Ese Okanran-Meji

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I I

Oh dear! What's happening?
Let's now go praise Okanran-Meji!
And do you see, by any chance,
the path or road that Ifa took
to finally arrive here, at this place?
"You killed the rat, and Ifa didn't get a bite;
you killed the fish, and Ifa didn't get a taste.
How do you dare to eat ekuru
in presence of the Elders of the Night?"
These were the elder ones who did cast Ifa
for Rooster on the Road, 't was on the day
that Rooster went to roost in Babalawo's house.
"You Pecker!", they told Rooster,
"do sacrifice, in order not to have
much trouble on your way, for evil eyes are many,
and many envy you." "What should I sacrifice?"
the Rooster asked in awe. "One of your very own!
A rooster, and some ewe you will find
there on the dry side of the farm,
a hatchet, and ten bags of cowries."
The Rooster listened, made the sacrifice,
but on his way to Babalawo's yard
he crossed, unwittingly, a patch of road
where evil medicine was sprinkled.
So when he kneeled in front of Ifa's shrine,
his prayers suddenly changed into curses:
"You get this sickness, and you that!
I wish you got..." It all went on like this.
"Good heavens!" Rooster said,
"What am I saying?! That's not nice!"
And then the skies did darken, and the rain,
the rain that long had threatened did now pour
upon the Rooster's head like ocean waves.
This calls for counter poison, after which
the Rooster, glad again, could utter blessings.
"But first you spoke all curses," people said,
"and what, please tell us, was that all about?"
"All words I spoke before the rain did come,"
the Rooster answered, "only in appearance
were evil, in Orunmila's good ears
they have become benign." Now in the meantime
the Rooster's wife and children had been hearing
the news that Husband (also Father)
experienced some problems in the yard,
and quickly-quick they came to his assistance.
All's well that ends well. Children heard their father
explaining happily: "It's me. The Rooster.
There is no need to worry, for the Rain
has changed all evil into great abundance.
These were the Awo's words: You killed the rat
and gave nothing to Ifa, then you killed
the fish, and Ifa got no bite.
How do you dare you eat ekuru
in presence of the Elders of the Night?"
That's what was cast for Rooster, on the day
he went to visit Awo. Now, my friend,
can you now see how urgent is the praise
we owe Okanran for the work he did?
You now must make an offer, sacrifice
whatever may be needed to survive.
Say greetings to the Odu, for this Odu
will make your life go well.