Where Is My Jewel?

I weep, my soul is sore,
My heart is broken.
Death has stolen, the grave is rich.

Many gather around, their kind words I hear,
Yet my heart feels empty, the world so large
I look around me, I don't understand.
I see clouds - where is the sun?
My heart aches as I search for my Dad
I ask myself, "Where is my jewel?"

The void is large, it can never be filled.
My Dad is gone
It’s so lonely, so lonely.

All is quiet, all is still,
I listen, I listen very hard.

Then I hear a whisper, a gentle voice.
He tells me of my jewel,
So rare and sparkly, even after fifty-seven years,
So promising, so full of hopes, dreams and better things to come.
My jewel never depreciated, no two of a kind.
My Dad was indeed, one in a million.

The Lord tells me it's okay,
The thief did not steal my jewel
God took him to a better place
A place, safe and wonderful, away from troubles.
He promised to keep my jewel.
At last, my Dad could rest in the pouch of God's love.

Dad, sleep tight
I know that it is well with you,
As you lie in your Creator's bosom
Safe and happy.

I'll miss you so, it hurts so bad.
But you always used to tell me
That everything will be alright.
I thank God He put you in my life
And I'm certain that God will take care of us

In my eyes,
You'll always be the ultimate Dad.
Adieu, Dad! We all loved you!

Doyin Adenusi

Oriki (Praise Prose) of the Adenusi Royal Family

Omo Idogun Ebi
Ebi gagaga l'oju ogun
Omo "Ka'baleja ki la ndagba fun?"
Omo ogigba tin gba'ra adugbo
O gba ara ile tomo-tomo

Omo "Bo kemi-keke n'wo do'gbeje"
Omo "Bo kemi-keke n'wo do'gbefa"
Kike t'aike n'wo do gberin-din-logun oko, aya
Omo ogbe obinrin ta fowo re to'mo

Omo Morounfolu Okun-Oye
Morounfolu Ajibise, Oga Ogun
Okoro, koro boto
Oduro ni'ta Ilasa
Oduro ni'ta Apa

Apa ile won ko gbodo ro'ko
Ilasa ile won ko gbodo ro'do
Eko ile won ko gbodo ta firi-firi loju omi

O pa Imaro bi eni pa'gbin
Oni "Tani abi koko loju'n foju di?"
Okan soso ajanaku to'n mi'gbo kiji-kiji, kiji-kiji
Osomo'ba jagun bi eru
Ma ja'gun be mo! Omo'ba kin ja'gun bi eru

Pamu-pamu, jigi-jigi
Pamu-pamu, jigi-jigi
Pamu-pamu, jigi-jigi

Sun re, o, Adebola Adenusi!
Otunba Idogun Ebi ti Epe.

Notable Quotes

So, I took the plane to Lagos to bury my father. During a lot of the proceedings there, I was in a little bit of a dream-like state - I was able to stand apart from myself and see the wry humor of certain parts of it. Some of the statements that had an ironic twist, such as the first one below. Others, I remembered for other reasons.

My cousin, WA, on the choice of a casket for the burial:
"It's a lovely coffin"

My 4 year old daughter, Adenike, on arrival at M/M Airport. She was responding to a Customs Officer who had playfully asked for her bag as a gift:
"I have my own things in my house. Don't you have your own things in your own house?"

An NDLEA Officer, half-apologetically, explaining the reason that he had pulled me aside for further scrutiny:
"Oga, we are are here to detect those criminally-minded individuals".