Note: This long recitation by a bride is an example of improvised poetry that is common in Yoruba. The bride is decked out in her finery and, accompanied by drummers and a crowd of relatives, she is led to her husband's house. She is in a state of great excitement and, chanting all the time, she speaks about everything that comes to her mind.Those who stand—let them stand wellThose who stoop—let them stoop well.Those who sit on the verandah-let them receive our thanks.You the elders, who have come from far.I thank you for honouring this day.pounded yam softly,I offered it to Eshu the trickster,Eshu refused to eat.I prepared yam flour softly,Eshu refused to eat.Then I asked him:Will you stay indoors or outside?He said: Outside.When the dead come looking for me,they will meet Eshu outside.When disease comes looking for me,it will meet Eshu outside.But if a child comes looking for me,it will meet me in my room.When I left my housemy father told medon’t go through the market.I said: But why?Are you in debt?Do you owe the butcher?When I left my homemy mother told me:Don’t go through the market.I said: But why?Are you in debt to the salt sellerYou people of the world,help me to thank my mother,for she decked me out in clothesrich enoughto make Olokun jealous,the god of the sea.My mother dressed mein clothes so richI could confuse a god.I am like a beggar womanturned into a king’s daughter.They wanted to lead me to my husband's houselike a sheep to the market.But my mother said, I should be escortedlike a free born child.Let everybody thank my mother:she did not allow me to borrow dressesfrom those who would abuse me later.And you, my friend Ilajue,you my best friend:This sudden marriage has spoiled many things for us.We have been abusing people together,we have been scorning together and laughing,good things and bad, we never did them alone.They say that marriage brings happinessgreater than any known before.But were they thinking of you?And you my parents:when you don’t see the riverwill you forget the waves?When you don’t see the thunderwill you forget the rain?When you don’t see me any more—will you forget me?Is it not you who decidewhen a child is old enough to have a quiver?Is it not you who decidewhen a child is old enough to have an arrow?It was you who decidedthat I was old enoughto move into another house.Don’t leave me alone in that place.What I am proposing to doyou have done it yourselves with success.Then let me succeed also.If you don’t know an elephantat least you hear his voice.If you don’t know the seaat least you have tasted salt in your soup.If you don’t know me: don’t you hear my voice?I looked rightbut I saw no treetaller than the silk cotton tree.I looked leftbut I saw no treetaller than the silk cotton tree.I looked in front of mebut I could not see anyonewho resembles my father.What kind of god created mein a sickly townto make my relatives die like rotten yams?If luck is not against meI shall have them backwhere I am going.If luck is not against methey shall re-enter the worldthrough me.May luck not turn against the mother.When luck turns against the hunterthe animal escapes.When luck turns against the farmerhis land does not yield.When luck turns against the mothershe will bury her children,as if she were planting yams.It is not my head that is badonly fate.My head—which is wearing a bright scarf today—will surely give memale and female children.By this time last yearmy husband was writing angry letters.By this time last yearhe was writing fighting letters.But when this year camehe tore up his letters.I am afraid—not because I am a coward.I am afraid—not because I cannot fight.It is this strange housethat is upsetting me.Don’t bathe me in medicines.Forget about your charms.My mother’s care is enough for me.I honour the bitter kola nut,for through it I will gain Shango’s favour.I honour the red kola nut,for through it I will gain the favour of the other gods.The melon seed soup only offends the hungry manwho was not invited to the feast.he smell of fried bananas only offends the hungry manwho was not invited to the feast.I who have come to this worldwith ripe breastsI have offended my younger sisters.Whom shall I turn to in this new house?In the strange corridors I never walked?In the strange doors I never entered?Whom can 1 turn to in this strange house?Some of them may say:See a loose girl coming.Let them talk today-for tomorrow they shall be silenced.Today is a glorious day.
