Ebube's World

(1) I watched him   Stare at the candles   With sadness in his eyes.   A tear slid down his handsome face.   "They once gave me joy,"   He said.   "Their light shone brightly,   And their fire couldn't be put out."   He looked at me.   "But they seem to wax cold now,   Their light dims with each passing day."   His eyes shifted from the candles   Back to me.   "Who will go for us?   Should I cast them aside?   Wasn't I enough?   What more do they need?"   I noticed his gaze moved beyond me.   People moved in line,   I saw a space.   Is it mine?   People have always answered the call.   They answer the question:   Who will go for us?   He turned towards me.   "Will you go?"   (2) " Will I go?   Can I go?   Will t...

 *De Boi Sterin at de Miro* Fine boi,   y yu dey luk miro?   Na moni be fine Bobo. Dey sey,   "Go hard or go home."   Yu don alredi rech haux,   De luk miro. Ehn, fine boi,   No be sey I wan rush yu,   But streti no dey luk fine boi.   Mek u no dey fum fine boi,   Yur mets go chance yu for streti. I sey mek I tel yu tu 7 up,   B4 streti sho yu way.   Maka streti no dey smai, I sey mek I wan yu,   B4 bois go luk you sey,   Éñwéghi ife ö ji. Fine boi,   yu handsum ow..ly   Wen yur hand get somtin So leve de miro,   And get somtin dowin. ©Ebube Transcribed to Pidgin by Evergreen(Smart)

Fine boy,   Why you dey look mirror?   Na money be fine Bobo. They say,   "Go hard or go home."   You don already reach house,   Dey look mirror. Ehn, fine boy,   No be say I wan rush you,   But street no dey look fine boy.   Make you no dey form fine boy,   Your mates go chance you for street. I say make I tell you to wise up,   Before street show you way.   Maka street no dey smile.   I say make I warn you,   Before boys go look you say,   Éñwéghi ife ö ji. Fine boy,   You handsome only   When your hand get something.   So leave the mirror,   And get something doing. ©Ebube

To the girl in the mirror,   You're beautiful  Your smile is beautiful,   Your eyes light up—   As though the heavens decided   Sunlight wasn’t enough,   And poured it into your gaze. To the girl in the mirror,   How much does your smile cost?   How do you hold onto it,   So fresh, so bright   Every single morning? As though the universe itself   Sketches each grin,   Making your smile   More radiant with every stroke.   Don’t tire of showing Heaven’s masterpiece   In the curve of your lips.   And don’t ever stop lighting up the world   With your sparkling eyes.   Even the sun shines brighter   When you smile. The world halts in the glow   Of your smile. © Ebube

Brother,   It was an honor to serve with you,   Standing beside you when duty called,   Fighting with you on the battlefield,   Knowing victory was ours. Brother,   It was an honor to serve with you,   Even as we stand on opposing lines,   Hoping victory will be ours. Brother,   Even if we meet, face to face,   Know it was an honor to serve with you.   Even as our swords aim at each other’s hearts,   Let us embrace—   For it was an honor to serve with you. Even if you strike me first,   And I cannot strike back,   As you watch me fall,   Know it was an honor to serve with you. © Ebube