Yes, on the day she came

Yes, on the day she came

She touched the bed; mom’s belly flattened
She cried and the stars got lit;
Shining brighter for the world to see
It was the arrival of a world-shaper

Mum looked around and muttered
Hmm, my child is my family – Omolarami
Dad touched her palms, the soft jelly
Joy expressed like he never did before

Several days have become yesterdays
Several weeks have rolled up to months
That have rolled up to years and years
And today, the day has come again

Hers is a life in a journey
Of fulfilment of written destiny
Of greatness and maximum impact
Of influence and leadership

We wish her the best of next level
As we celebrate her today
And blessed her on the day
Yes, on the day she came 

Happy Birthday, Omolara

Who the heck are these agents of Ponzi scheme?

Yea, we've read about who he was, what about his agents in different uniforms?

I cannot imagine why some are just getting addicted to this 'get-rich-quick' stuff, it blows my mind to see some of the very few next generation army-builders of our nation-Nigeria still spreading the cumin seeds of this scheme.

May providence forgive them when they'll need it most. Let him that hath an ear hear what deep reflections teach the observers. Obama didn't wake up one morning to become the President of US, he built a springboard or cleared carpet of lifestyle and principle to jump or walk on. We shall see when it'll be thier so-called turn. I believe those who sings their praise today will see the depravity of this craze, and either grow resentment, return their so-called 'donations' or find means of squeezing them back.

I advocate forgiveness for them but I am sure beyond doubt that time will tell. Again, let him that hath an ear hear what deep reflections teach the observers.

Toyin Daniel Ogunmola

I 'TRULY' believe in Nigeria.

Be true to yourself

I was a brilliant student all through my schooling days, I won awards and was well-respected by my colleagues and teachers. I had been invited by Economics teacher to the staff room where he read my homework paper to the amazement of other teachers; a teacher was jolted by the work that he gave me money to buy groundnuts. I had never cheated once in all my exams and I would cringe at the acts of anyone trying to do such – largely because of my religious believes.

It was an examination on this same Economics - that same subject I was excellent at. I was in the middle row. A student at my left, who wouldn’t dare ask me for anything during exams, whispered across my table to the other guy on my right for what the answer to number one question was, it was a multiple-choice question. I had answered close to ten questions when I had the other guy whispered ‘D’ back to the inquirer. Now, it happened! I quickly went back to check what I chose and to my amazement I had chosen a wrong answer to “whose gave that generally accepted definition of Economics”. I can’t remember how it was worded , but that was the question. 

I knew the answer was D, not because the guy said D, but because I knew that was the right answer. I had chosen a wrong answer. So, I quickly erased my answer and shaded the square box beside D. That was the first and the last time I did anything close to cheating. I cannot forget this incidence that happened 23 years and 7 months ago. I got an A1 in the paper which means I scored above 90%, I know missing that one question could neither have made any difference in the score I got, matter in what I have acquired as wealth nor affected who I have become today. After the exams, like again today, something hit me as it did the character Venky in the novel - 'Rewind and Play' authored by my friend Tarun Gautam … ‘Be true to yourself. Hmm…Remember this’. 

I celebrate you

It was a day the world

Rejoiced at the entrance

Of a treasure, divine package

Named by mummy, Oghenekevwe

Thirty 'something' years

Has come and gone

And today join me to celebrate

The colleague on a journey of purpose

Happy Birthday, Kevwe.

Yes, On The Day She Came

She touched the bed; mom’s belly flattened
She cried and the stars got lit;
Shining brighter for the world to see
It was the arrival of a world-shaper

Several days have become yesterday
Several weeks have rolled up to months
That have rolled up to years and years
And today, the day has come again

Hers is a life in a journey
Of fulfillment of written destiny
Of greatness and maximum impact
Of influence and leadership

We wish her the best of next level
As we celebrate her today
And blessed her on the day
Yes, on the day she came  

Happy Birthday, Ruby

The Master Knows

The Master knows, it’s far from good
For blessed he-man to dwell alone
For his warp, He’ll give a woof
To make a whole, the masterpiece

Two hearts there are that owns a rib
From one it was taken, to the other given
The trees are named, the birds christened
Yet none has a heart that beat as his

Two hearts there are that beat as one
Each other seek, though yet unknown
Calm they'll stay, facing each day
With hope alive, they'll one day meet

When the time is ripe on Master’s clock
He’ll wake the straight and show the curvy
His face will lighten, his lips will mutter
Of a truth, this is a Wao! Man

Bro. with missing rip, think less He sees
Your growing needs she is called to meet
Wipe your sleepy eyes, here she comes
Hmm, now you know the Master knows

©Toyin Daniel (00:49, 07/08/09)

LANCASTER IN WINTER / Bony trees, white grass

Just before the power of winter
Start to release its chilly breath
And drop its tears of ice pellets
It was dense thickness of green and fresh
Ornamental shrubs, beautiful roses
Climbers, flowering bulbs and flourishing branches
The blossoming abodes of fragile birds

But now all I see is this frame
Work of unseen abrasive hands:
Bony trees with dried skins
With hairs shed laying around its foot
Mere skeletons, delicate and frail
Snatched ornaments, wrinkled waist

Where flew the shines
Where are the wrinkles from?
Who painted it white, the green leaves?
What a slippery path, I walked here before!
Who coat this road with this tender glass?
Where are the ducks that glide in this pool?
All I now see is a carpet of ice.

But reflecting on this I ask myself
Is this barrenness, unfruitfulness or sterility?
No! Life is in frames, just like seasons
Live each day expecting the best
But whatever comes, still live the best
Just as I am with my hands in gloves
Shh! My warmer is at home, run I must.


©Olutoyin Ogunmola, 05/12/08
Friday, 5/12/08 : around 1PM. I started reflecting on the windy, cold winter of Lancaster as I go to Project Management class by Steve Baron, and during the break in the class I started to write this poem. I wrote the last two verses on Wednesday, 10 December.

Rose has thorns

Rose is beautiful, and it also has thorns
Fire can cook, and it can also burn
Salt sweetens, and it can also spoil the broth
Friendship is sweet, and it can also hurt the heart

Rose is beautiful, but thrust not yourself
Against its plant, it tears your skin
Fire can cook, but put off your gas
With naked fire, it burns your house

Salt sweetens but never use a scoop
In a meal for one, your tongue will revolt
Friendship is sweet, but never misuse it
Nothing tears the heart, more than a friend in hurt

Toyin Daniel, 12/12/08, 00:50

So far in Lancaster

“Oh finally”, my lips muttered as the announcement of our arrival at the Lancaster station broke my wondering thoughts. I was in a train from London thinking of the next one year in a ‘foreign land’. I thought of lecturers and lectures, porters and what my room would look like, the LUSU I have read about and students I was sure to meet. The permutations of these thoughts got me heated that I did not feel the cold outside until the train stopped and I came out pulling my bags behind me as a snail does its shell.

Behold how time flies; now it is my third eventful week in Lancaster University. What a mix of ‘genres’! I have seen the ‘black’, the ‘yellow’ and the ‘white’. I flew over the Mediterranean Sea before I got here but the diversity of Lancaster University makes me proud; fourteen countries represented in my class cannot all be wrong. I’m in a group with Paulami - an Indian, played with Cabrera - a Mexican, discussed with Hatoon - an Arabian, danced with Jiaxin - a Chinese, drank tea with Sarah - a British, visited Nkele – a Cameroonian, ate pizza with Pelumi – a Nigerian and checked the map for Cyprus and Mauritius with Rowin – a Mauritius. I cannot count them all; it is a big world of diversities. In all of these, as said by Rene Dubos, I have learnt that human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.

So also I have learnt that the only constant in life is change. Studying for Masters in Lancaster University is a different ball-game. Lancaster says, “read a mountain of books, dig out wealth of knowledge discussed by men, living and dead”. In two weeks of lecture I have been trained to skip and scan – great skills for intelligent knowledge searcher. The classrooms are world-class and the lecturers are dedicated researchers. “What a wonder of a library!”, said Emmanuel as I explained to him he could borrow a book without seeing the librarian, change his money from the ‘money changing machine’ and top-up his printing credit automatically with some coins in hand.

There are more to write as there are more to gain, I know time will tell of the volumes I will soon write of my experience in Lancaster. Lancaster University, here I come.

19Oct2008

His Rebuke ...

As a guide for life
He gave His word
For us to beware
He proves He sees

Before we err
He sends his Spirit -
A gentle still voice
To warn ahead

But when we fail
By heeding to the flesh
He brings His rebuke
He has long withheld

Our hearts may ache
By His rod of rebuke
Painful to the bone
The fellowship impaired

But in His Rebuke
I see His love
That pains me more
For erring at all.

Lord give me grace
With you to walk
In Spirit every moment
The flesh subdued.

Toyin Daniel
08Oct2008
Reflecting in my room in Lancaster University.