Orishias

 

The sky foretells  
That something
Ominous
Has taken place.
It is overcast
With just a little blue…
I feel blue.
The wind is shifty
With an air
That is unusually
Cool
Where I stand
There are no flowers that
Bloom.

I hear a child
Crying in the distance
Is it symbolic
Of my soul’s
Cry?

For I have forsaken
Butterflyz.

The sky has poured
Down its fury for
Four days,
The weatherman lies
I wonder where is his
Weather vane?

Oya!
I call out to you to
Stop the winds of
Change.
However I know this is
Not your nature
Yet I call out in
Pain.

This season proves to be
Stormy.
I brace myself
I put on my armor.

Oshun!
Lead me
To your rivers,
Your valleys that
Are pure
Grace me with your
Presence
Grace me with an
Oggun!

Oya!
I hear your calls,
A tree lies in the distance for you have made it
Fall!

Ancestors!
I plea for you to have
Mercy on me!
Recognize me!
For I have given
Reverence to
Thee!

Orishias
Have mercy on me!
Oya
Please
Leave me
Be!

-------Sheenae Westmoreland      

Author's Note

Hi thank you so much for reading my work and commenting on it. Thank you again. And to answer your question the Orishas are Yourban dieties. There are seven that are really strong Papa Legba (the father), Shango, Oggun, Oshun, Oya, Yemaya, and Elegua. There are others that are not as prominent but are still worthy of reverance. Yourba is a city in West Africa it was the original religion of the slaves that were brought to America during the Alantic Slave trade. Therefore it is the original religion of African Americans. Most slaves however were told that they could not practice their religion but instead had to adopt catholism so the Orishas took on Saint associations and in most Carribean countrys carry them to today. They are responsible for different elements and have different personalities. First and foremost you are to give reverence to them and to your ancestors. (which is why I said that I give reverence to my ancestors.) My head is crowned Oshun the river goddess she is the goddess of everything creative writing poetry painting the arts, laughter, love, wealth, all that makes life worth living. Oya is the guardian of the cemetaries, she is the goddess of the wind she controls thunderstorms, tornados, and change. Oggun is a hard working male god he controls all metals he is grounded in the earth. Hope that answeres your question I will make this a writers note.

Reviews

[The Viking]

Pretty strong graphics of weather and storms and how they mirror the personal turmoil we all go through as a working class society just trying to survive and continue writing the history of human condition. I'm curious as to who Orishias is and why you ask him for mercy. Sounds japanese. Anyways, good poem nonetheless. Welcome to the cafe.

[Kaleidoscope Apocalypse]

I like the way you've written this and I like the way it flows. You've done a nice job with this piece of writing.

Thank you for your comment on my poem; I really appreciated it.