LOVE IS A WALKING STICK

The old man trusts his body

  to a piece of metal or wood

Not as his god or anything 

But as a prop to hold him up

The injured man does the same.

Alas, love is a walking stick 

Sturdy, reliable

With you every step of the way

Unrelenting, every night and day

Sometimes, the stick may break

And the rider is thrown 

Whose fault is that, 

Is it the stick? 

Even if it were, a man gets another one

And the journey resumes again. 

Be as it may, whether strong or unreliable

It's not about the form, but the matter.

Hear the spirit of the guide,

The essence of the walking stick 

Is to be with you, to support you;

Love is the walking stick of life,

To be with you every step of the way...

04/01/24

HARMATTAN AND WINTER

Long way from home, 

My first time alone.

Things we joked about in the past

Became a reality pretty fast. 

Definitely not the way we planned, 

Not at all, not even close! 

We thank the Lord for growth, 

But a bit, I miss the homeland. 

The air is dry and filled with dust, 

The weather itself is cold to touch, 

The wind is rattling my windows, 

The roof is creaking like goalposts. 

It's noisy on the outside,

The mill grinding out its content;

The sound of vehicles on the freeway, 

Children having themselves a grand day.. 

It's quiet on the inside, 

Just as I like. 

The holidays around the corner, 

To cool down the day we suffered. 

Harmattan and winter,

Opposites alike, 

Harmattan and winter,

Christmas is near. 

The months went by pretty fast, 

Bit still quite a ways to go:

Couldn't leave home fast enough, 

Adventures called for me to go. 

Harmattan and winter,

I'm not alone, 

Harmattan and winter,

I'm missing home. 

12/12/2023

I GIVE GOD THANKS

Wanted to get angry

But I remember God had been there

I understood the feeling 

of smashing things or smashing people

It came into my heart

Isn't it right to give God thanks? 

For good and bad, to give God thanks? 

Even to thank him that the bad was good

Or will be good? 

To glorify him in the situation 

And let him take the glory?

I'll set my heart at ease

For my God to take the glory

What other option is there? 

I'm scared of the alternative 

So mad I can't consider it

But I'll give my God the praise, 

I'll give him the glory

And thank him like he's already done it

That he's already done it

For he's already done it

Amen.

BABY, LOVE YOURSELF

You'll find time to lose yourself in love 

Put the happiness of others above your own 

Find joy in the things that make them happy 

Sometimes to the loss of your own—

Baby, love yourself. 

You've seen how wicked the world can be

How cold it gets out there 

How quickly people can turn on you

For reasons you can't even think—

Baby, love yourself. 

You're in love with how they love you, 

You're blind to how amazing 

How wonderful a creature you are

But you surrender only to what they say you are—

Baby, love yourself. 

You're happy and you can't help it, 

You're sad and you don't know why

You feel like the best thing in the world,

Then you mess up again big time—

Baby love yourself. 

Unconditionally and unashamedly, 

Shower no apologies unreservedly, 

Show the world how much you care, 

But really you don't even have to care

That Baby, you love yourself. 

When you feel rejected 

When no one has your back

When you feel unlovable 

Or consider yourself despicable—

Baby, love yourself.

When the nights get dark and you see nobody

When the days grow cold and you need somebody 

When the road gets tough and you feel so lonely 

When it's hard and the tears flow so freely—

Baby, love yourself.

Baby, love yourself 

Baby, love yourself 

Baby, love yourself 

Baby, love yourself 

Baby, love yourself...

With O. Doris 

SIR K SAYS A FEW

Happy birthday big man.

Like the sun, moon and stars, you'll always shine, irrespective of time.

Like water, your relevance will increase daily.

Like oxygen, your presence will always indicate sign of life.

You are my blood indeed.

Cheers to your year of beautiful testimonies🥂

MARY HAD SOME LITTLE WORDS

On this special day, I wanted to take a moment to send you my warmest birthday wishes. You have played such an incredible role in my  life, and I can't express enough how grateful I am to have you as an elder brother figure.

From the very beginning, you have been there for me, guiding me through life's ups and downs as only a true brother would. Your kindness, support, and unwavering presence have been a source of strength and inspiration for me, and for that, I want to thank you wholeheartedly.

You have been a pillar of support for me. Your wisdom, guidance, and friendly advice have been invaluable, and I genuinely cherish the bond that we share. You have opened your heart and embraced our family, making our lives brighter and richer.

Today, as we celebrate your birthday, I hope you know how much you mean to us. You have not only touched our lives with your love and care but have become an integral part of our family. Your generosity, sense of humor, and genuine character have left an indelible mark on us all.

I know this is coming late, I'm so sorry 😔

I wish you a day filled with joy, laughter, and all the blessings that life can offer. May every moment be as special as the cherished memories you have given us. May the upcoming year be filled with success, good health, and happiness.

You have shown us what it truly means to be a big brother, and we are forever grateful for your presence in our lives. Here's to many more years of celebrating your special day, and to the continued love and bond we share as family.

Happy birthday, 🥳 🎉 🥳 🎉 brother!

With love and warmest wishes,

Happy birthday 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🎉🥳🥳

Corper Sir

I stand attention sir

NUMBERS AND POWER

They said if you believe as one

Then the game is as good as won

I took this with me and wondered

Seeking, I became a wanderer

They said one head is inferior to a good two

I thought about this too 

I made my brain a toolbox 

I, myself working together

Have you seen power in the count of three? 

How at the end the athletes go free? 

As if their lives are on the line to retrieve 

Alas, the taste of freedom

Three is power, perfection is a square of four 

Those not against, with us they're for

May we be on guard that we may not fumble 

And be regretfully trapped in our own bubble

Four is perfection, five is a star 

How cocky we were as youngsters 

A dark night is best when it's starry 

A shooting star will leave you starstruck 

(But life is not always one big party) 

Five is a star, six is a circle 

Things you find important, encircle 

There's nothing in life as being too careful 

After the sixth, they say you find heaven 

The day of rest was called Seven

Set apart by God to serve Him 

The years of a strong man is seventy 

The say the number seven is heavenly

Seven is complete; eight is twice perfection 

A circle that touches itself and starts anew 

You marvel at the beauty and stroke up your chin

See as life is constantly being renewed..

Iyanu, 28/10/23.

HAVEN'T FOUND THE ANSWER YET

I searched the four corners of the wind

I listened hard, I heard the birds sing

I saw them take to flight and fly free

I saw power in their wholesome wings 

I went deep down the ocean depths 

The primordial power of the earth I felt 

Was ever so majestic the deeper I went

Words fail to capture the essence 

I climbed the mountains of the highest peaks

Caught the sunrise on the tallest trees

Saw so much beauty that I couldn't breathe

Saw greatness that made my heart to freeze 

In high spirits, but my energy spent 

Still seeking answers, but I couldn't make a dent

I searched the secrets of the seven seas

I was put to bed by the gentle breeze 

It doesn't matter if I spend my last cent  

These answers are worth more per every cent 

Yet on my strength I can't depend 

To the grace of God, I must defer

For in the fire, I found no answer

In the earthquake, I heard no response 

In the thunder, there was no reply 

But in the gentle wind, my God will speak

(In the gentle wind, my God will speak)

(In the gentle wind, my God will speak)

(In the gentle wind, my God does speak)

(And the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind)...

Yussuf Rahma x Iyanu Tokede

20th October, 2023.

A PLACE

We all need a place, where we can be less perfect 

Bottle our insecurities, and let it out in private

Dine with our doubts and pick bones with faith

It can be a person, it can be a place 

It can be something we'll never do again.

It could be healing, it could be coping 

It could be something to help you keep moving 

Life is a lesson, and people are blankets 

Life is transient, and memories are strength

Life is transient, and memories are strength.

Like a plastic bag I kept some messy things 

On the outside, it was fine

But inside was less pleasant 

Messy, not dirty, but serving a purpose 

To keep my environment clean

And help arrange my thoughts as I cleaned:

Resented the baggage, but it grew on me

And I came to realize its usefulness 

We all need a place we can be less perfect 

To figure out our weaknesses or find our strengths—

 

It's okay if we're lonely along the way 

Or weak by ourselves when we can't find help

Life is a lesson and people are blankets, 

Life is transient and memories are strength,

Life is transient and memories are strength,

Life is transient and memories are strength...

Iyanu, 6th September 2023.

I had the concept on my first few days at the Orientation Camp. Was only able to develop this today. About three weeks after. 

YINGI YANGA

The friend of my friend, 

From day one to the end, 

Through the thick and thin, 

You've always been there. 

Yin to her yang, yang to her yin,

Without you there, 

I wonder how 

It would have been. 

Some bonds don't last the night, 

But yours like eagles take to flight, 

You've always been there,

Like day to each other's night.

My friend is dear to me;

You're dearer to her; 

She's dearer to you,

That's the beauty of friendship. 

So, this one's for you Reedah, 

To you both, and the favourite third—

To bonds deeper than tinder, 

Hola, my dear sisters.. 

Iyanu.

BELLA FUEGO

I lit up the house with a smile on my face,

My sister asking about the smile on my face—

They won't understand; your texts cracking up my face, 

You've been a good friend to me. 

I hear the beeps as your text drops, 

It never gets old, as if time itself stops, 

Only one number makes that many pops, 

You've been a good friend to me. 

I catch myself thinking about our convos, 

They're more delightful than a cup of Coldstone, 

Things to savour, like its slow-mo, 

You've been a good friend to me. 

You listen to my thoughts when I ramble, 

Even a safe space for me when I grumble, 

Encourage me when I feel like I'm trampled, 

(Or when I boast and not feel so humble!)

You've been a good friend to me. 

I should be sleeping, but I'm writing, 

You know how memories can be fleeting? So I can sincerely capture this feeling—

You've been a good friend to me. 

So, whenever you're feeling low or feeling down, 

Or feeling like to run out of town, 

Or like someone in a traffic jam, 

(Remember my words from this night)

You've been a good friend to me. 

So, even for whenever, yes, your grace!

Let a smile always remind your face, 

And count your blessings case by case, 

(No matter what may be the case)—

You've been a good friend to me, 

(You've been a good friend to me)

(You've been a good friend to me..)

For Bella Fuego, 

She's been a good friend to me. 

Iyanu.