Failure Is Not Final “What did you learn in 2020?” That is the big question for everyone. So I’m going to share a bit of what 2020 taught me and how I have evolved into a resilient individual. Indeed a lot had transpired this year; wars, disasters, locust infestation, Brexit – EU trade issues, MAGA, […]
We can’t replace trees that are thousands of years old. But we can plant new ones; we can instill hope for our future generations. Sad image Sequel to my earlier post on uncontrolled bush burning, which destroys plant and animal habitats, I decided to write further on this sad image I stumbled upon. Man and […]
Masquerades in Umukwu-Amune Today was the Masquerade’s Day in Amune, Ovim. I was on a visit when I came across this masquerade band. In a situation, one comes across the masquerades face to face; it is crucial to ‘acknowledge or plead’ with them by calling out their names; if you desire not to be whipped. […]
Behold life prevails on ship sails and up the horizon if one won’t look down For, new daylight brings distinct gust rapidly take it in and claim another win!
she wears pleasant flowers and bakes cakes made of flour she sings in the morning and my heart dance with her song
Home again It’s a full moonlight tonight. The evening air is modest. We are all sitting outside, just in front of the house, discussing the day’s work. Some lay, rolling on mats spread close to one another. In between the lead tale teller’s story, distracting dialogues transpire, though as whispers. Incessant noises made by insects […]
I came home yesterday and saw my dad’s favorite Oscar Wilde book of tales. The selfish giant is my best of them all; there’s a big lesson in it. I’ve applied a minor revision to the original story. The Selfish Giant Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and […]
The oak fought the wind and was broken; the willow bent when it must and survived. – Robert Jordan, The Fires of Heaven
Tut, tsi, tut, tsi, Do you think I was talking to myself? Haha, not in any way! I call on my sheep that way So we bond, using this unique code When they disperse over the pasture I sit to play my guitar, a song hallelujah Trembling fingers, dry in the noon sun, The flavour […]
A silent night from the inside A noisy one out in the wild Nighttime for cricket buzzing Lullaby against a sleepy wind
Let’s build a world where women don’t have to become violent just to be respected by men.
Tree leaves dance when they fall, trembling quietly Brown leaves, some dull in red and lighter green All manoeuvre in the same direction of the wind When bold leaves fall off the branches They twist and sail through the wind Some set up leisure, settling on the moist below Sailing off, noiselessly to other stream […]
What I Think of Poetry We’ve discussed many issues in the past, but in today’s Poets Corner, we will be talking about poems. Poems are known by other names, namely: verse, ballad, ode, dirge, elegy, passage, lyrics, songs, hymns, stanza, epic, haiku, and more. I will say poetry is a function of mood and situation. […]
A King Without A Crown I used to take on a noble character whenever it comes to acting among my peers. I remember performing King Nebuchadnezzar in a high school drama class. It was sport hearing my classmates address me as the king. Nebu – the short-lived nickname that followed after wasn’t much fun. Please […]
Evening lurks behind Even as sunset float ahead, It heralds the end of daylight So we watch it go in installments, We feel softer airs traverse Drifting with pure grace Upon our hair and coats It gets darker; nature’s notice We wonder what it meant To follow orange twilights As it glides down the horizon […]
A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of – Nelson Mandela Everyone has got a role to play in our society. Even the smallest can contribute to positive change. Often, people think that responsibility is […]
When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him – Ashanti proverb This excellent Ghanaian adage is self-explanatory. I’ll try to explain some salient points. Generally, it’s an African believe that a child who goes nearer to his father grow up acting and speaking like him. Indeed, this is […]
I champion good leadership, love, peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. That’s why so much of my stories and writing emphasis those virtues. I like to borrow a leaf from Mandela, who, after encountering great tribulation, did not adapt to his prosecutor’s ways. The short story below was copied from a friend’s Facebook timeline. I decided to […]
A tranquil evening is nature’s way Of welcoming a weary shepherd, Sundown – his thoughtful views heralds, Memories in which trees fiercely dance And soft grasses wait when birds fly home
This is folklore written a long time ago when I was a teenager. I still feel the mix of the honest voice of a boy who loves nature and a budding young writer, happy to engage his wits on imaginative adventures. This work wasn’t meant to be political in any way. But reflecting on it, […]
Fortune may rise with the sunlight For dawn, flourishing lovely dew, Presents a distinct day for a new start And to every man, equal odds to grow
One wakes to the call of Nature every day, with the sun ushering the day Huhuhu-Lalala-kiki, all sort of songs welcome the sun’s golden streaks Crickets quiz, wasps and bees buzz, snakes hiss away, the clock ticked Familiar sounds echo, strong wind rushing through the high tree lines Underneath the vegetation, silent waters flow, but […]
I like to think that the stars had seen it all—the beginning of life and the present. The stars are always up there, day and night, and they have seen a lot happen on earth. They have witnessed government regimes come and go; kingdoms rise and fall, and all we can ever imagine – known […]
This senseless ‘war’ is far from being over, but the Ethiopian Supreme Leader is declaring victory. As far as I know, war can take any twist. When one side thinks they have seen it all, the other side might just be preparing to unravel mayhem. Thanks to Abiy’s refusal to dialogue with those he described […]
Today I sit in a room clouded by darkness, With pain dominating my body system, Writing for a better tomorrow. As the butterflies flood my tummy, With the air breeze so sweet and calm. I can see beauty deep inside my eyes. Show me the sun that shines bright, Bright more than a bulb in […]
A walk away from men Silent songs on dry lips, A cold evening, guitar strapped behind, All explained, there a delighted quiet time
December Cold Once upon a cold night, Trees knew little peace When a strong wind swept by, Slippery was the grassy pathways Leading to the small village But many won’t risk it outside For the wind was growing to a storm “What do you make of this cold?” A grey-furred rabbit broke the silence His […]
Your pretty face reminds me of the sun, When she rose from the back of many hills Dragging her gold blanket before farms So if I am to paint this beautiful muse I would imagine sunrise over wheat fields And fast approaching evening when birds fly home
tumbleweeds I send Love is a waterfall with A river behind come back to me in the end
Gratitude is Life Every morning we wake up to the greatest gift we have: the gift of Life. Every living being on this beautiful planet, including you and me, is blessed with life. Life is a limited period we have been given on this planet to find and fulfill our purpose. The funny thing is […]
December: Happy New Month Hello Dear Friends, I’m delighted to be writing to you. We’ve made it to 2020’s last month – December. We’re resilient, and hope with faith kept us. First, let me congratulate everyone on making it this far. It’s a unique month, and I’m glad to see it. This short story below […]
Oke Iroegbu's Blog