PERSEVERE

Children, hit the nail,

Hit it right on the head;

Hit the iron with your might,

Hit it while it’s hot.

When you have a task to perform,

Perform it quite cheerfully;

Those who would reach the hilltop

Have to start by climbing from the bottom.

Children, there you are, standing,

Looking at the top of the hill;

How can you reach the top?

Unless you decide to climb from the bottom!

Children, while you’re learning a skill,

Never be discouraged;

Try, try again,

And you’ll conquer.

Translation by: Adebisi Aromolaran

(Translated from the Yoruba Language from a poem titled ‘FORITI I’ meaning ‘Persevere’ and published by Macmillan Nigeria (1970) in ‘ATONA YORUBA FUN OMO ILE-EKO.