May 25, 2025

by ADESIYAN OLUWAPELUMI

Transfigure

after Ernest Ogunyemi’s “Notes on Ambition”

To suffer, Lord, to transfigure the ache. 

I have placed the maw of my blade

over the vein as aureole. The crimson saint

begins to prophesy. A shaft of light

dislodges from tumour. The frame 

of polished bone marrow casts a glare.

Teach me, Lord, to lull the Agony of the Blessed.

During the offertory, I prepare an oblation 

of twelve immaculate stone doves

and perform the Great Remission.

Around the circumference of the pustule,

I sprinkle a pail of holy water

and petition for a restoration.

Touch me, Lord, in the interstice

where pain springs as a dam.

Let every bleed flower as petal. 

Let every festering bud as skin.

*

At Peniel

Here is where I wrestled with God.

Yet, my ordinary life was spared. 

I bit into His right ear with my teeth.

He tore my left thigh. I did not 

Retreat. Instead, I struck my blows 

With such doggedness until His face 

Broke into two halves of a sun. My fingers 

Clawed into His skin. The wounds 

Manifest into orifices spilling light. 

I was caught by the bloodstain. 

If you had looked at my hands, 

You could have witnessed the murder 

Instead of the weapon. My hands, 

Bloody with light. I wounded Him. 

I swear to you, I witnessed Him bleed. 

Down His loins, a rivulet ran 

To gather at the neck of His heel. 

Through the night, bruise against bruise, 

I and the Lord wrestled 

Until the day broke us asunder like an oath.

O bless me for I have come

Face-to-face with the Divine and fought

And conquered and have been stained with light.

*

Benediction with Paschal Lamb

It begins with blood and ends by blood. 

The Paschal lamb dragged headfirst 

by its hooves to the slaughterhouse. 

Its warm body, of wools, laid to rest on the altar 

where you offer prayers to the blade, 

beg that your flesh be spared of wound. 

There is a method to the slaughter. 

Repeat the name of your God, slit it 

and drain its blood until it flows into a Caravaggio paint-work. 

It is a necessary sacrifice; from bloodletting 

to white-wash another’s innocence. 

Cut yourself and watch the blood repent of the knife. 

Watch the knife repent of the blood.

In the marrow where the wound manifests, 

a yellowish callus bleaches bones of their guilt of red.