́ sọ alákísà di oni igba aso
Buḿ i, nbá ọ relé
Pè mí npadà lẹ́ yìn rẹ
Àì tète ̀ ji, ́ onílè gbálẹ̀
Ẹdun, agbá orí igi réfe réfe
Ojú ni poḱ í
Ìrù ni gọ̀ lọ̀
Èmi lejí ri ́ o
Èmi leji ́ ri ́ o
Ìbeji ̀ ara ́ is̀ okuǹ