The Ofi Press Magazine
International Poetry and Literature from Mexico City
| TAKE ME TO AFRICA By Ivy Akpesiri
Take me to Africa the home of my birth the mound of dark civilization I long to suckle her breast whose milk taught me diphthongs of my dialect and baptized me in my forefathers bucket. Take me to Africa the dunghill where I belong the goldmine of treasure seekers, let the monkey embark on the voyage back home to the origin of his foreskin- the dark earth beside the seashore; I'll pound the millet when I get home I'll sing a dirge for heroes departed I'll tell the story of five season ago of Odysseus atop Pegasus living at the mercy of Oceanus; Take me to Africa where I belong.
Artwork by Sher Nasser "African Mother and Child" http://sher-nasser.artistwebsites.com |
LLÉVAME A ÁFRICA Por Ivy Akpesiri Translation by Violeta Pelaez Llévame a África el hogar de mi nacimiento la cumbre de la civilización oscura Ansío succionar su pecho cuya leche me enseñó diptongos de mi dialecto y me bautizó en la pila de mis ancestros Llévame a África el vertedero al que pertenezco la dorada mina de los buscadores de tesoros, deja al mono embarcarse en el viaje de regreso a casa al origen de su prepucio la obscura tierra a la orilla del mar; Moleré el grano al llegar a casa Cantaré una elegía a los héroes caídos Contaré la historia de hace cinco eras de Odisseo sobre Pegaso viviendo a merced de Oceano; Llévame al África a donde pertenezco. |
Ivy Akpesiri (born June 21, 1983) is a Nigerian poet and dramatist. She was born and raised in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. She is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors. She is the Author of ‘Suitors from Afar’ a Play (Bulkybon Books 2012). She lives in Lagos Nigeria.
| Violeta Peláez is a writer, poet and graphic designer and a creative copy and translator. Interested in art, has written various essays about contemporary artists and more recently her work has appeared in Letras Libres (online): http://www.letraslibres.com/blogs/polifonia/la-huella-de-lo-imperceptible Violeta lives in Mexico City and is a member of The Ofi Press Poetry Circle, a regular meeting of poets and writers held in the centre of Mexico City. | Violeta Peláez es escritora, poeta y diseñadora gráfica y traductora y copy creativa. Ha escrito diversos ensayos sobre arte contemporáneo y recientemente su trabajo ha aparecido en Letras Libres (online): http://www.letraslibres.com/blogs/polifonia/la-huella-de-lo-imperceptible Violeta vive en la Ciudad de México y es miembro del círculo de Poesía de The Ofi Press, un grupo de poetas, y escritores que se reúne regularmente en la Ciudad de México. |