“It is a snake Tony sure it is”
“No. Sharmi it is just the tail
of the Chameleon I know”
“No. Tony it is a snake I saw
It entering the Room”
The little girl of mine, Sharmi,
Picking a quarrel with Tony
On a Sunny evening at Ijebuode!

Ijebuode
An abode of Peace, Tranquility
Surrounded by Trees so tall
Birds chirping nonstop
Streams of water
From Sudden whipping of Raindrops so strong
Where
Tails of Chameleons indeed
Resemble the appendages of adders
And my little one was right on that day
A Poisonous mamba
Hid under our cot till
Tony’s courage so rare
Could bring us all down
From our Hanging Gardens
An experience so dreadful to think!

But where else you find
Mambas in the beds
Gorillas in the corner
Giraffes for the asking
Zebras to Gallop
Butterflies so Beautiful
But our wonderful Ijebuode of the Yarubas!

The Painter of Prithvi to Blackholes I know
Genes of His so unique to Clone
Created this Humane genes so Rare
Reminding me often of cacti the shrubs
What you see is not what you see!
Softer at Heart and gentle and kind
Tougher on the skin to withstand all pains
Tony is the One example I imagine!

Taking a stroll on that Fiveday Market they call
Ijebuode women of enterprising skills
So agile and healthy to wither any storm
All with a babe each quietly on their backs
Despite the Sun Rays splitting their steely hairs
Mind their display of Exotic and colorful wares
Oh! What a sight to shop on that Ijebuode fairs!

A Doctor Ayyavu friend of mine I know
Was kind to those innocent creatures of God
Made it a point to sincerely cure
All their ills of nature curable by his hands
Simple was he to bring in a deserving change
That corrupt Hospital of Ijebuode fame
Wherever he went he was stormed with friends
On the Streets and stores of Odutola repute
With sweets and clothes, chicken and eggs
All for free
Lives he, this day on that Glory of his Ijebuode Grace?

Rarer was a place where I did work
Allhaji Haruna Ishola by name my boss
People in that part sit up hearing this name
Captivating voice Cassetted every home
Man of Music made every one dance
Fela will follow his master’s footsteps
Gifts of God, that Yaruba Kingdom could boast!

Not uncommon I know in that part of the world
Status of you depends on the wives on your side
The bigger the Number wealthier you be
Family of a Hundred anywhere you see
Drinking and Dancing ever an enjoyable scene
All days I know but on Saturdays for sure!

Ramani Laval my driver but smilingly calm
Drives me to Lagos thrice a week often
Back we do when the Sun is about to bed on the West
Ramani, the innocent, enters our kitchen, so sacred,
“Madam! Too tired Oh! Thanks Oh” says he
Rightfully popping the beer of his Choice!
Oh when will I again see this lad of booze
And Happiness of immeasurable Joy!

Not to think of Margaret the Housemaid
Sincere in service simple in words too
“Madam! Try my accrow (Ladies Finger) grew in our Garden
And the Sambar she makes was a Feast of our times
Eggplants from her Garden of imagination too
Are a few of the things we miss much even now
Just for the taste of that Ijebuode Menu”

Not all that Goodness could conceal
The conflicts of these innocent Tribes
Imbibed from that Colonial Temper
Dividing and ruling an Art that’s common
Cold wars and scheming the Romans will envy
Showing their hatred so explicit to their brethren
Awo a Great Gandhian I know
Pure in style simple in nature
Vegetarian so rare in that Bushmeated background
Died in Agony Pitying his people!

Witchcraft of all
A Practice so common
Cautioned I was the place I officed
Courage is the only word I know of God
Refusing to believe that such things did exist
One day I drove a car wobbling on the Highway
Later I knew that All were surprised
How could this fellow reach up to Office
As his address is already Swallowed
Under the Devilish Witchcraft Dice of their Baba!

Later on One day
Sharma my friend
I did promise a Car for his trip
To Lagos to help his Dollar remittances back Home
So needy those days for Teachers so simple
I did have a Dream the Night before as a caution
A Car Crash wherein a few of us Die!
I was shaken beyond belief of God
I told Sharma of this Dream so sad
Sharma didn’t take that Car anyway to Lagos
Cool I was driving my car to Office
God only knows how I missed out a Crash
Just in front of Phonodisk, My office,
A Head on a few seconds before mine could reach
A few Heads rolling My workers in dismay
Put me off for a few months to recover
God is there I came to know for sure
Only on that eventful day of this abode!

Ogunde an innocent Driver on call
Good and sincere listening to my faith
I couldn’t know he was on the list
Of Babas witchcraft threatening him always
Cool I was backseated on my trip
Fridays are crowded Highways with no room
Suddenly I realised our vehicle is hit
Ogunde hitting a Car on the side
Nearby indeed luckily on its tail
Peugeot let it be spinning and swerving
Hitting the median and turning in style
Those few Seconds on that Expressway of Dense
Ploughing of Peugeot was a possible finale!
Luck would have it the next Truck was far off
Driver of the Truck Controlled the Traffic
Safe we were thrown in the Bush!

Mesmerised Ogunde stood speechless in dismay
Car smashed in condition so bad to be towed
I didn’t have a bruise nor my Ogunde
I asked him Cool
“What? My Dear Chap? What Happened?”
“Master they told me this morning, my Day is over!”
“Ogunde you know, you will live for ever!
Your Days depend on your Will power to Live”
At last I thought I changed him for ever
Never ever he cared for
Those frightening stories of that Baba anymore!

Gullible people I know they were
Are taken for a ride
Few of the Tribes Practice with Snuffs
If thrown at your Face you will get the Itch
Incurable for ever and ever they say
Often I am told they might have tried
A few tricks on me too as that one
Baba was in war with his own brother Haruna
But he Couldn’t succeed I know not why?

Interesting Place Ijebuode it was
Armed Robbery not Uncommon on the Highways
Sundaram my friend many a time Victim
This was the life happy for some sad too sometimes
One has to live in that Ijebuode Splendour!

Amidst these ironies of Times to cherish
Thenuara will engage us often in Cricket
India vs Sri Lanka is always a Game
Manikkam of Kandy batting on our side
End of the day was an entertaining evening
Where can I see that Thenuara of all!

Years have rolled by
From my Ijebuode Innings
Somehow I miss my Abudu of Immanuel Church
Teacher who placed my Daughters’ fingers on the Piano
Leave alone Salaami a Musical Mixer
Tonys, Ogundes, Ramani Lavals of all
Remind me even this day
What a Place Ijebuode was!