Toyin Sebastien Ajimati - Mumbles of a Soul : Poems, Prose and Thoughts

MUMBLES OF A SOUL

TOYIN SEBASTIEN AJIMATI

Mumbles of A Soul

Copyright 2022 by Toyin Sebastien Ajimati

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-7780389-1-4

ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-7780389-2-1

ISBN Ebook: 978-1-7780389-0-7

Cover design by Lusa Dias

Interior typesetting by Nuno Moreira, NM DESIGN

MUMBLES OF A SOUL

POEMS, PROSE AND THOUGHTS

TOYIN SEBASTIEN AJIMATI

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Acknowledgements Note to the Reader Mumbles of A Soul

1999 17

Reflective Questions on the Day of Mortal Birth October 11th 67

Dear Reader

A C k N O W L E D G E M E N T S

I would like to take this time to show my extreme gratitude to people in my life as well as thank the people that helped me put Mumbles of A Soul together. First, I would like to thank Nm Reed for the editor I was fortunate to have collaborated with. I would also like to thank Luisa Dias for her magic in creating such a captivating book cover and doing her best in incorporating the desires that I had going into it. It was a visual treat to see the development. I would like to thank Nuno Moreira for the detailed book formatting and interior designing that he provided, his thorough detailed work was impressive just as it was at the very beginning of the process of getting his and his teams talented services.

At this time, I would like to also thank family members, friends past and present as well as some that have passed away. Rest in peace Manman, Meci Anpil, you were my biggest influence when it comes to my knowledge of Haitian Creole, Haitian food, bilingualism as well as much more (also, you too Mom, dont worry I didnt forget) that I cannot deny has affected some of my views of the Caribbean, Haiti, and the diaspora. I know that you had some challenging times in your life and flaws like we all have, but I thank you so much for the time we had together. To my Nigerian grandparents whom I met once while visiting Nigeria as a child, although I do not remember much and spoke to you on the phone with not an understanding of Yoruba unfortunately, I am fortunate to have seen what you both look like and have heard many stories of your lives. I am honored to be a piece of you in the world and your son, my father, has provided a lot of who he is throughout the years by providing for me and my siblings relentlessly while pursing his goals, he should and is commended by me on those efforts as he had instilled a great understanding of work ethic, appreciating culture with all that it brings in a positive way and on being a great citizen no matter where you live, so I want you to do know that you

should be proud of what he has done overseas. Rest in peace Dapo Agoro. You were like a second younger brother to me who had a great energy for life and all that you did in it. I will forever remember the days in Ottawa at your apartment with the family to your new house in Blackburn Hamlet. You were such a great kid with so much charisma waiting for you to accomplish so much, and a smile I will always cherish for a lifetime. Until we meet again friend. You are in my thoughts always and I thank you for being in my life while you were here on earth, your legacy and love live within all your family members. Thanks to the Agoro family for your hospitality, kindness whenever I visited your home as well whenever I was in your company. Shola, my first close female friend like a big sister I never will have (Oluchi do not worry, you get honorable mention), you have seen more sides of me than most in our younger days and for sure, you have heard and seen my best corny moments and other moments of me that many have not. Thanks for being a great friend and like my extended family member for so many years in Ottawa. To all my siblings, each one of you have a different place and journey with me in my life that is utterly unique that cannot be replaced by anyone. Tosin, you are special to me and we share a time in our lives from Walkley Road to the beginnings of Langstrom Crescent that was a unique time to say the least, I am always rooting for you and sorry at times for being tough on you with my tough love, I cant help it because I always want the best for you mind , body and soul. Scott a.k.a Mr. R&B (How do you get to Detroit?) it has not been easy for all of us with the dynamics of our relationship sometimes but dont get me wrong it has been great having you in my life and my families life, there is still always room for all to grow and improve but it is better to look at the positive more and more as we age I feel, blessings to you, Gus, Monica, the Russells and all that have shaped who you are since our first meeting many years back. To Yem, my little sister, as a child I nicknamed you Snugabble and was happy to be around for your first couple of years daily to see you grow before moving to Toronto, part of you for sure is

within your niece, its surreal to see her behave or make faces like you used to do when you were young adorable and at times feisty like her, love you a lot and glad to have you in my life, to Markus little buddy, happy to see you so happy and full of positive energy. It will take you a long way in life where you will be great in whatever you put your focus on. All of you are special in your own way and I am so happy to have been able to see a bit of it. Even though we have had some minor disagreements, I am glad to have you in my life (even with the headaches...oops did I write that?). To my friends from various places, such as my time in St. Pats High, St. Lukes elementary school (both the English and French side), to my time in college and in Toronto, I thank you all for being part of my growth, my crushes/ fantasies, even when it was confusing and without great focus, I still had moments with you all that are timeless. I salute the St. Patricks teams I was on that fell short of reaching the destination which was OFSAA twice and much more. I feel a bit responsible for those failures but appreciate the time I had playing alongside fantastic leaders and friends such as Paul, Steve Boutross, Jafeth, Ebert and Chabine (also SIGMA, you know who you are!) and the supporting cast (Hanns, Mike Arnott, Frank) all the way back to the junior grade level (Joe. Z ,Danny Ibrahim, Jason Greene). As well thanks to the coaches from each year, even those that well the time together eventually became a bit sour, best wishes wherever you are now. As well to the teachers that expected more from me and gave me advice on being better than what I was showing in class, I thank you for your sincerity.

Yomi, I would like to thank you for our continued fruitful relationship that we have that goes back to at least 30 years ago while you were living in Alta Vista, and I was living in Walkley Road in Ottawa. Your Mom (Aunty Betty), will never be forgotten and of course yourself, have been a significant part of my life, especially when it comes to the Nigerian side of my ancestry. I thank your mom for the time with her while she was alive, she was a person that rarely did not say what she felt and at times it could

be a bit uncomfortable, but I respected that about her so much, as well she had probably one of the best laughs I have been around in my life, I can still hear it even now. I thank you for the countless memories and talks of so much that can go on with unlimited time and energy from you that cannot be matched by many on this planet. Mr. P. Fu, the man with those pretty shoes, it has been a great friendship that started through college that has led to countless memories and new beginnings that has felt like it was just yesterday that we met in Professor Plateros Effective Selling class. Despite some of our differences in hobbies we found a common ground in much more significant aspects of life and were able to be great roommates and great friends for life. Blessings to your entire family that are a delight to always being around and continued blessings to your new family, fantastic wife that puts up with you and your adorable boys who are the best of you both put together. Ruben Trancoso, from neighbors and inseparable friends when we were young in the Walkley Projects, to still being friends all these years is amazing just as it is amazing that at one point you were taller than me. You and Michael are the first to introduce American Football, Basketball, to name a few. You and others in our neighborhood were my starting grounds to the world we live in, I thank you all for that. To my wife and daughter, you both were not a reality to me, but I am glad to have you both now and forever, I know at times I can be irritating to live with but forgive me I am doing my best each day to be better for you both. Thanks for accepting me as I am. Finally, to my parents M.G. Bordes and A.J Ajimati, where do I start and where do I really end? I can draft a book of poems on the both of you two separately, but I will not, I think. It has been a very layered, insightful, powerful, ambivalent, and joyous times and memories with you both. I cannot take away from the sacrifices you made for me and then the rest of my siblings while we were growing up. For me being with you two for some years before anyone else was some of the most imaginative and impactful times in my life as well as a revelation to what my ancestry is from you both while