Vow of the Unbroken Self

If my soul spoke in one paragraph, it would say: "I seek meaning, not performance. I value truth, dignity, and depth. I honour where I come from and where I am going. I love with intention, speak with care, and walk away without bitterness when alignment is absent." - Adeola

I swear by the ground that taught me my name,

and the breath that reminds me I’m still becoming flame.

I will not kneel where carelessness mangles my sound,

nor pour my whole spirit in cups not built to hold ground.

I walk with a compass hammered from truth,

I do not bow to noise or the hunger of youth.

Where clarity trembles and honesty’s shunned,

I pass like a river already well-run.

My word will be bone, not vapour or air,

my actions, drumbeats carefully announced everywhere.

I will not perfume a lie with my grace,

nor shrink my own standards to earn a place.

I choose depth like roots choose the dark of the soil,

not for ease or escape, but the strength born of toil.

What holds me is deeper than surface or gleam, 

because I was not designed for the shallow or thin.

I will wrestle injustice with clean, open hands,

light fires for warmth, not to scorch who I am.

Even in battle, my tenderness stays,

a heart turned to stone is a conquered place.

I love like a gate, not a net cast awide,

what enters must come with purpose and pride.

What leaves, I release without venom or chase,

true alignment has never required a race.

When loneliness knocks, I answer with calm,

not surrender disguised as the need to be held.

And when love arrives, it must stand aware,

knowing clearly the ground it steps on is rare.

I stand with my ancestors steady behind,

and my future awake in the edge of my sight.

I move without panic, without delay,

neither rushed by fear nor stalled by dismay.

This is my oath! Let the record be whole,

to remain unbroken where fragments are sold,

to walk fully formed, to love wide awake,

and leave every season with dignity safe.

@Prince Adeola Goloba 2026

Thursday, January 1st, 2026

Ejigbo, Lagos

3:07:57 AM

                                  Statement & Reflections

"Vow of the Unbroken Self" is both a poem and a declaration! A conscious commitment to live with integrity, intentionality, and dignity. It reflects my journey as an Awori Yoruba writer and cultural advocate, rooted in ancestral wisdom and a desire to remain whole in a world that often values fragments over substance. Every image, from the earth beneath our feet to the flowing river and steadfast gate, symbolizes grounding, clarity, and the courage to stand aligned with one’s truth.

Writing this poem was an act of reflection and assertion. It emerged from examining the compromises we make in love, work, and life, and recognizing the quiet power of boundaries, discernment, and intentional action. I wrote it as a mirror, not only for myself, but for anyone seeking alignment between their inner values and the life they lead. It reminds me that real strength is calm, deliberate, and principled.

Ultimately, the poem is a bridge to my ancestors and a guide for my future. It honors the continuity of lineage, the responsibility of becoming, and the choice to remain unbroken. Through these lines, I affirm that dignity, clarity, and intentional love are not optional but essential. This work is my vow, my compass, and my invitation to others to walk awake, anew and whole. Again, this is my New Year Gift to the World, and it comes...straight from the heart❣️.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!