Those who love you
often don’t let you know;
you may discover their love
in their whispers, looks or gestures.
that shout hostility at you loud and clear.
When you feel like the entire world
is against you
and life is cruel,
hard, and so unbearable,
it is not true
that nobody loves you:
Those who love you
usually never use more than whispers
but those who hate you
hate themselves even more.
2020 has been an eventful year.
We will not itemize the list of the horrors of the year.
Can we, instead, highlight the blessings?
Rather than explore the sadness of the year, can we paint images that are sweet?
Can we find the joy hidden behind the sorrow?
Can we squeeze order out of the chaos?
Artist: Moyo Okediji
Title: ÌLÚ LE: When Country Hard
Medium: acrylic on canvas
We are getting close to the end of the architectural sculpture.
DANCING WITH WORDS
Do we dance while talking, sometimes?
Usually, we talk with our mouths.
But the eyes are also part of the conversation.
The Proposal
(To the colonial master)
Oga, will you marry me,
and take me home?
I can be your second
even third or fourth wife
You look so handsome
and I giggle
Fear Not the Storm
Àwa kò bẹ̀rù (We are not afraid)
Àyà kò fò wá (Scared are we not)
Olódùmarè lalákǒso (The Almighty is in charge)
Kò sí bí ìjì náà ṣe lè tó (However wild the storm may rage)
Àwa ọmọ Irúnmọlẹ̀ (We are the children of Divine forces)