DÙDÙKÉ

I have found a sweet thing—

Ìfé to dún bì ọ̀yìn.

When my hand rest on my belly,

I can feel your tiny kicks

That tickles me from within

And makes ẹ̀rín bubbles out of my mouth.

We share the same dreams,

We share the same feelings—

And our bond of love is made stronger

By the cords that joins us together.

Kádàrá has smiled on me

And given me a child of destiny

Who would be divine like ẹyẹ àdàbà

And sweet like àjàrà in the garden.

I want to feel you in my arms,  

I want to hear you cry and laugh, 

I want to watch ọmọ mì grow,

And hear you say maamì.

Come with the light of heaven 

And the divinity of creativity 

Whether in writing, art, music or dance. 

I will be a responsible abiyamo

To correct you in our African ways

And teach you to pray on bended knees. 

May Ọlódùmarè protect you, 

And may ìrì orun rest upon you

That I may never cry over you! 

The time of the season moves slowly.

Aago! Move quickly

That I may see ọjú arewà mì

That I know deep inside

Is more beautiful than àyè herself. 

Aago! Run with tireless might 

That I may birth my beloved child

And rejoice in the memories 

We make together as seasons pass by. 

Dùdùké — The love a woman has for her unborn child.

Ìfé to dún bì ọ̀yìn — Love that is sweet like honey 

ẹ̀rín — Laughter 

Kádàrá — Fate 

ẹyẹ àdàbà — Dove

àjàrà — Grapes 

ọmọ mì — My child

maamì — My mother 

abiyamo — Mother 

Ọlódùmarè — God

ìrì orun — Dew of heaven

ọjú arewà mì — The eyes of my beloved 

Aago — Time

àyè — The world 

©Okunola Peace.