A Yorùbá Poem
ISÉ NI ÒÒGÙN ÌSÉ [Work is the antidote for destitute]
MÚRA SÍ ISÉ RE ÒRÉÈ MI [Work hard, my friend]
ISÉ NI A FI Í DI ENI GIGA [Work elevate one in high position]
BÍ A KÒ BÁ RÉNI FÈYÌN TÌ, BÍ ÒLE LÀ Á RÍ [When there is no one to lean on, we appear indolent]
BÍ A KO RÉNI GBÉKÈLÉ [When there is no one to trust]
À A TERA MÓ ISÉ ENI [We focus more on our work]
ÌYÁ RE LÈ LÓWÓ LÓWÓ [Your mother may be rich]
BÀBÁ SÌ LÈ LÉSIN LÉÈKÀN [Your father may have a ranch full of horses]
BÍ O BÁ GBÓJÚ LÉ WON [If you depend on them]
O TÉ TÁN NI MO SO FÚN O [You are sinking fast to your ignominy]
OHUN TÍ A KÒ BA JÌYÀ FÚN [Whatever gain one does not work hard to earn]
KÌ Í LÈ TÓJÓ [Usually does not last]
OHUN TÍ A BÁ FARA SISÉ FÚN [Whatever gain one works hard to earn]
NÍ Í PÉ LÓWÓ ENI [Is the one that last for so long] ''While in ones possession''.
APÁ LARÁ, ÌGÙNPÁ NÌYEKAN [Families are like the arm while friends are like the elbow]
BÍ AYÉ N FÉ O LÓNÌÍ [If you are loved by the world today]
BÍ O BÁ LÓWÓ LÓWÓ [If you are still rich]
WON TUN MAA FÉ O LÓLA [[They will love you tomorrow as well]
TÀBÍ TÍ O BÁ WÀ NÍ IPÒ ÀTÀTÀ [Imagine you are in esteemed position]
AYÉ Á YÉ O SÍ TÈRÍN-TÈRÍN [They will honor you with false laughter]
JÉ KÍ O DI ENI N RÁÁGÓ [Unfortunately you become a pauper]
KÍ O RÍ BÁYÉ TI Í YÍNMÚ SÍ O [See how they goofed you] ÈKÓ SÌ TÚN N SONI Í DÒGÁ [Education elevates one in position]
MÚRA KÍ O KÓ O DÁRADÁRA [Work hard to acquire a good education]
BÍ O SÌ RÍ ÒPÒ ÈNÌYÀN [And if you see a lot of people]
TÍ WÓN N FI ÈKÓ SE ÈRÍN RÍN [Making education a laughing stock]
DÁKUN MÁ SE FARA WÉ WON [Please do not imitate or keep their company]
ÌYÀ N BÒ FÓMO TÍ KÒ GBÓN [Suffering await a foolish child]
EKÚN N BE FÓMO TÓ N SÁ KIRI. [Distress is in reserve for a truant child]
MÁ FÒWÚRÒ SERÉ, ÒRÉÈ MI [Do not waste your formative years my friend]
MÚRA SÍSÉ, OJÓ N LO [Work harder, time and tide wait for no one.]
Let’s pass it on to our children.
Author: Unknown
