Third Day

ÈSAN KÒ GBÓÒGÙN AND OTHER TALES MY GRANDMA TOLD ME BY THE FIREPLACE WHILE ROASTING…

if life is good to you, be careful
because life takes ease.
everything natural
that comes with a sudden speed
if we look closely,
we’d find it is a disaster.

your deeds would never die.
to your grave, they’d follow
to drag and to ridicule
to shame and to bury
your good just after you.

Kò sí bí ìbèrè se fé dùn tó,
Ìgbèyìn ló jú.
Bí o se fé kó rí láá rí
Bí o bá Fi okàn re balè.

the reward for labour has no remedy
every worker will get their due wage.

Victor Oyedele