A Romance With Osoronga Poem by Tosin Abegunde

O mysterious mother Osoronga
Who terrifies in dreams
And kills without sharing trace.
The mid-night most famous force
That vacates last in market square
Who, yet without vomiting,
Sumptously devours human livers.
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

The great Chief Security Officer
Tasked to be guiding Olodumare
And enforcing His natural laws.
You, who none choose to initiate
But choose whoever you want.
No wonder you're esoteric to all:
Living in Ota; worshipped in Idi.
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

When the elders of the night
Journeyed from the third heaven
Down to this world of our own
Where men grow hair in the head,
Those who had menstrual flow
Made divination for Ìyààmi Àjẹ́:
One who eats from the intestines.
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

'Young but older women we seek,
But there is no room for kids;
Come and eat, o ye my beloved,
I own calabash housed in a wall
Or hollow tree with my authority
To make you soar on eagles wing'
Owner of the sacred bird entreats.
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

Ìyààmi of unfathomable powers
Pluck the Okro of Ejiwo with ease;
You eat the Camwood of Ailoran
You kill the stammering water of Owu
But for your rebellion God said:
‘Spittle once out of the mouth,
Will never come back there again.'
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

Ask Ọbàtálá the father of creativity
Ọbalúayé, the god behind thunder
Ògún, the blacksmith of heaven
Odùduwà, father of Yorùbá race,
They have tales to tell teenagers
How you gruesomely killed the trio
Of Alara, Ajero's and Orangun.
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?

It is a forbidden act to eat soap, so
I dare not fight the swift shadow
Because a grass an elephant tread
Will by no means rise again, thus
I pray you back me up as your own
Again the flying Odídẹrẹ́ Ayékòótọ́
The sacred grey parrot of Àjẹ́, asks:
Emi Lo Ó Máa Fàjẹ́ẹ̀ Rẹ Ṣe?