Omo Orisa By Apetibii Efunyale, Copyright ©2015 Terri L. Bailey. All rights reserved.
I am a child of Orisa
Esu stands up for me
At each and every reading
Guiding me, protecting me, loving me
Quietly, whispering truth to me
And if there is a need scolding me oh yes indeed
I am a child of Orisa
Omo Obatala
Whose light shines bright like the northern star
Owner of all crown chakras and ori
I’m so proud that He claimed me
Said baby you must never be a slave of a slave
And came home with me before I got made
Creator of humans, He bought light to the night
No straddling the fence you betta come right
Meferafun Obatala He who owns all that is white
Olokun too is here with me
Olokun Olokun owner of the sea
Nobody knows ‘bout all your mysteries
They try to measure your depth and study your breadth, but all efforts equate to a giant misstep
Because just when they think they have reached the very bottom of the sea
Olokun opens up and makes them travel more deeply
More darkly and inevitably, they have to scream
“The sea is just a great mystery”
And I smile and say
That’s Olokun Awade
Omo Orisa
I have my warriors here with me
Esu, Ogun, Ochossi and Osun
Who will fight for me, protect me and if you mess with me
I’ll tell my Babas and they’ll get you for me
But they do not uphold what ain’t right
They can spot deception in the dead of night
So don’t be acting like they will defend you just because
Or that they will bestow on you some type of blind love
Oh no no no not these ones right here
Their warth is something you ought to fear
So I keep them happy serving them every week
Offering rum, smoke, palm oil and oriki
Asking for guidance in life and forgiveness for my wrongs
And ending with a kiss and a praise song
Now most recently, Orunmila called for me and named me Abetebi
What a great honor and responsibility
Hand in hand I’m in the service of Ifa
The wife of the great and knowledgeable Orunmila
Making sure his area is clean
And that His guests are comfortable until they are seen
Oh don’t think that means to you I’m in servitude
And that because I may serve you, you can give me attitude
My position is one that demands much respect
Disrespect me and watch my Baba get vexed
If you really want to challenge me or try to mess me around
My Baba will swiftly correct you and I won’t need to make a sound
Every four days I give extra praise by dutifully doing Dafa
Giving honor, love and glory to the magnificent Orula
I bow down and kiss the mat and to Him I joyfully say
I love you with all my heart Baba Aboru, Aboye, Abosise
Oma Orisa
Soon I will be knocking on Ocha’s door
Begging for secrets, tools and more
Taking up the mantle and doing duties of a priest
Tirelessly, relentlessly battling the beast
Building a museum for the Gods that love me so
With Orisa by my side as high as Orun I can go
Oh how I love this culture its my life, my love and breath
I will forever be in service even long after my death
And when I become an ancestor sent to assist my seed
To their soul I will whisper, Orisa and Ifa is all you’ll ever need
Ase!