Value / Iyi Poem by Morakinyo Temiloluwa Bolarinwa

The inheritor may never value a big Agbada,
for it grows no stump, a house with a father,
a man fortified to live can never attest his charm's failure,
he that takes the herb for vegetable is surely immature.

If a child falls, he looks forward,
If an elder falls, he looks back,
but Ife rose on all's accord,
What faces a person is surely showing another a back.

The troublesome child has his day of use,
We do not because of troubles feed a child to beasts,
to make the white pap, even the dark pot has use,
to close eyes to evil may also be to let the good drift.

Disappointments often stem off expectations,
kinship is never a guarantee of kindness,
relationships are really defined in tribulations,
many do set a travelling eye on an unwayed wilderness.

But what do I know,
I am just a chirping bird on the rooftop.


Ajogun ewu o moyi Agbada nla,
bolode oku, ojude re o ni wu gbegi,
eni a sogun aiku fun oni fenu re sope koje,
Omode o mo ogun, oun pe l'efo.

B'omode ba subu a wo'waju,
b'agba ba subu a w'eyin wo,
amo omode gbon, agba gbon lafi da'le Ife,
ohun koju s'enikan, eyin l'oko s'elominran.

Omo buruku lojo tire,
aoni f'omo buruku f'ekun paje,
inu ikoko dudu l'eko funfun tin jade,
bi aba diju k'eni buruku koja, eni rere naa le gba'be lo.

Eni a gb'oju okun le o jo eni agba,
ajumobi o kan taanu,
igba iponju lan mo ore,
ibi afojusi, ona o gba'be.

Amo kini omode temi mo,
emi saa l'eye lenjelenje tin ke l'ori orile.