I miss the place of the rising sun;
For nothing makes my hair stand here.
No one to sing me my very ‘oriki,’
Nor the slightest ‘se dada loji?’

I miss the place of the ‘gangan’ beats;
For no meals shakes my tongue here.
No one to make me ‘efo oni kpomo’ with ‘iru,’
Nor the slightest ‘garri’ of ‘ijebu.’

I miss the place of the ‘aso ofi;’
For no clothes touches my sight here.
No one to tap me that very ‘emu oguro,’
Nor the slightest good-sauced ‘eja odo.’

For if not for the clarion call,
Oh! let ‘egbe’ come take me home,
With the real speed of ‘monomono.’

Oluwatmilehin Adejumobi Alabi

The sugar in my tea
The only bee that makes my honey 
The smile I wear like makeup
The only iru in my Efo riro
The stew on my white rice
The only roaches in my cupboard 
The eyes that mirror me
The only sun in my sky
The egusi on my semo
The only shayo that gets me high 
The lifeblood that keeps me breathing 
The only moon in my nights 
The ship that sail my world 
The only paddle in my canoe 
The ******* that inspires me
The only road I meant to take 
The morphine that ease my pain
The only spine that got my back
The woman of my world 
The only love that rules my heart.











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