Ayaba ti gbe ibu omi
Queen who lives in water’s depthsYemoja a so igbe di oju ona
Yemoja smooths bush into path-surfacesYemoja on je oti pagogo oju akagba
Yemoja stoops on calabash-brink, sipping effervescenceA gbo ni se oba ma kase
She waits seated, even in a king’s presence.

Yemoja a lobi iji wolu
Yemoja rises, eddies when tornado enters the country;

A pekoro yi ilu kaa
She moves all around the town

Awoyo, Awoyo jele je lodo
Awoyo, Yemoja eats in the house as well as in the river

Iya olo oyon oruba
Mother of weeping breasts

O ni run abe osiki
She has grown a thicket about her private business

Abi obo fun ni orun bi egbe isu
And is tight as a dried yam

Okun onilaiye a san enia bi
Deep-swelling Queen of the world, she heals like medicine;

Arugbo olokun
Elder woman owner of the sea

Fere obirin aji fon ni lara oba
Flute woman, who plays for the kings awakening

Obirin pepe li gba eni gbe ilekile
Woman who gently bears the swimmer to rest someplace

Ko je dahun ni ile
She doesn’t wish to respond on land

Oju omi ni je ni koro
She did it quickly at the surface of the water