Toyin Falola
(for Nimi Wariboko)
(I)
You told me that a caged bird does not fly,
and that the freedom of a bird lies in its wings
You are the town-crier, breaking the news of morality
you are the architect of the ark, conveying humanists
Your heart beats for all to thrive,
and your spirit seeks to heal the ill
You are the one who sees the pains of those who suffer.
You are a symbol of hope to those who wander
in the darkest places, your light beacons
You are the star that guides us to what is right.
(II)
You are a teacher in the marketplace of life,
guiding us to navigate through the clumsy streets
of a world wallowing in the love of God and Money.
You have taught us how to listen to the whispers
of conscience in the pursuit of wealth and survival.
Now, we understand that half of a dream is worth more than silver,
so we cradle our dreams in our right hands
and shelter the memories that accompany our childhood on the left.
In nature’s enchanting chants, the birds sing in harmony,
and their wings clap like a chorus of snapping fingers,
echoing the fulfillment of our dreams and destiny.
And like a soap bubble, although fragile and transient,
our dreams and desires radiate the earth like a celestial trance.