YORUBA POETRY: ISE L'OOGUN ISE
This is arguably the most iconic Yoruba poem ever written. It teaches hard work, dignity of labour, self-reliance and explicitly highlights the consequences of a lackadaisical approach to life.
There's no better time to share this poem than now when the savage tempo of our modern society is constantly pushing people into all sorts of trap to attain spurious eminence.
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Ise l'oogun ise
Mura si se re, ore mi
Ise la fi n d'eni giga
Bi a ko ba r'eni fehin ti
Bi ole la a ri
Bi a ko ba r'eni gbekele,
A te ra mo se ni.
Iya re le lowo lowo
Baba re le lesin lekan
Ti o ba gbojule won
O te tan ni mo so fun o
Ohun ti a ko ba jiya fun
Se kii le tojo
Ohun ti a ba fara sise fun
Ni npe lowo eni
Apa lara igupa ni ye kan
B'aiye ba fe o loni
Ti o ba lowo lowo, won a tun fe o lola
Abi ko wa nipo atata
Aiye a ye o si terin terin
Je ki o d'eni ti n rago
Ko ri bi aiye ti nyin mu si o
Eko si tun seni doga
Mura ki o ko dara-dara
Iya mbe fomo ti ko gbon
Ekun mbe fomo ti o nsa kiri
Ma f'owuro sere ore mi
Mura s'ise ojo nlo.