"oluwakemi" poems
The creator of the universe
Our whole existence
Our tradition and way of life
The beginning and the end
The divination and religion
Of our people
Odu Ifa our literary corpus
The grand priest of Ifa
The mantle of Olodumare
The builder of the Ifa Oracle
Ile-Ife your city of abode
Orunmila,
Orirun ile Yoruba
The master of Aseda and Akoda
The Aalafin of Yoruba land
The Ooni of the Yoruba mantle
Our spiritual system of existence
Orunmila,
The supreme being
The Orisa of all orisas
Esu bows at your feet
Obatala trembles at your voice
Ogun makes an obeisance at your sight
Osun lays down at your coming
Yemonja proclaims your might
The divination of Ifa
The prophecy of the Yoruba heritage
The founder of earthly beings
The Ese Ifa
Orunmila
The principal Odu
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Mar 18, 2020
Mar 18, 2020 at 12:26 PM UTC
He raised up his head,
Trying to speak,
Yet speaking nothing.
She opened her mouth,
Trying to mutter words,
Yet nothing coming out.
I can't breathe
Words never to be forgotten
I can't breathe
Words we carry on placards
I can't breathe
Words kicking down whiteness
I can't breathe
Words doing-away with racism
I can't breathe
Words demanding equality
I can't breathe
Words bridging the white and black gap
I can't breathe
Words changing the times
I can't breathe
Words destroying white supremacy
I can't breathe
Words uniting colors
I can't breathe
Words uniting races
I can't breathe
Words signifying unity
I can't breathe
Words causing race inequality uproar
I can't breathe
Words knocking down white brutality
I can't breathe
Words ending police brutality
I can't breathe
Words
Great words
Creating equality for all race
Ending police brutality
Doing-away white supremacy
Uniting all race
Uniting all colors
A must for all nations
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jun 17, 2020
Jun 17, 2020 at 8:40 AM UTC
Esu Lanlu
Esu Elegbara
Esu Odara
Esu, the scared child of heaven
Esu, a reviled, respected,
Yet misunderstood being.
Esu, all creations dance to your best of life
Esu Dagunro
Esu Lukuluku
Esu Apagbe
Esu, the quickest and fastest one
Esu, confuser of many
Esu, the disruptor of order
Esu, the iconic one
Esu, the master of linguistics
Esu, the conciliatory peacemaker
Esu, the divine alchemist
Esu, the trickster
Esu, the pusher of those,
Who doesn't carry Olodumare's wishes.
Esu, the inseparable friend of Orunmila
Esu,
Papa Legba
Legba Atibon
Kalfou
Papa La Bas
Esu, divine messenger of transformation
Esu, ebora to luti la nbo
Esu, Okunrin ori ita
Esu, a quick responder when consulted
Esu, divine messenger of the gods
Esu Odara, the divine one of Ose Otura
Esu, carrier of the ase of sensuality and fertility
Esu Lanlu, king of dance
Esu, keeper and imparter of ase
Esu, the fundamental Orisa
Esu, the manifest of greatness
Esu, the one who is as hard as Rock
Esu Akeregbaye
Esu, the shedder of blood who knows no one's tears
Esu, the controller of earth
Esu, the special middle man between heaven and Earth
Esu, the anointed rope to success and wealth
Esu Lanlu
Esu Elegbara
Esu Odara
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 6, 2020
Jul 6, 2020 at 8:18 AM UTC
Queen of the kingdom
The heart of Sàngó,
Giving Sàngó courage.
Sàngó's betrothed
Oya,
Goddess of wind, tornado,
Yet the owner of the marketplace.
Queen of all seas
Creator of lakes and rivers
The waters knows your name
Goddess of storms
Orisa of death and rebirth
Oya,
The mother of nine
Oya,
The undergoddess of Odo-Oya
Oya,
The unbeatable warrior
Oya,
The summoner of rain
Oya,
Sàngó's princess consort
Oya,
Thou who walketh through fire with no burns
Oya,
Queen of courage
Oya,
Goddess of speed and energy
Symbol of faithfulness
Goddess of devotion and perfection
Oya,
Goddess of war
Oya, our fiercely warrior of old
Written Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 12, 2020
Jul 12, 2020 at 11:44 AM UTC
She cometh from afar,
Chanting words of magic.
Singing beautiful songs
Calling out to the spirits
Her powers so glaring
Her voodoo doll by the window
The crystal ball of life
Cards of the future laid in the table
Looking into her eyes,
Seeing the communing of the spirits.
The owl on her roof,
Making scary sounds welcoming the spirits.
Piercing into my soul
A telling of the past and the present
Her reading of fortunes
A telling of the future
The enchantment in the room
The conjuring of spirits
Her performance of black magic
A force of good and evil
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 8, 2020
Jul 8, 2020 at 1:32 PM UTC
Obatala,
Oba tasa.
Father of all orisas
The irunmole of mankind
Obatala,
The saint among saints.
The archetypal spirit of creativity
Olodumare's right hand
Father of humanity
Supreme deity
Holder of justice,
Wisdom and life.
The quintessential father
King of the white cloth
The eldest of all orisas
Creating mankind,
Drunk on palmwine,
Yet creating beautiful beings.
Obatala,
Danbala,
The father of the sky.
Your divinity,
We looketh upon.
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
May 5, 2020
May 5, 2020 at 9:55 PM UTC
Jakuta, the son of Aganju
The fiery son of Obatala
Violent ruler, grandson of Oduduwa
Sàngó, the one who screams with thunderbolt
A betroth to Osun, Oba and Oya
The husband of Oya
Sàngó, the third Alaafin of Oyo
Sàngó, god of thunder and lightning
Sàngó, the clappings of thunder,
His making.
Sàngó, maker of lightning
Sàngó, the dragon that consumes other dragons with fire
Sàngó, killer of Gbonga with his ferocious fire
Sàngó, Arabambi Oko Oya
Sàngó, Eleyinju Ogunna
Sàngó, Olukoso Lalu
Sàngó, the breathe of fire
Sàngó, Olukoso
Sàngó, Oloju Orogbo
Sàngó, the rescuer of Alaafin Ajaka
A favourite to the bata drums
Sàngó, Akara yeri yeri
Sàngó, the killer who was never killed
Sàngó, he who waves his double-headed axe
Sàngó, Oba koso
Sàngó, god of justice
Sàngó, god of dance
Sàngó, god of virility
Sàngó,
Xangó
Changó
Sàngó, Agodo
Sàngó, Afonja
Sàngó, Lubé
Sàngó, Obomin
Sàngó, the caster of thunderstones
Sàngó, god of iron
Sàngó, god of fire
Sàngó, the archetypical god
Sàngó, god of power
Sàngó, god dominance
Sàngó, king of Alujá
Sàngó, a great deity
Sàngó, a notable Magician
Sàngó oo
Sàngó oo
Sàngó oo
Olukoso oo
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 6, 2020
Jul 6, 2020 at 8:59 AM UTC
This wonderful lonliness
The peace I needed
Here I find serenity
It has alluded me
It's a place I never go to
Isolated in my despair
I longed for serenity
I craved for serenity
Serenity,
You finally brought me to this place.
A place my mind can wander,
And my thoughts can run wild.
I feel you in my soul
I feel you in my calmness
Breathe of a hopeful place of rest
You brought me peace
You brought me happiness
I'm happily lost here
You brought me nature-induced bliss
A bliss I'll cherish always
I feel your calmness
You brought me here
I am in my place of rest
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 8, 2020
Jul 8, 2020 at 11:31 AM UTC
A brown man
Standing,
Shouting,
Speaking radicalising words.
Marching as to war
Showing placards of his grief,
Depicting foreheads of vagabonds,
Reminding others of past slavery.
Their de-subjectification of freedom
Their voices,
A singular connotation of enough-is-enough
An appetite for recognition
A planting for equality
A right to color
A plea bargain for respect,
Yet writing a throwaway of discrimination.
A caged bird,
Wanting to soar far beyond whiteness.
Demanding equal previlege
A demand costly but needed
Their melancholy of racial assimilation
Our sanguine of identity
Their windspread of hatred
Our moment to canvas light
Black
A shadow of itself
A belonging for many
A colour they deem despicable,
Yet a horizon we cherish.
Looking to the future
A beautiful future
I too
She too
He too
Us too
They too
Black too
Will sit at the table of colors
A dream I hope so dear
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jun 17, 2020
Jun 17, 2020 at 8:20 AM UTC
At the church of all saints
Singing glorious tunes
Hymns and harmonious voices
The father, an altar he stood in front
His passing
Life if an exited fellow
Can we say something?
Say to the saints
The tears of many
Words much but little
An ovation so small
Ashes to ashes
Keeping nothing in your remembrance
He once stood here
A man like God
He jouryned with the saints
Wait a minute
His family speaks
Tell them
He once stood here
Only to stand no more
Did he perish?
Wait a minute
Did he perish?
I said speak
He had no vision
The mantle perished long ago
Did he wait for the saints?
No, the morning after
I see a congregation
Mourning a death of old
Clap for her speech
He perished like a sunken treasure
Was he not a king?
Did he perish?
Oh!
A glorious exit
He perished like a sunken treasure
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Nov 20, 2020
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:57 AM UTC
Sing me a sweet carol
Twinkling sounds of happiness
Upon merriments of joyous celebrations
A time for joy
A holiday season
Old traditions new memories
Glows on the trees
Love all around
Kisses under the mistletoe
Thou gave us thy son
On a manger he was born
Our wishes came through
A king came
Special gifts he brought
Oh what a delight
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Dec 26, 2020
Dec 26, 2020 at 4:13 AM UTC
Shackles on my feet
The ******* of the past
Thou held me out
Piercing my heart with bitterness
I tried to come undone
Portraying the beauty of the future
Wearing you like a cunning smile
Setting ablaze a binding heart
I let go
Letting deep like a broken vase
Pouring out it's flowery gaze
Turning love astray
Oh some foretelling
Relieving bad memories
Revealing the aches of oneself
Attaching a Biography to pain
Beautiful but broken
A Potter's broken piece
Stunning but broken
Leading to the ways of no return
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jan 27, 2021
Jan 27, 2021 at 3:01 PM UTC
We will charge harder
Yes sir!
We will strike when it is cold
Yes sir!
Let's go by night
Yes sir!
Prepare the feeryboats and other vessels
Yes sir!
Send them West at once
Yes sir!
Charge our men forward
Yes sir!
Eliminate thy enemies
Yes sir!
Crucify their men to the cross
Yes sir!
Their women
Bring spoils from the merry
Yes sir!
Gold
Your dignity of war
Yes sir!
What's with the yes sir?
Yes sir!
Incompetency tthou keep under thy bossom
Yes sir!
Are you sure you can lead,
Thy men to battle?
Yes sir!
What's with the yes sir?
Yes sir!
Colnel!
Yes sir!
Thou look less serious
Yes sir!
Go forth and disseminate thy rivals
Yes sir!
Go now!
Yes sir!
Go!
Yes sir!
What are thou waiting for?
Yes sir!
Written Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Nov 20, 2020
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:05 AM UTC
Have thou reached casa isolata?
Shimmer of paradise it bestowed
Beautiful lands it rested upon
Sorroundings of fruitful clementine
An empire of pride
Casa isolata
I hear the callings of thy chimes
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Nov 23, 2020
Nov 23, 2020 at 11:34 AM UTC
Fixating my eyes
Stripping your beauty piece by piece
That I may show thy beauty
Beautiful maiden
Among pleasantry ladies of May
Dancing like an Arabian night
Laying down by thy side
Listening to the sounds of the night
Wondering how my heart captured thy flower
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jan 6, 2021
Jan 6, 2021 at 9:23 AM UTC
I want no surer ***** than your arms
You shared my happiness
The rose in my garden whithered,
But your love stayed strong.
The only beauty that is forever
Your angelic coming into my life
The only day of sunshine,
Yet never blinding.
I promise to love you compassionately
You're my forever
In your heart, I promise to stay forever
I promise to keep our candle burning
Seeing you in the crowd
Noticing your flowery smile
I picked a bright rose
A rose that keeps my heart alive
Our special day
The joining of us
Our vows from the heart
Moments I'll always hold dearly
You have become mine
I have become yours
I promise you,
Patience, understanding and tolerance.
I promise you sunshine,
I promise you little rain,
But I promise calmness for all storms,
Giving my hearts deepest devotion.
You're my best friend
I promise to give you the best of myself
Come rain
Come sunshine
Our love shall be stronger than hate
Our hearts shall beat as one
Our love,
A great sum than two in love.
I'll love you all my life
Meeting you,
I was touched by an angel,
Ending the bitterness of my heart.
Your love has me sure
Your love has brought purity to my heart
You make my sing
The angels in heaven sing hallelujah to our love
I stand at this altar,
Pouring my heart,
Telling my beloved,
The desired of my heart to our everlasting love.
I shall carry our love with me
I shall carry your heart with me
I love you
I shall say it at least once a day
I searched for good and beautiful
I found you
I searched for peace
I found you
Your heart
Where I'll always be
All I want is us,
Together forever.
Written Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 8, 2020
Jul 8, 2020 at 12:58 PM UTC
Illusions of thy presence
Love, thy dwellings in self illusions
Fabricating for souls
Belladonna your favourite peace offerings
Your speaking smile
Explicit words of happiness
Estatic feelings thou brings
Enchantments a layer thou hides
Thou sheddings of light
Deceiving men and their deeds
Postering love
Forgetting life's hatred
Happiness
Your best addressed to all pains
Hope
Your cunning way to thou's enchantment
Promising Euphoria
A place thou led us there not
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Oct 8, 2020
Oct 8, 2020 at 9:26 AM UTC
The funeral marches to graves
The descending of curtains
An end to come
The march to finality
A marching to dust
Tarrying to the night
The quiet hollow
The aura of sadness
The exist of a mortal
Death,
A coming at will.
Death,
The king of one’s soul.
Death,
The Lord of the night.
Death,
A silence to life.
Death,
The lion of the forest.
Death,
The ruler of the mountains.
Death,
A piercing of hearts.
Death,
It’s tattoo forever a mark.
Death,
A ticking of the clocks.
Death,
A bringer of eternal peace.
The sweet relieve it bringeth
The residing of mortals
Death,
A bringer of grief.
Death,
A planting of sadness.
Death,
An anthem of black flames.
Death,
A war veteran’s dirge.
Death,
A thief of the night.
Death,
A certainty for all.
Death,
The burn out match stick in one’s ashtray.
Death,
The whither of bones.
Death,
A tragedy to life.
Death,
An endless sleep to one’s soul.
Death cometh
A sweet relief
One’s death
The glowing of darkness
Death,
A mortal’s final rest.
Death,
The ugliness to a beauty.
Death,
The letting out of a final sigh.
Death,
The calling from one’s ancestors.
Death,
A passing through the night.
Death,
The end to one’s pleasurable life.
Death,
I float this Carol,
To you I sing.
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 2, 2020
Jul 2, 2020 at 5:48 AM UTC
Exiting the blackness of the night
Thou tiny mediocre awakes
Arising with casual elegance
Biding the night farewell
Singing it's welcoming lullaby
Pouring out it's gorgeous golden-blinding
I feel it's presence
Sending overpowering bright lights
Bedazzling our minds
Oh radiant one
Thy golden fingers of sunlight
I receive your relentless dappling
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Dec 2, 2020
Dec 2, 2020 at 6:09 AM UTC
Ori,
My intermediary
The divinity calleth
Your response awaketh my divinity
You are here
Ori,
Gbe ja mi
My intermediary
I calleth to thee
Ori
Ma pada leyin mi
Call upon my divine helper
Ori
Lead me to my chosen destiny
Ori
My divinity
My guardian
Orisa bi o ba gbemi
Ori mi ma pada leyin mi
Ori
Eleda mi
My protector
The chosen of my destiny
My door to life
Ori
My life regulator
The conformed of my destiny
Take me to my Orisa
Don't let me down
Ori
My watchman
My interpreter
My destiny caller
Ori
My devotee to the gods
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Mar 18, 2020
Mar 18, 2020 at 12:22 PM UTC
Walking through these paths
A walk I feel I have taken
These memories
Why do things keep repeating itself?
I remember
This familiar feeling
This feeling
A feeling of before
These empty thoughts
Haven't I been here before?
These significant signs
I have seen them before
I had this dream
My reality,
A repeat of this dream.
Looking around
Seeing new things
Haven't I lived this before
De Javu,
Why do you keep coming back?
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 6, 2020
Jul 6, 2020 at 11:18 AM UTC
By his Majesty's foot stool
Tales never been told
A warrior's analogy
Imaging the blood of many
The battle of old
Modakeke it's passage
Crowning victory a renegade
Scars untold
Proportionate to the heartbeat of Ile-Ife
Setting Ooni's mantle
Bowing to Orunmila
Scavangers setting the pace
Awarding criminals the holy Cross
Anointing them for the book of life
Desertion of no return
They called it a treatise
Holding onto dissertation of old
Blood a signal of peace
Reminding hearts of tales unforgettable
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Nov 3, 2020
Nov 3, 2020 at 4:38 AM UTC
When I die today
Dying with the king
I die a worthy death
I can hear my ancestors calling
The drums of my arrival
My story has been told
This is a marvelous sight
My coffin
I lay to rest
Sorrow no more
My demise a worthy story
Weep no more
My ancestors welcome me
Great king
What an honour
To lay beneath your rest
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Mar 18, 2020
Mar 18, 2020 at 1:32 PM UTC
Cultures of old
Surrendering to thy god
Bowing in reference
Telling mysteries unravelment
The forecast of the elders
Giving praises to their gods
Welcoming the spirits
Resurrecting the ancient incantations
Monarchs in gathering
Rulers in council
Entering the room of spirituality
Leaving Epistles for generations unborn
Their cultural powers
A bestowing of forefathers
Worshipping mighty deities
Forming lineages of righteousness
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 28, 2020
Jul 28, 2020 at 5:17 PM UTC
Justifying a thief
Looking for a Redeemer
Yet selling one's soul for bargain
Sale of one's conscience
Giving room for imprisonment
Doing away with the inconvenient truth
A line-up of forgotten heritage
Accepting the long spoon
Cornering the dividends of abandonment
Losing one's entitlement
Giving betrayal a new name
Crowning loyalists king of the land
Upholding truth
A forgotten culture
Making lies their way of life
Truth at the cross
Dying for it's belief
A martyr no one wants
Written by Tosan Oluwakemi Thompson
Jul 28, 2020
Jul 28, 2020 at 5:04 PM UTC