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A BOY’S CITY (a poem by Odemakin Taiwo Hassan)

Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second
Abẹ́òkúta Ìlú Ẹ̀gbá 
Ìlú Líṣàbí Agbòǹgbò-Àkàlà

I
green taxis   rocky views   sparse roads 
a boy is a desert, yearning for rain, for home. 
my heart melts into the wheels of this bus, then my legs 
& body, teach me how to tame this pace. 

Ìlú Lámọ̀dí, ojúlówó Balógun
Ìlú orí òkè òun pẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀

II
nothing wears cracks here except old houses and 
unbroken hearts. i taste the dust on these roads & 
a weird mix of pain and nostalgia latch on to my 
tongue. this city moulded me too, in ways too many to mention. 

Ìlú Ajíbóyèdé tó fọmọ rẹ̀ túńlẹ̀ ṣe 
Ìlú Ṣódẹkẹ́, ọmọ Ẹfúwọ̀, akọni àtàtà 

III
look at this skin, can you see the different places I house? 
Mother once told me home is where some memories 
come to roost and others find wings. journey into me, 
this body holds more than untarred roads. 

Ìlú A-rò-bí-ológbò-ẹgàn, ojúlówó ọdẹ
Ìlú àwọn àgbà-ọ̀jẹ̀ nínú iṣẹ́ ìdájọ́ 


IV
i want to drown myself in Ebenezer Obey's songs, 
in the damp smell of rich earth after a rainfall, in
the sour taste of tamarind and almonds. bring back
those moments, times worries didn't nest on my palms. 

Ìlú tẸ̀gbàá Aké tí n ṣán nà ìlọsíwájú 
Ìlú tẸ̀gbàá Òwu tí ń sáré ìgbéga

V
my mother's hands still smell like cocoa butter, 
like unbroken prayers, noisy markets, quenched qualms,
her eyes settle on mine and once again, i'm reminded
of this city. how in it, many of my firsts float. 


Ibi tẸ̀gbàá Àgùrá tí ń fọn rere ìdàgbàsókè 
Bẹ́ẹ̀ lẸ̀gbàá Òkè-Ọ̀nà ò yéé polongo ìtẹ̀síwájú

VI
tell me not to see myself in this river. 
i cross the bridge at Láfenwá and my legs still wobble 
at its sight, as if to say it’s a mirror and this body, a mass
of elements, endless, thick, flowing, brown. 

Ẹ̀gbá Ìbarà ò sì dẹkùn aáyán ìtúǹlùúṣe
Ìlú tí gbogbo Ẹ̀gbá tí ń fìfẹ́lò
Ìlú abẹ́ òkúta, abẹ́ Olúmọ à-bẹ̀-lọ̀rọ̀

VII
graves sleep here, and cadavers i never got to name.
poems that never found their bearings, far places
in familiar faces, windows that are also doors
& songs my lips never learned to carry all flow in this city, 
all    are     this    city. 

Abẹ́òkúta Ìlú Ẹ̀gbá 
Ìlú Líṣàbí Agbòǹgbò-Àkàlà
Ìlú Lámọ̀dí, ojúlówó Balógun
Ìlú orí òkè òun pẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀
Ìlú Ajíbóyèdé tó fọmọ rẹ̀ túńlẹ̀ ṣe 
Ìlú Ṣódẹkẹ́, ọmọ Ẹfúwọ̀, akọni àtàtà 
Ìlú A-rò-bí-ológbò-ẹgàn, ojúlówó ọdẹ
Ìlú àwọn àgbà-ọ̀jẹ̀ nínú iṣẹ́ ìdájọ́ 
Ìlú tẸ̀gbàá Aké tí n ṣán nà ìlọsíwájú 
Ìlú tẸ̀gbàá Òwu tí ń sáré ìgbéga
Ibi tẸ̀gbàá Àgùrá tí ń fọn rere ìdàgbàsókè 
Bẹ́ẹ̀ lẸ̀gbàá Òkè-Ọ̀nà ò yéé polongo ìtẹ̀síwájú
Ẹ̀gbá Ìbarà ò sì dẹkùn aáyán ìtúǹlùúṣe
Ìlú tí gbogbo Ẹ̀gbá tí ń fìfẹ́lò
Ìlú abẹ́ òkúta, abẹ́ Olúmọ à-bẹ̀-lọ̀rọ̀

The

Yorùbá eulogy for the city of Abẹ́òkúta.
Ebenezer Obey: – A popular gospel musician in Nigeria


TAIWO HASSAN ODEMAKIN is a Nigerian writer.

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