Thank you very much Dr. Fakinlede for bringing back memories of my childhood with this poem by JF. Odunjo which represents my first induction to poetry as it hung on the classroom wall frames to be recited by the class in unison fresh from the morning assembly.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: "Kayode J. Fakinlede" <jfakinlede@gmail.com>Date: 08/12/2016 19:37 (GMT+00:00)To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com >Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - ISE NI OOGUN ISE - A translation of one of the most beautiful poems ever written
--IṢẸ L'OOGUN IṢẸ/
WORK IS THE UNIVERSAL PANACEA FOR POVERTY
This is a translation of one of the most beautiful poems ever written.
Iṣẹ ni oogun iṣẹ
Mura si'ṣẹ ọrẹ mi
Iṣẹ ni a fi ndi ẹni giga
Bi a ko ba r'ẹni fẹhinti
Bi ọlẹ l'a a ri
Bi a ko ba r'ẹni gbekẹle
A tẹra mọ'ṣẹ ẹni
Iya rẹ le lowo l'ọwọ
Baba rẹ si le l'eṣin l'eekan
Bi o ba gboju le wọn
O tẹ tan ni mo sọ fun ọ
Oun ti a ko ba jiya fun
Ṣe ki i lee t'ọjọ
Oun ti a ba f'ara ṣiṣẹ fun
Ohun ni i pẹ l'ọwọ ẹni
Apa l'ara
Igunpa n'iyekan
Bi aiye ba nfẹ ọ l'oni
Ti o ba lowo l'ọwọ
Wọn a maa fẹ ọ l'ọla
Jeki o wa n'ipo atata
Aiya a ma yẹ ọ si tẹrin-tẹrin
Jeki o d'ẹni nrago
Ki o ri bi aiye ti nyimu si ọ
Ẹkọ si tun ns'ẹni d'ọga
Mura ki o kọ ọ daradara
Iya nbọ f'ọmọ ti ko gbọn
Ẹkun nbe f'ọmọ ti nsa kiri
Ma f'owurọ ṣere ọrẹ mi
Mura s'iṣẹ ọjọ nlọ
-J. F. Odunjo
Work is the universal panacea for poverty
Prepare to work hard my friend
It's only hard work that makes one prosper
If one does not have a person as a pillar of support
One often looks like a lazy person
If one does not have a person to rely on
One must put all efforts in one's business
Your mother may have money in abundance
And your father may have horses in the stable
If you should rely on them
You are already living in a fool's paradise
Whatever one does not work hard to attain
Does not stay long with one
Whatever we work hard for
That is really what we treasure
One main friends are our arms
And our elbows are our brothers and sisters
Should the whole world profess their love for you today
If you a rich person,
They will continue to love you tomorrow
If you are in a high position
The world will honor you with their smile
If, however, you fall on bad times
You'll see them begin to snicker behind your back
Education can also be responsible for advancement
Be prepared to get educated
The child who refuses to learn will later suffer
There will be weeping for a child who plays his life away
Do not waste time during your early years
Be prepared to work hard, as time waits for no one
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Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
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