Shadow Of Death Poem by Tosin Abegunde

Shadow of Death

Bi Ifa ba re ile ogbon,
Ma yara gb'eru maa tele,
Eniyan go l'agoju,
O se bi ohun gbon.

I am eniyan by nomenclacture
From the race of Adarihurun
Sixth day work in Eden
Designed by master craftman
My purpose, His worship
His kingship my assignment
Thus set me on high
O'er the hills I names all things
Beyon' His aides I reason like light
For I bear conduments of eternity.

Bi Ifa ba re ile ogbon
Maa yara gb'eru maa tele
Eniyan go l'agoju
O se bi ohun gbon.

In the midst of my abode
There He planted tempest
Blooming in tens and hundreds
Ignorantly nurtured to my doom
By my bare hands like fallen angel
It was pleasant to the eyes
Even edibile to the mouth
Yet like a poisonous gall it smells
With a seasoning perfume of war,
War between my fate and destiny.

Bi Ifa ba rele ogbon
Ma yara gb'eru maa tele
Eniyan go l'agoju
O se bi ohun gbon.

When I was alone my senses work
While with a helper I erred grossly
Taking a third hand information
From he that beguiles to destroy.
Should I call His blessing a curse?
For she led me off my first home.
In the depth of my doubt, saw I,
His spirit in me: 'to Make a Notion'.
Now I realize that I chose wrongly
The message of a weaker vessel.

Bi Ifa ba re ile ogbon
Ma yara gb'eru maa tele,
Eniyan go l'agoju
O se bi ohun gbon.