ISE LOGUN ISE (WORK IS THE MEDICINE FOR POVERTY) – AN INSPIRATIONAL YORUBA POEM

My African background influences the books that I write. I remember the book, Ise Logun Ise, an indigenous Yoruba poem written by the famous author J.F. Odunjo in his book Iwe Alawiye. It was widely recited in primary and secondary schools in the western areas of Nigeria. The poem provides words of wisdom, inspiration and motivation and it’s as relevant today as it was in those days. I memorised the whole poem in the primary school, and it was one of my resources for inspiration when I was growing up. 

ISE LOGUN ISE 

WORK IS THE MEDICINE FOR POVERTY

An inspirational Yoruba poem 

Ise logun ise 

(Work is the medicine for poverty)

Mura sise re, ore mi

(Get serious with your work, my friend) 

Ise la fi ndeni giga

(Work is what will bring our prosperity) 

Bi a ko ba reni fehinti, 

(If we have no one to lean on,)

Bi ole la’nri

(Makes it look like we’re lazy)

Bi a ko ba reni gbekele,

(If we have no one to depend on,)

A tera mo’se eni

(We have to work hard)

Iya re le lowo lowo

(Your mother may be rich)

Baba re le lesin lekan

(Your father may own many horses)

Bi o ba gbo’ju lewon

(If you depend on them)

O te tan ni mo so fun o

(You’re doomed, I tell you)

Ohun ti a ko ba ji’ya fun

(That which we don’t suffer for)

Se kii le pe lowo

(Doesn’t usually last long)

Ohun ti a ba fara sise fun

(That which we get through hard work)

Nii pe lowo eni

(Is what lasts for long)

Apa lara

(The arm is kin)

Igupa ni ye kan

(The elbow is sibling)

B’aiye ba nfe o loni

(If the world loves you today)

Ti o ba lowo lowo 

(If you’re rich)

Won a tun fe o lola

(They will still love you tomorrow)

Tabi ki o wa n’ipo atata

(Or if you’re in an important position)

Aiye a ye o si terin terin

(The world will hail you)

Je k’o de’ni ti nrago

(Wait until you become a pauper)

Ko ri bi won ti nyin mu si o

(And see how they mock you)

Eko ni’nso ni d’oga

(Education will make us become bosses)

Mura ki o ko dara dara

(Make sure you learn very well) 

Bi o si r’opo eniyan

(And if you see many people)

Ti won f’eko s’erin rin

(Making mockery of education)

Dakun ma f’ara we won

(Please do not emulate them)

Iya nbo fun omo ti ko gbon

(Suffering awaits the unwise child)

Ekun nbe fun omo to nsa kiri

(Tears are there for the truant child)

Ma f’owuro sere ore mi

(Don’t play with your morning, my friend)

Mura si’se ojo’nlo

(Work hard, time is going)