CMA

A Death Blow

A Death Blow

English
1A Death Blow Is A Life Blow To Some
A Death blow is a Life blow to Some
Who till they died, did not alive become—
Who had they lived, had died but when
They died, Vitality begun.
Fon
Kú sín hwǐ ɖé nyí Gbɛ̀ sín hwǐ ɖé nú Mɛɖé lɛ
Kú sín hwǐ ɖé nyí Gbɛ̀ sín hwǐ ɖé nú Mɛɖé lɛ,
Mɛ e káká jɛ hwenu e yě kú ɔ́, yě sɔ́ nyí gbɛɖe ǎ é,
Mɛ e ye ko nɔ gbɛ̀ é, yě ko kú có hwenu e
Ye kú ɔ́, ɖagbe yě tɔ́n jɛ̀ jijɛjí.
French
Un Coup de Mort est un Coup de Vie pour Certains
Un Coup de Mort est un Coup de Vie pour Certains
Qui, jusqu’à mourir, n’étaient point devenus vivants—
Qui, s’ils avaient vécu, ne seraient morts que là,
Mais, quand ils moururent, la Vitalité commença.
Yoruba
Egba Iku ni Iye fun Awọnkan
Egba iku ni iye fun awọnkan, awon tí
Ti titi di igba ti won ku, won kii se alaaye—
Ti bí won bá ti wà láàyè, won ti kú sibẹ̀,
sugbon nígbà tí won kú,
Iye bẹrẹ.
Notes
Date: 2026-04-09

CMA

Speech

Speech

English
1‘Speech’—is a prank of Parliament—
‘Speech’—is a prank of Parliament—
‘Tears’—is a trick of the nerve—
But the Heart with the heaviest freight on—
Doesn’t—always—move—
Fon
‘Xóɖiɖɔ’—nyi ayihun ɖé wɛ bɔ è nɔ xò ɖò sɛblótɔ lɛ sín tɛn mɛ
‘Xóɖiɖɔ’—nyi ayihun ɖé wɛ bɔ è nɔ xò ɖò sɛblótɔ lɛ sín tɛn mɛ.
Avǐ’—nyi ayixa e è nɔ zán dó bló nǔ é ɖé—
Amɔ̌, Ayi e jí agban kpinkpɛn hugǎn ɔ ɖè é—
É nɔ—sísɔ́—hwebǐnu ǎ —
French
« La Parole » — est une plaisanterie du Parlement—
« La Parole »—est une plaisanterie du Parlement—
Les “Larmes”—sont un tour du nerf—
Mais le Cœur, chargé du fardeau le plus lourd—
Ne se meut—pas toujours—
Yoruba
“Oro”—je ete ti Igbimo Asofin—
“Oro”—je ete ti Igbimo Asofin—
“Omije”—jẹ ẹtan ti isan ara—
Sugbon Okan ti o ni ẹru to jinju-lọwọ—
Ko—maa—n—mì—
Notes
Date: 2026-04-09

CMA

I’m Nobody

I’m Nobody

English
1I’m Nobody! Who Are You?
I’m nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there’s a pair of us — don’t tell!
They’d banish — you know!
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one’s name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
Fon
Un nyi Mɛɖebǔ ă! Mɛ̌wɛ a ka nyí?
Un nyi Mɛɖebǔ ă! Mɛ̌wɛ a ka nyí?
Hwi lɔmɔ̌ nyí mɛɖé ǎ wɛ à ?
Lóɔ‚ mi mɛ we wɛ-ma ɖɔ nú mɛɖé o!
Ye na nya mǐ-a tuun!
Kpɔ́n lee é nɔ vɛ́ mɛ sɔ ɖɔ è ni nyí mɛɖé é!
Lee é nɔ cí ɖò agbawungba ɖi aglobesé ɖɔhun gbɔn é
Bo na dó vɔ ɖɔ nyikɔ mɛtɔn ɖò azǎn ɔ bǐ jí
Ðò tɔ̀ e nɔ kpa susu nú mɛ é ɖé mɛ!
French
Je ne suis personne! Et toi?
Je ne suis personne ! Et toi?
N’es-tu personne, toi aussi?
Alors, nous sommes deux — ne le dites à personne!
On nous chasserait — tu le sais bien!
Comme c’est morne d’être quelqu’un!
Comme c’est public — tel un crapaud —
De répéter son nom tout le long du jour
À un marais admiratif!
Yoruba
Emi ki se enikan! Tani Iwọ?
Emi ki se enikan! Iwo nko?
Se iwọ naa ki se enikan bii?
Nigbanaa awa mejeeji jẹ bakanna—
ma so fun enikeni!
Won yoo le wa jade—iwo mo bi!
Bawo ni o se dun lati je enikan!
Bawo ni o se han gbangba bi
ọpọlọ to nsokunrin!
Lati maa so oruko eni fun ojo gbogbo
Si adagun to nife!
Notes
Date: 2026-04-09

CMA

A Book

A Book

English
1A Book
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human sou!
Fon
Wema
Tɔjihun ɖaxó ɖebu ɖè wema ɖɔhun
Bo na sìxú zé mǐ yí tò linlín lɛ mɛ ǎ.
Sɔ́ wezun nɔ ɖebǔ ka ɖè ɖì
Wexwɛ xógbelómilomí ɖɔhun ǎ.
Tomɛyiyi enɛ ɔ, wamamɔnɔ lɛ sixu yì
Takwɛ mɛvò ǎ;
Kɛkɛví énɛ é nɔ hɛn
lindɔ̌n gbɛtɔ́ tɔn ka xɔ akwɛ taun mɛ.
French
Un livre
Il n’est point de frégate comme un livre
Pour nous porter loin des terres,
Ni de coursiers pareils à une page
De poésie bondissante.
Ce voyage, le plus pauvre peut l’entreprendre
Sans subir nul tribut ;
Qu’économe est le char
Qui porte une âme humaine!
Yoruba
“Iwe
Ko si ọkọ ogun oju omi bi iwe
Ti o mu wa lọ si ilẹ ti o jina,
Tabi awọn ẹṣin-kẹkẹ bi oju iwe kan
Ti ewì ti n jo lọ.
Irinajo yi eniyan to talaka ni le gba
Lai san owo tabi owo ori kankan;
Bawo ni kẹkẹ gbigbe naa ṣe rọrùn to
Ti o gbe ẹmi eniyan!
Notes
Date: 2026-04-09

CMA

Nature

Nature

English
1‘Nature’ is what we see—
The Hill—the Afternoon—
Squirrel—Eclipse—the Bumble bee—
Nay—Nature is Heaven—
Nature is what we hear—
The Bobolink—the Sea—
Thunder—the Cricket—
Nay—Nature is Harmony—
Nature is what we know—
Yet have no art to say—
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.
Fon
‘Nǔɖiɖó’ wɛ nyí nǔ e mǐ nɔ mɔ é—
Só ɔ—Hwemɛ ɔ—
ɖɔn—nùdìdá hwe ɖɔ hun lɛ—wǐn—
Eo—Nǔɖiɖó ɔ wɛ nyí Jinukúnsin—
Nǔ e mǐ nɔ sè é wɛ nyí jɔwamɔ—
Xɛ e nyí Bobolink ɔ—Xù ɔ—
Xɛvioso—Klikɛti ɔ—
Eǒ —Nǔɖiɖó lɛ wɛ nyí Bǔninɔ—
Nǔ e mǐ tuùn é wɛ nyí jɔwamɔ—
É ɖo mɔ̌ có, mi ɖó nǔnywɛ́ ɖěbǔ bó ná ɖɔ ǎ—
Nǔnywɛ Mǐtɔn ka ɖó hlɔnhlɔn sɔ
Nǔ bɔkun tɔn ǎ.
French
« La “Nature”, c’est ce que nous voyons
La Colline — l’Après-midi —
Écureuil — Éclipse — le Bourdon —
Non — la Nature, c’est le Ciel —
La Nature, c’est ce que nous entendons —
Le Goglu — la Mer —
Tonnerre — le Grillon —
Non — la Nature, c’est l’Harmonie —
La Nature, c’est ce que nous savons —
Et dont nous n’avons nul art de parler —
Tant est impuissante Notre Sagesse
Devant sa Simplicité.
Yoruba
“Iṣẹda” ni ohun ti a ri—
Oke—Osan—
Okere—apakan oṣupa—Idin oloro—
Rara— Iṣẹda ni Orun—
Iṣẹda ni ohun ti a gbọ—
Ẹyẹ ti njẹ Bobolink—Okun—
Ara—Irẹ—
Rara— Iṣẹda ni Ibaramu—
Iṣẹda ni ohun ti a mo—
Sibẹ a ni ko si ona lati so—
Bẹẹni ọgbon wa wa alailagbara ni
Si ayedẹrọ rẹ.
Notes
Date: 2026-04-09