From de time I look at him, I know.
I have a (Ba) in Creative Arts long time now,
so I could spot dem ting ( Religious Dress ) quick-quick.
Gold Elekes hanging across his neck like cattle skin layered adornment in bright day. Purple head wrap, that announces his gifts.
He is a seer
Wrists adorned with silver flat hand chains, dem Wah Caribbean women wear those with delicate floral carvings etched deep into the metal,
Caribbean women we know those carvings well — passed down, worn with pride.
But Ivy couldn’t afford bracelets so I didn’t inherit any.
He wore it all, like a banner, unashamed and unhidden. No need for words; the Orisha lived in him. Shango and Oshune had a balance he is a feminine man.
We were suppose to be strangers.
But I felt him and he stopped
He catch my eye, give me one lil giggle.
Den he say, “Yuh enemies plenty, yuh know.
But das cause yuh progressive.
Problem is, yuh talk too much.
Dey see too much
so is easy for dem to tie you to deh alters.
I give him a ol’ grin, half wide.
But he face? Stone-cold.
He said it again “
“Yuh enemies—dey known and unknown—dey settin yokes on yuh,” he say, as if de words bitter sweet on he tongue and I wasn’t sharing in the kiss.
I watch him “Ivy tell me hush” tell her I geh di message.
He nod, like he already know Ivy business. “Hush,” he repeat.
But I know Ivy.
And Ivy would NOT like him.
Cause he heself talk to much
Ivy- brazen was cunning and she strength was strong and soft… she would watch you for weeks before she spoke to you.
So I know Ivy ain’t give him no message she wouldn’t like him.
So I look at him harder. “Wait nah, Mr. You is ah Obeah man, ent?”
He let go a deeper chuckle now, kinda half-hidden, like he was holdin someting back. He beads shinin bright, but I could tell—he carryin more dan just ornament. He was walkin wid Shango and Ogun.
“Obeah?” he ask me, half smilin. “Wha’s dat to you?”
I steups small. “Obeah is what dem colonizers call yuh craft to make it look bad.
But why you askin me if I accept dat oppression?”
He watch me, still smilin, like he know someting more dan I ever will. “
“Cause we all accept oppression in some form,” he say. “Me? I is ah child of God, a spiritualist I is a freedomist.
Ivy wouldn’t like all dem self given titles
I told him “But I like de word Obeah.” He say, “You want to call me dat, go ahead.”
I watch him close. “Well, I does talk fuh a livin, so I ain’t know how to hush, Obeah man.”
Dis time, no smile. “Yuh enemies,” he say, voice low a deep, “dey gathered and deh. Tyin up yuh progress like deh tie you 2 shoe string so walking going to hard for you if you don’t hush a bit more .”
“Yeah, I know.”
But I know
how he get Ivy message ? Cause she would like him
But she cunning enough to send him
He study me, like I was a child who didn’t understand someting simple.
“The anointin does break yoke,” he say, voice strong.
“Let de Spirit lead yuh & Power go protect yuh.”
I hear dat line before,
“The anointin does break yoke,” but somehow, when he say it, it hit me different. I feel it deep inside. He watch me, see de change in my face, an nod, satisfied.
“Go find ah elder,” he tell me. “Somebody who could teach yuh to carry dat anointin proper, cause you innocent.”
I laugh again. “Alright, Obeah man. Will I see yuh again?”
He laugh back, lighter dis time. “I right here. Yuh go see me.”
De next day, I gone to de church elder, tell him all what de Obeah man say. Den I went back on de road, lookin for him.
But he ain’t show.
Maybe he was just de messenger. Maybe he ain’t lookin to be mi friend.
But all I keep hearin in my head was:
“The anointin does break yoke.”
Ase
#KittitianProse#CaribbeanCharacters#Obeahman#MCH#micheleina
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35You, Julianna Powell, Aseret Williams and 32 others
