ABÍKÉ

Obìnrin dùdù bì ọ̀sú,

Ìbàdí aràn mí —

Tì ọ ba sọrọ̀,

A ma dun bi omi ti nrú ninu okuń.

In the presence of the morning light,

You gave me three kisses

That I may make three wishes

To seal the moment of our love.

I once thought my queen

Would forever remain in my dreams,

But you came with orin dìdún

That I may come alive in your arms

That are soft like àdìrè mama mì.

Come and be my lovely flower

That I may be the shade that covers you.

Come and be my pretty damsel

That I may be the shawl the adorns 

Your skin, smooth like the flesh of iyemòjá.

Glossary:

Obìnrin dùdù bì ọ̀sú - Woman black as ebony. 

 Ìbàdí aràn mí - One with buttocks for velvet clothing. 

Tì ọ ba sọrọ̀ - When she talks 

A ma dún bi omi ti nrú ninu omi okuń - She sounds like the water that swirls in the ocean.

Orin didun - sweet song.

Àdìrè - a Yoruba silk or material.

Mama mi - my mother.

Iyemòjá - Goddess of the sea.

©Okunola Peace.