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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Contemplation on the Odu Odi Oyekun


Why
do our minds need to be lead
like puppies being taken out for a walk.
Why
do we follow blindly
words spoken centuries ago
written and re-written
translated and re-translated
a game of spiritual telephone
where letter and spirit are misunderstood.
Why
do we fear change
yet change so rapidly
that we barely keep pace
leaving many behind.
So it is that
Unchained
we become slaves to messiahs
Untethered
we become bound by dogma
Unlocked
we close the door.
Is it only after we have lost sight
that we can truly see?
Or
can we simply close our eyes
and look within
to find the truth of love.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Contemplation on the Odu Osa Oturupon


I don't know where we'll go
I can't say what will happen
I won't tell you it will be ok
in the end.
Because I don't know.
Even if I'm cradled in the embrace of a religion
I can't say for sure that those arms are real
and not just something I dreamt.
I may someday awaken
to find myself alone in a dark cold room
whose only windows are my imagination.
Regardless, I can tell you this,
no matter what lies ahead
I am here now
as you are
and I will try to make this place better
as should you
Not through the arrogance of presuming
to have found the only path to salvation
but instead by caring for those that are weak
listening to those that are lonely
feeding those whose bellies are empty
and conquering sadness with joy.
Live now
with an eye to tomorrow
and a remembrance of the past
so that you don't walk in circles
but instead towards the infinite

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Contemplation on the Odu Oshe Okanran ( Oshe Okana )


I made some pasta for your mind
so you could noodle on the complexities of life
It's for you, so I had to make everything from scratch
It began with some flour, ground to a fine powder by hard work
To which I added salt dried from the sweat of your brow
an egg born of the spirit of your creation
and the water from a tear of sadness
after kneading it slowly
thoughtfully
I spread this knowledge across a board and carefully cut the noodles that I would share
But far from done, I placed it all in a pot of turbulent and boiling waters
from which emerged a perfect meal, nourishing and rich
Still not done
I added tomatoes ripened sweet with age
Basil for character and complexity
and pepper, for a little heat
Gingerly, I place it in front of you
steam dancing across the air
aroma wafting past your nose
let it melt on your palette
this bowl of life
that it may leave you nourished, satisfied and full


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Contemplation on the Odu Odi Irosun ( Odi Iroso )


Close your eyes my love
and open your heart
so that it might spill upon
the canvas laid bare before you
revealing with each stroke
answers to questions not yet asked
hoping to make sense of it all
through fantastical visions
of the impossible and possible
intertwined like lovers in a tryst
hoping that tomorrow
will bring solutions
to the problems of yesterday
only to awaken to the potential
that a new day brings.