Ifalola's Odu Ifa poetry book review

Alaafia all,

A break from the usual poetry to offer up this wonderful review of my book "This poem called life: Contemplations on Odu Ifa".

Marcos Ifalola Sanchez's poems are the result of deep contemplation upon the wisdom of the Odu of Ifa. In fact, they can serve as a kind of commentary on the Odu of Ifa for those familiar with the latter, and an accessible introduction for those yet to become acquainted with Ifa. Practical, playful, profound, and piercing, Sanchez's poetry reflects the beauty of the verses of Ifa, but in an idiom, and with a charm, all of its own.
-Oludamini Ogunnaike
Professor of African Religious Thought and Democracy at
The University of Virginia

Thanks so much Professor Ogunnaike!

To purchase your copy, please visit https://www.blurb.com/b/8256683-this-poem-called-life .  Thanks for your support and don't forget to spread the word. 

O'dabo!

Contemplation on the Odu Otura Ogunda

It's still
Out here
Lying in the grass
Looking up at the night sky
Body hurtling through space
A million miles an hour
Quickly going nowhere in particular
I am humbled by the thought that
Even a state of rest
Is a state of extreme motion
The immensity of it all
Reminds me
How meaningless it is to hate
How insignificant it is to fight
How pointless it is to divide
We live on this rock as one
We die on this rock as one
Why not choose to spend
What little time you have
Making everyone’s journey
Through space
A beautiful one
Do something
Anything
To spark
Love
Then sit back
And enjoy the
Fireworks

Contemplation on Iwori Ogunda aka Iwori Aweda

There is a magic that lives
In the space where
Survival meets opportunity
A spark that when ignited
Breathes life into the lifeless
Pulling us back from the brink of
Extinction
Those who possess this gift
Know Esu expects his due
A conjurer's toll for traveling between the
Light and dark
An inescapable shadow
Forever attached to our soul
It's the cost of
Doing what is necessary
No matter how unpleasant
In order to see another day

Ofun Meji (Eepa Odu)

Ritual without theology
Is like a
Body without a soul

Contemplation on the Odu Ofun Ogbe ( Ofun agbe)

I am adrift on an ocean of thought

Trying to find my north

In a starless sky

Nothing but horizon

In every direction

I pray the sun has not abandoned me

That she guides me out of this darkness

Towards the shores of half a century

Three thousand possibilities

Flash before my eyes

In a single moment

None more clear

Than another

There is not much I can say

Except I am still sea worthy

Despite my missteps into

Raging tempests

I will listen to the winds

Whispering the secrets of sirens

To find the tower of Pharos

That it may pierce the darkness

With a golden path

To safe harbor

Thank you for staying by my side

You are the wind in my sails

On a still day

Contemplationon the Odu Osa Irete

There is no line between
Right and wrong
Good and bad
Love and hate
Everything lives somewhere on a
Spectrum
Actions that seem clear
Often fade and change
Like a well worn rug
Only time it seems
Can cast true judgement
On events of the day
Even then
Truth can lie
In the eye of the beholder

Nigerian smoked catfish / pescado ahumado , Esu offering Lucumi and YTR

One of Eshu's favorite offerings and a part of almost all Lucumi ceremonies is Pescado Ahumado, smoked fish (Catfish to be specific). It's incredibly easy to make, and sooooo much better than what you get at a botanica, which is usually some dried out old crumbly garbage. Here are some links to better understand and perhaps make Eshu extra happy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-f97jvFBF8

and also a nice article

https://freshtodommot.com/blogs/life-hacks-tips/nigerian-smoked-fish


Ashe!!