“Society nowadays tells people that their happiness is all that matters but happiness is never found if it costs someone else’s theirs. That is not what happiness is, nor would such a person deserve it, because happiness is forged by the setting aside of self and in doing for others to make them happy first and foremost, so if you have to hurt another human being to “find your happiness,” then you have no clue what the word actually means or what it’s willing to do, and in being so self-centered and entitled, it’s veritably tragic that the only care and concern you have is for yourself.” ― Donna Lynn Hope
“One is not necessarily made self-centered because he is foolish, but one is very often made foolish because he is self-centered.”
― Criss Jami
Odun odun yi a san wa s’owo,
Odun odun yi a san wa s’omo,
Peregede la o ye!
( This year will bring us wealth, this year will bring us children. We will survive.)
Yes, the year had been fruitful
it had been
a bounteous harvest for you.
you have surpassed
your expectations
your expectations
have surpassed you
you have achieved
more than you think
you now have fat balances
your balances
are making you fat.
but
at what expense?
tarry a while, tarry a while.
Professor Ajijepepa
you have arrived
your papers are
the toast in Berlin
that conference at
Taipei can’t hold
because you are on hold
that seminar in London
was not seminal
because you were absent.
that workshop in Boston
lost its bolts
because of your absence.
that teleconferencing in Tokyo
was stagnant
because your paper
suffered static.
you are
the new kid on the block
the new brain on the slab
tarry a while, tarry a while.
have you asked yourself
whether
you are carrying out
your primary duty?
how many times
have you entered
the class this year?
did you complete
those classes
for the young ones
or
are you too busy
on the world’s podia
rather than
the shifting classroom
of your ivory tower?
tarry a while, tarry a while.
did your masters students
see your face
or are you their MASTER through and through?
what of the Doctorate students
you are supervising?
did they not see more of your back
than sitting in front of you?
have they not accepted chalking
years upon years
on their projects
rather than finishing it?
is your wife
not a new person
to you?
or
is it always on the phone?
that you constantly meet?
are post cards not good substitutes
for reaching out to people?
tarry a while, tarry a while.
have you been given knowledge
to become master of all?
is the knowledge
you are given
to develop your area
or
to repress it?
professor ajiko pepa are you
carrying out
your responsibility?
how many books
have you written since?
books that will
help the young ones?
how many lectures
have you delivered?
to those thirsty young ones
looking up to you?
are you not on an ego-trip
fed by your irresponsibility
at home?
tarry a while, tarry a while.
the end will come
one day
the day will come
to one end.
when you will realize that
the CREATOR
gave you a job
a job
to clean your little area first
a job
to bring young ones up
or
don’t you know
you are a caretaker?
the LANDLORD
comes for accounts
at the end of your LIFE
tarry a while, tarry a while.
ayékòótóFMD 