Author: David Achodo

David Achodo is a PhD candidate and Graduate Teaching Associate in French at the University of Tennessee, USA. He is the Primary Organizer and Founding Member of the “World Languages and Cultures Graduate Student Association,” University of Tennessee. A French, English, German, Fon, and Yoruba speaker, Achodo is a Scholar, Translator, Interpreter, Poet and Preacher.

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Alas

Alas

English
Sonnet XXIII
Alas! What avails me that so perfectly
You once praised my golden tress,
And the beauty of my eyes compared
To two Suns, from which Love, skillfully,
Drew the darts that caused his torment?
Where are you now, tears of little span?
And death, through whom should have been honored
Your steadfast love and oft-repeated vow?
So then, was it the goal of your malice
To enslave me under the guise of service?
Forgive me, Friend, this one time,
Being overcome with both spite and anger;
Yet I am sure, wherever you may be,
That as much as I, you suffer martyrdom.
Fon
Han kpɛvi XXIII
Ée! Etɛ ka nyí lè nú mì bɔ un bló mɔ̌ mlɛ́mlɛ́
È kpa susu nú ɖa ce e è sɔ́ siká dó bló é hwe ɖokpó ɔ́,
Bɔ ɖɛkpɛ nukún ce lɛ́ɛ tɔn jlɛ́ dó
Hwe we lɛ nu, bɔ Wanyiyi nɔ gosin ye mɛ
Dɔn nǔ e zɔ́n bɔ é jiya lɛ é à?
Fítɛ́ a ɖe, ɖasin e nɔ wá yi é?
Bɔ fítɛ́ mɛkúkú e jí wanyiyi towe maɖóblɔ̌ ɔ́ kpódó akpá e
A dó azɔn mɔkpan é kpó ɖó ná ɖe sísí ná ɔ́ ka ɖe?
Enɛ wu ɔ, linlin nyanya towe wɛ nyí ɖɔ a
Ni sɔ́ mì dó kannumɔgbenu ɖò sinsɛnzɔ́ sín awu mɛ à?
Sɔ́ hwɛ kɛ mì, Xɔ́ntɔn ce, hwe elɔ nu ɔ,
Xomɛgle kpo xomɛsin kpo nɔ gɔ́ ayi mɛ nú mɛ;
Amɔ̌, un nɔ na jiɖe nyiɖée ɖɔ, fí ɖebǔ e a na nɔ é ɔ,
A na jiya ɖó kúɖiɖi tɔn wu lee un nɔ jiya gbɔn é.
French
1Sonnet II
Las! Que me sert que si parfaitement
Loua jadis ma tresse dorée,
Et de mes yeux la beauté comparée
A deux Soleils, dont Amour finement
Tira les traits causes de son tourment?
Où êtes-vous, pleurs de peu de durée?
Et mort par qui devait être honorée
Ta ferme amour et itéré serment?
Doncques c’était le but de ta malice
De m’asservir sous ombre de service ?
Pardonne-moi, Ami, à cette fois,
Étant outrée et de dépit et d’ire;
Mais je m’assur’, quelque part que tu sois,
Qu’autant que moi tu souffres de martyre.
Yoruba
Orin Kekere XXIII
Eh! Kini anfaani pe ni pipe bẹẹ
O ti fi igba kan ri yin irun wura mi,
Ati pe ẹwa oju mi sa fi we
Si Orun meji, nibi Ife ni oye
Fa ọfa rẹ ti o mu ipọnju rẹ wa?
Ibo ni ẹyin wa, ẹyin omije, igba kuru?
Ati iku nipasẹ ẹni ti a ba ti bọla fun
Iduro sinsin ifẹ ati ẹjẹ rẹ ti o n fi igba gbogbo jẹ?
Nitorina, eyi ni ilepa ikun sinu rẹ,
Lati jẹ ki n ṣẹru labẹ ojiji iṣẹ rẹ?
Dariji mi, Ore, fun igba kan yi,
A bori mi pẹlu ikerora ati ibinu;
Sibẹ odamiloju, ibikibi ti o wu ko wa,
Pe bi emi pẹlu, iwọ naa n jẹ irora ijakadi.
Notes
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Date: 2026-04-10

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Luth, Companion

Luth, Companion

English
Sonnet XIII
Lute, companion of my calamity,
Irreproachable witness of my sighs,
True examiner of my afflictions,
Thou hast often lamented with me;
And so much has my pitiful weeping wearied thee
That, beginning some delightful sound,
Thou madest it all at once lamentable,
Feigning the tone thou hadst sung full of joy.
And if thou wouldst strive to do the contrary,
Thou slackenest, and so constrainest me to be silent;
But seeing me tenderly sigh,
Granting favor to my so sad complaint,
In my sorrows I am forced to take pleasure,
And of a sweet woe sweet end to hope.
Fon
Han kpɛvi XIII
Gǎngǎnwîn, gbɛ̌ ce adǎnhwěnú tɔn,
Kúnnuɖetɔ́ e è ma ɖó blɔ ǎ é
Wɛ núwè ɖò azɔnwinwɛ ce lɛ mɛ,
Hwi mɛ e nɔ wlán aluwɛ ce lɛ́ɛ sín tan nǔgbó ɔ́,
A nɔ ya avǐ hwɛhwɛ ɖo akpá ce;
Bɔ avǐ ce e vɛ́ jlɛ́ é dó tagba nú we mɔ̌.
Enɛ ɔ, hwenu e è bɛ́ nǔ e nɔ víví nú mɛ é ɖé lɛ é ɔ,
A nǎ bló bɔ é ná nyí aluwɛ mɛ ajijimɛ,
Gbè e un ko jì é ɖesu vlɛ́.
Bɔ enyi a tɛ́n kpɔ́n bo wà nǔ e gbɔn vo nú enɛ é ɔ,
A nɔ j’ayǐ bo nɔ hɛn mì gannugánnú bɔ un nɔ cí abwɛ;
Amɔ̌, ee un mɔ bɔ un ɖò xó sú wɛ kpo xomɛfífá kpo é ɔ,
Bɔ é nyɔ́ xomɛ dó ɖɛ ce e dó aluwɛ mɛ é wú,
Un ɖó ná mɔ gbɔdónúmɛ ɖo wǔvɛ́ ce lɛ́ɛ mɛ;
Bɔ sín wuvɛ̌ vivi ɖé mɛ, bo
Na ɖó nukún ɖɔ vivɔnu vivi ɖé na wá.
French
1Sonnet XIII
Luth, compagnon de ma calamité,
De mes soupirs témoin irréprochable,
De mes ennuis contrôleur véritable,
Tu as souvent avec moi lamenté;
Et tant le pleur piteux t’a molesté
Que, commençant quelque son délectable,
Tu le rendais tout soudain lamentable,
Feignant le ton que plein avais chanté.
Et si tu veux efforcer au contraire,
Tu te détends et si me contrains taire:
Mais me voyant tendrement soupirer,
Donnant faveur à ma tant triste plainte,
En mes ennuis me plaire suis contrainte
Et d’un doux mal douce fin espérer.
Yoruba
Orin Kekere XIII
Iwọ gita, alabaṣepọ ninu ibanujẹ mi,
Ẹlẹri imi ẹdun mi ti ko ni ibawi,
Oluyẹwo tootọ ti awọn ipọnju mi Nigba gbogbo ni Iwo ma n kerora pelu mi,
Ati pe Nigba pupọ ni ẹkun ikaaanu mi n mu ki rẹ Iwọ;
Tó bẹẹ̀ ni bẹẹrẹ, ọpọ ni inu didun si ohun mi,
Iwọ pẹlu idibọ mu ki gbogbo orin ti Iwọ n kọ pẹlu ẹkun rẹrẹ ayọ di orin ibanujẹ,
Ati bi Iwọ ba fẹ sakitiyan lai ṣe idakeji.
Ati bí o bá fẹ ka ni ìfẹ si idakeji,
Iwọ sọ mi di ọlẹ o si tun rọ mi lati dakẹ;
Ṣugbọn nígbà tí o rí mi ń sunkún pẹlẹ,
Yọnda oju rere fun fifi ibanujẹ mi saroye,
Nínú awọn ibanujẹ mi a fi ipa mumi lati gbadun,
Ati ninu egbe to ladun ni mo ti ni opin ireti to ladun.
Notes
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Date: 2026-04-10

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Behold Your Blond head

Behold Your Blond head

English
Sonnet X
When I behold your fair blond head, crowned
With green laurel, make a lute so sweetly lament
That you could compel, by following you,
Trees and rocks; when I see you adorned,
And encompassed by ten thousand virtues,
Raised in honor’s rank higher than any can attain,
And extinguishing the praises of the highest,
Then says my heart within, full of passion:
So many virtues that make you beloved,
That make you esteemed by everyone—
Could they not as well make you love in return?
And, adding to your praiseworthy virtue
This further grace, of having pity on me,
Might you not gently kindle with my love?
Fon
Han kpɛvi X
Nú un mɔ ta ɖagbeɖagbe towe, axɔsugbakún.
Kpodo ama amamú ɖé kpo, bo bló
Bɔ gǎngǎnwín ɖé ɖò aluwɛ mɛ ɖɛkpɛɖɛkpɛ mɔ̌.
Ðó a sixu hɛn mɛ gannugánnú.
Atín kpó só kpó ná xwedó we;
Hwenu e un mɔ bɔ a b’acɔ́ é ɔ́,
Bɔ, jijɔ ɖagbe afatɔ́n wǒ lɛlɛ̌ dó è,
Nú è na yɛ̌yi ɖaxó hugǎn e mɛɖebǔ ma mɔ ǎ é,
Bo na dó súnsún susu ɖaxó ɖaxó lɛ tɔn ɔ,
Hwenɛ́nu ɔ, ayi ce e ɖò jiji wɛ ɖò éɖée mɛ é ɖɔ:
Nǔ ɖagbe gěgé e nɔ zɔ́n bɔ è nɔ yí wǎn nú we,
Bó nɔ zɔ́n bɔ mɛ bǐ nɔ ɖó sísí nú we é,
Ye lɔ sixú bló bɔ è nɔ yí wǎn nú we à cé?
Bɔ, gɔ́ nú jijɔ ɖagbe towe e jɛxa susu é.
Nyikɔ élɔ́ lɔmɔ̌, é nyí nǔblawukúnúmɛ nú mì,
Un sixú hɛn wanyiyi ce dó jǐ we bléblé ǎ cé?
French
1Sonnet X
Quand j’aperçois ton blond chef, couronné
D’un laurier vert, faire un luth si bien plaindre
Que tu pourrais à te suivre contraindre
Arbres et rocs ; quand je te vois orné,
Et, de vertus dix mille environné,
Au chef d’honneur plus haut que nul atteindre,
Et des plus hauts les louanges éteindre,
Lors dit mon coeur en soi passionné:
Tant de vertus qui te font être aimé,
Qui de chacun te font être estimé,
Ne te pourraient aussi bien faire aimer?
Et, ajoutant à ta vertu louable
Ce nom encor de m’être pitoyable,
De mon amour doucement t’enflammer?
Yoruba
Orin Kekere X
Nigbati mo wo ẹwa ori rẹ ti o ni irun alaawọ ofeefee, ti a de ni ade ẹfọ alawọ ewe,
Ohun elo orin ti o mu ki kike rẹ ladun
Pe iwọ le fi ipa rẹ yi igi ati apata la; nigbati mo ba ri ọ ni ẹwa,
Ati ti o rọgba yika pẹlu ẹgbẹgbẹrun iwa rere, ti a gbe ga pẹlu ọla giga julọ,
Ni ipo ogo ti ko si ẹnikẹni le de si i, Ju ibi ti ẹnikẹni Le de lọ,
Ati fifi opin si iyin awọn ọlọla julọ,
Nigbanaa ọkan mi sọ ninu mi, ti kun fun ikaanu:
Awọn iwa rere to po ti o mu ki a nifẹ si ọ,
Ọpọ iwa rere to sọ ọ di ayanfẹ, ti o sọ ọ di ẹni iyi lọwọ gbogbo eniyan,
Ṣe awọn naa ko le tun jẹ ki o nifẹ mi pada?
Ati, fifi kun iyin ti o yẹ fun awọn iwa rere rẹ
Itẹsiwaju ore-ọfẹ yi, ti n ṣe ikaanu mi,
Ṣe iwọ ko le ru ifẹ mi soke ni irorun?
Notes
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Date: 2026-04-10

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~ David Achodo ~ Leave a comment
I’m Your Body

I’m Your Body

English
Sonnet VII
One sees every living thing die
When its subtle soul departs from the body:
I am the body, you the better part—
Where then are you, O beloved soul?
Do not leave me so long thus fainting:
To come and save me after would be too late.
Alas! Do not expose your body to such peril;
Restore to it its valued and rightful share.
But make it, my Friend, that this encounter
And loving meeting be not dangerous,
Attending it not with sternness,
Not with harshness, but with gentle grace,
Which softly may restore to me your beauty,
Once cruel, now at last kind.
Fon
Han kpɛvi VII
Mǐ nɔ mɔ nǔ e ɖo gbɛ lɛ́ɛ bǐ ɖo kúkú wɛ;
Hwenu e lindɔ̌n e ɖò hwlahwlá é na gosin agbaza ɔ mɛ é:
Nyɛ wɛ nyí agbaza ɔ́, midɛɛ lɛ́ɛ wɛ nyí wǔjɔnú ɖagbe ɔ́.
Fítɛ́ a ka ɖe hwenɛ́nu, lindɔ̌n vívɛ́ná ce?
Ma jó mì dó bónú un nɔ xò nǔ kpɔ́n nú táan gegě ó:
Bo na dó hwlɛn mì gán ɖò enɛ gudo ɔ, un na wá hwenu e é jɛxa dó é.
Ée! Ma jó agbaza towe dó ɖo awovinú élɔ́ mɛ ó:
Mi lɛ́vɔ ná ɛ akpáxwé tɔn e é ɖó sísí ná é kpódó vlɔɖówe tɔn kpó.
Amɔ̌, xɔ́ntɔn ce, yí gbè nú kplé wanyiyi tɔn kpo
Kplékplé enɛ kpo ni ma nyí awovinú ó,
É nɔ xwedó è, é nɔ nyí kpo hlɔnhlɔn kpo ǎ,
É nyí kpo hlɔnhlɔn kpo ǎ, loɔ, kpo fɛ́nú kpo wɛ,
Bo nɔ lɛ́vɔ sɔ́ ɖɛkpɛ towe dó mì kpo xomɛfífá kpo,
É nyí adakaxotɔ́ ɖ’ayǐ, àmɔ́
bo ká nɔ nyɔ́ ɖɛkpɛ dìn.
French
1Sonnet VII
On voit mourir toute chose animée,
Lors que du corps l’âme subtile part:
Je suis le corps, toi la meilleure part:
Où es-tu donc, ô âme bien aimée?
Ne me laissez pas si longtemps pâmée:
Pour me sauver après viendrais trop tard.
Las ! Ne mets point ton corps en ce hasard:
Rends-lui sa part et moitié estimée.
Mais fais, Ami, que ne soit dangereuse
Cette rencontre et revue amoureuse,
L’accompagnant, non de sévérité,
Non de rigueur, mais de grâce amiable,
Qui doucement me rende ta beauté,
Jadis cruelle, à présent favorable.
Yoruba
Orin Kekere VII
A n ri gbogbo ohun alaaye ku,
Nigbati ẹmi rẹ to farasin jade kuro ni ara rẹ:
Emi ni ara, iwo ni apakan to dara julo:
Nibo ni iwo wa, ẹmi ayanfẹ mi?
Ma fi mi silẹ pẹ titi iwọ ti n daku lọ:
Lati wa gba mi ko di igba ti yoo pẹju.
ó ṣeni láàánú! Má fi ara rẹ sí ewu bẹ́e:
Da imoyi ati ipin Titọ rẹ pada sinu rẹ.
Ṣugbọn ṣe, Ọrẹ mi, ki ipade yi má dá lara,
Ati iranpada ifẹ yi má jẹ ewu,
Ṣugbọn ṣe, Ọrẹ mi, ki ibapade yi ati ipade ifẹ yi ma jẹ ewu,
Mase lọ sibẹ pẹlu onroro, ki ṣe pẹlu ikanra ṣugbọn pelu ore-ọfẹ jẹjẹ,
Ti yoo ṣeṣe ko rọrun fun mi lati da ẹwa rẹ pada sọdọ mi,
Tó jẹ́ aláìlera rí, ṣùgbọ́n nísinsin yìí dára sí mi.
Notes
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Date: 2026-04-10

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Wonded on Every Side

Wonded on Every Side

English
Sonnet III
O long desires, O vain hopes,
Sad sighs and customary tears
That from me engender many rivers,
Of which my two eyes are sources and fountains!
O cruelties, O inhuman hardnesses,
Pitiful glances of the celestial lights,
Of the frozen heart, O earliest passions,
Do you think to increase still my pains?
Let Love again try his bow on me,
Let him hurl new fires and new darts,
Let him take umbrage, and do his worst:
For I am so wounded on every side
That within me no new wound
Could find a place to make me suffer more.
Fon
Han kpɛvi III
Jlǒ e mi ɖó nukún sín hwenu línlín ɖíe lɛ́ɛ mi,
Nukúnɖíɖó vɔ̌tɔ́ mitɔn lɛ́ɛ mi!
Gbɔjɛ aluwɛ tɔn kpo ɖasin aca tɔn kpo ɖì,
Tɔsisa gěgé wɛ nɔ́ tɔ́n sín gɔ̌n ce ɖɔ́hun,
Bó nɔ́ tɔ́n sín nukún ce we lɛ́ɛ nɔ́ jí.
O adakaxixo, adakaxixo e ma nyí gbɛtɔ́ tɔn ǎ é,
Nǔblawukúnúmɛ nukúnmɛ weziza sɛ́xwé tɔn lɛ tɔn,
O jlǒ nukɔntɔn ayi e xú é tɔn lɛ,
A lin ɖɔ emi na lɛ́ bló bɔ aluwɛ ce lɛ na jɛji wɛ à?
Wanyiyi ní lɛ́ tɛ́n gǎ tɔn kpɔ́n dó jǐ ce,
É ní nyi myɔ yɔ̌yɔ́ kpódó hwǐ yɔ̌yɔ́ kpó dó jǐ ce, é
Ní dó xomɛsin nú mì, bó
Wa nǔ nyanya hú mɔ̌ lě e é kpé wú gbɔn é.
Đó è gblě wǔ ce gbɔn fí bǐ;
Ðó akpà yɔyɔ̌ ɖebǔ kún sixu mɔ tɛn ɖò ayi ce mɛ
Bo na lɛ́ hɛn ninɔmɛ ce nyla d’eji ó.
French
1Sonnet III
Ô longs désirs, ô espérances vaines,
Tristes soupirs et larmes coutumières
À engendrer de moi maintes rivières,
Dont mes deux yeux sont sources et fontaines!
Ô cruautés ô duretés inhumaines,
Piteux regards des célestes lumières,
Du coeur transi ô passions premières
Estimez-vous croître encore mes peines?
Qu’encor Amour sur moi son arc essaie,
Que de nouveaux feux me jette et nouveaux dards,
Qu’il se dépite et pis qu’il pourra fasse:
Car je suis tant navrée en toute part
Que plus en moi une nouvelle plaie
Pour m’empirer, ne pourrait trouver place.
Yoruba
Orin Kekere III
O ife gigun, o eyin ireti asan,
Imi ẹdun ati omije ti a sọ di aṣa lati inu mi wa,
Jẹ odo pupọ,
Eyi ti oju mi mejeeji jẹ orisun ati kanga wọn!
O ika, o okan lile ti ko ni aanu,
Iriran ibanuje ti ina orun,
Lati inu okan ti didi; O ẹyin ifẹ ibẹrẹ,
Njẹ o n ro lati mu irora mi pọ si bi?
Ki Ife tun le lo ibon re si mi,
Ki o tun ju ina tuntun ati ofa tuntun si mi,
Jẹ Ki o binu, ki o si ṣe eyi ti o buru ju ti o le se:
Nitori pe a ti pamilara gan ni gbogbo iha,
De bi pe, ninu mi ko si ipalara tuntu
Notes
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Date: 2026-04-10