Proverbs: Ola Poetry

Ká mú eyin sowo ọ̀tún, ká mú eyin sowo òsì, ká fèyin rin láti iséyin dé lyin Èkiti, enití ò ní fisé yinni ò ni fi yinni.

the vilest pieces of creation are humans
it is me, you, our friends, foes and all
it is who we are and what we choose to be
you may die for a person and the human
will still ask if that is how one should die.

if you are fat, someone will body shame
if you are thin, someone will ‘food-shame’
if you are poor, someone will sapa shame
if you are rich, someone will ‘envy-shame’
if you are you, someone will ‘another shame’

when they cheer for you, beware
be scared, be observant, be ready
you’ll find loyalty in a perceived foe
family is another name for blackmail
ko de shora fun obinrin, ki oluwa wa pelu e

Tọ̀mídé Abdul

Footnote

“Ká mú eyin sowo ọ̀tún, ká mú eyìn sowo òsì, ká fèyin rin láti iséyin dé lyin Èkiti, eni ò ní fisé yinni ò ni fi yinni.” – If one holds an egg with the right hand and a palm-nut with the left and walks backward from Iseyin (Oyo state) to Iyin Ekiti (Ekiti state), those who won’t be appreciative, still won’t be.

ko de shora fun obinrin, ki oluwa wa pelu e – Beware of women. May the Lord be with you