A Poem for the Orishas

[CosmicAscension]

I don't practice Santeria or any religion, but I love the Orishas because of their aesthetic roles in African culture.

There's so many Orishas I decided to just focus on the seven Orishas of the pantheon. I hope I did them justice.

O, Eleggua, master of Iku, keeper of the gate
Let not your power be shackled to your whim
For tied to it is mother Africa's glooming fate
Would you see our shining hope turn dim?
Aware am I of Eleggua's endless presage,
Also, of the rationality with which you contend
But know, God of death, bringer of the message :
It is with affection that I speak, I mean not to offend
Let not the door to our destiny be forever closed
Nor the road to its fruitfulness forever blocked
Let not the will of the enemies be imposed
Let the door to our glorious future be unlocked!

Obatala - King of the sky and blanketing snow
Lord of man's hard bones and nimble brain
And all that exists in the world so far below
God of the white cloth, you shall forever reign
Beyond the restrictions of gender are you
Interpretive of the qualities of woman and man
Supportive of all that is righteous and true
Contributing in a way that no other God can
Lend to us your wisdom and blinding purity
Spread 'cross the lands your curing peace
Be our strength, our hope, our security
And may your favor with men never cease

'Twas with Oloddumare that our lives began
But you were Ashe, bereft of life and thought
Long before the humble beginnings of man
Within the darkness of the void you fought
The universe is by the Rainbow Serpent bound
That it may know no limit to its expanse
In all things we see your essence resound,
Filling your extensions with song and dance
The center pulsed with unrealized aspiration
Before the nocturnal moon or the piercing sun
From the void sprouted thought and creation
In the Cosmic Heavens, the realm of Ikode Orun

Great is the spirit Goddess Oshun
Whose beauty intrigues both men and Gods
With grace and love you retrieved Ogun
Saving the world in spite of the odds
Owner of the river whose curative mirth
Has preserved the people of this sphere
You convinced Oloddumare to spare the earth
That our essence might not disappear
So impressed with your honesty was he
That he saw there was still some good in men
If not for you, we would no longer be
Nor would the world turn again

Oya, Goddess of the wind and fire
A warrior both strong and fearless
Your feminine power our sisters admire
For such heroism is peerless
Inhabit our sisters as we go to war
Let your thunder and fire be theirs
Instill in them a strength like never before
To your greatness no other compares
Hurricanes embody your smiting wrath
As your rage builds tornadoes form
Engulfing all who cross your path
Or brave the bulk of your storm

Yemaya, Yemaya, of the sea
Goddess of the watchful moon
Come now, and set our spirits free
I prithee deliver us soon
The ancient wisdoms lay hidden
Beneath your rippling waves
What is this, that is to us forbidden
Down in subterranean caves?
Secret knowledge and terrible power
Locked away for a time of great need
Lend it to us in this darkening hour
And let our binded souls be freed

King Shango, swing your mighty axe
And smite each filthy foe
Lift the burdens from our backs
With each devastating blow
King of the lightning and thunder
Restore the land to which we belong
Our homes they wish to pillage and plunder
But as you fight so too shall we stay strong
Shango, whose story is somber and tragic
Protect our people at any cost
You, who harbor the secrets of magic
Restore all that we have lost

Orishas, noble and glorious
With you we shall be victorious