OLÚOROGBO - By Ogunyomi Israel Abidemi

On an aquatic baptism,
Into a porous, cold coal,
A monolithic ember transmogrifies,
To tranquillize the father’s earth
From a pertinacious terror of war,
Consuming the legend’s land like
A mad inferno.
Slaughtered!  The pillar of valour,
An eye, a nut – an eye, a bean,
On a mother’s advent – a reluctant
Fulfillment of a previously avowed ransom

To the gods for the safe return.


(It was inspired by SégunAkinlolú’s (Beautiful Nubia) ‘Imoremi’. It is a historical poem evocating the scarification of Olúorogbo, ’Móremí’s only son to the gods, according to her vow that if she was successfully enslaved by the enemies, and was able to deliver the ancient town of Ile-Ife from the incessant attack of their enemies, and return safely home afterwards, she was going to sacrifice her only son, Olúorogbo, as a ransom for the gods’ favour. She did it!)


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