Desires Poem by Morakinyo Temiloluwa Bolarinwa

Come to me, birds of the sky,
Listen to me, beasts of the earth,
the wise of men abandon your high,
join the fools before your sight.

Learn.

from the knowledge of Ìjàpá,
the wisdom of Oko Yánníbo,
of the futility of desire,
those the heart fails to let go.

Learn, he said to me.

What in life do you desire,
that which you want and want for certain,
to have, hold, be, or acquire,
tell, that I may show futility in their gain.

Do you desire money,
the conduit of life in worth and value,
giver of choice and eraser of need,
let me show that money fails to do.
You, my son, walk the free earth,
no guard, no fear that man may take your life,
observe the man beside rolling in wealth,
and see him missing life to save his life.

Do you desire women,
sumptuous and succulent, thick or thin,
for love, for aid or to bear children,
I tell you now, what she does bring in.
For you there, can keep a single mind,
with focus and power to make yourself,
but thereon and if with woman you bind,
in hook or crook she lords your self.

Do you desire fame,
the spread of name to far and wide,
that is, my son, a dangerous game,
and worse where wealth and fame divide.
For fame is nought but of two part,
its good and bad problems alike,
and bearing money's problem in the cart,
it robs of self, soul and body alike.

What do you desire my son,
think and see it futile for certain,
and worse for end when all is done,
you leave with no trace of any gain.