Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Love Poem: Memory

    For love’s memoryI cherish this dose,This care, your beauty,Every time the sun roseI remember this feeling

  • Pic: Herd of Elephants

    A herd of African Elephants

  • Quote on Being You

    When a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he is listening to the beat of a different drummer, let him dance to the music that he hears, however, measured or far apart. When you are dancing to a beat of a different drummer don’t expect people to understand you. Don’t expect it…

  • Night Poem: Love Messages

    I send love messages this windy twilightLet the breezes carry them fairly aloft

  • Speak Up

    Silence is not always golden When it comes to caution and discipline, silence can be an obstacle. For example, consider a kid riding a bike on a busy road and choosing not to warn him about the danger. Also, think about not calling the police, instead opting to record or observe gang violence in the…

  • My Brook – Oko’pia

    From home in quiet hamlets, I hear your surgeTelling stories when you pass through the roaring current,Through white clouds painted by sound sunlight,And greener footpaths, heading towards the waterfallsI sit on the banks, to hear rumours of the wild woods,Surrounding trees and happy birds blow me kisses,Farther off, children pick palm fruits and rocksSeeking a…

  • The Shepherd’s Song

    Tut, tsi, tsii, tuut, tsiiWill you think I was talking to myself?Haha, not in any way! I call to my sheep that waySo we bond, we use a special codeAnd when they spread over the grasslandI sit to play my guitar- singing HallelujahQuivering fingers, dry in the noon sun,Taste of dew on my lips, a…

  • Quote on Africa

    If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa – John Hemingway

  • Happy Stars

    Happy stars are outBeige dusk, moonlightOn pathways brightKept in the looming mistWindy evening gustBlow out on the hamletOverlooking hills & sunsetBrewer of legends & myths,A sleepy moment of twilightAnd fascinating one for that

  • African Proverb: On Hospitality

    A home that welcomes strangers will never lack food Hospitality is an act or service of welcoming, receiving, hosting or entertaining guests. It’s an attitude that portrays openness, respect, and generosity. There are always rewards for those who have good hearts. Is it not said blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that…

  • Sounds of African Drums

    I hear the sound of drumsVigorous beats across the land,Bird rhythms rise and fallFar away in the damp jungleWhere the grass hides allThe earth sang with the windInsect wings zither like guitarsSwimming fishes create ripples,Tiny circles of gentle musicAll melodies for the quiet earth!Far away in the damp forest!

  • Africa my Continent | Njabulo N.

    Africa my continent,The land of our ancestors,The home to beautiful nature and diverse species,That sings humming songs,Even on cold weathers and rainy seasons.Africa my continent,Africa my pride,The land of the black blood,Flowing down my veins,That irrigates all the beautiful fields.Africa my continent,Africa my land of learned youths,Knowledgeable generation,With a beautiful and bright future. Africa my…

  • She 2

    The storm made all darkShe stood under the rainDaring all, wind, lightningHer stars will still glitterMorning is not far away

  • Night Poem: Stars

    The cold night callsStars glow up the skiesPicturing many talesStories only told by sight,So the Shepherd feels allFrom his fluffy bed of wool

  • Evening

    A tranquil evening is nature’s way Of welcoming a weary shepherd, Sunset – thoughtful views herald, Memories where trees dance And soft grasses wait when birds fly home

  • For You

    For you, I will continue to loveWhen your hair falls by your side, I see your mouth pout, my heart leaps insideSo the sun sets sail, to days where our youth fade like falling tree leaves;To establish memories of us, our experiences, felt and unfelt to relive

  • Quote: Beautiful Day

    A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset – John Geiger

  • Night Rain

    Fresh air stirRaindrops fallHard roof drums

  • Sunset

    I wonder why you hide behind the hills and cloudsShying away from the approaching eveningLetting birds fly in echelon, a farewell callingTree reflections on the waters like ragsWhen bass voiced frogs resumed their songsHundreds of vocalists singing, in harmonyThe cream coloured clouds melt awayAs queer images draw across the skies,Shepherds call to sheep from the…

  • Quote on Grace

    Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” – Benjamin B. Warfield

  • Image: Strolling Elephants

  • Changing Skies

    We sang of a proud cloudOnce of love and benevolence,Rains when there is heartbreak in loversShines in the cold hands of the windAnd allows the green to shed the fields Now we live under a sky that changes apparitions when stirred

  • Fade

    Nothing compares to speeches made by the eyes,When memories tumble into faint sighsWhen this glamour fade before morningOn fallen tree leaves, where once we played,A reminder of sadness – the demise of a unionOne which was once but could not be seen

  • Muse: Night

    Daylight shrink offEvening breeze howlClouds are orangeWhen birds fly awayThe cold night is nigh

  • Muse: Rejoice (2)

    My heart rejoices, but why I can not say!The sun has risen, the land is goldenThe firmament is bright, blue and greyDews melt, trees dance, flowers openI rejoice for the lights which have come,For the love which I see all about me,For the little fine hamlet, I call homeI rejoice in her immense beauty So…

  • April 2022

    How quickly time passes! Flowers still grow in the dirt by the roadside. That reminds me of hope. Tree leaves fall, and new ones grow in their place. Now that’s true hope! So I would love to smell the flowers by the roadside and experience unconditional love again. Happy New Month everyone and don’t be…

  • After the War — May Wedderburn Cannan

    After the war perhaps I’ll sit againOut on the terrace where I sat with you,And see the changeless sky and hills beat blueAnd live an afternoon of summer through.

  • Folklore: The Goats and The Tortoise

    Two goats fought over a loaf of bread. The tortoise saw them and offers to resolve the issue. He tore the bread unevenly and because it’s uneven he takes a bite from one half. But the bread remained uneven. So he took another bite and continued until there was no more bread left. The goats…

  • Quote on Happiness

    If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else. – Chinese Proverb

  • Rainmaker’s Tale

    When the green neighbourhood dance to the call of the wild one. Dark are the skies; darker even are the clouds that stalk the rain. The wind came swift and slow; rushing at times as petals of flowers dance. To the music of the coming rain; to lullabies that made heads bounce. And to the…

  • Nne – Mother

    Nnem oma, my sweet motherMy best friend!Onyem, m ji eme onuDaada! Thinking of youGives me great joy!My first love, my creator!Ina enyem obi anuri,Ina akasim obi,I can not quantify this joyYou are my blessingNkechinyerem! *** Commentary: This was first published in 2019. I think everyone should appreciate their mothers. I grew up amid lovely women.…

  • Silhouette

    It is the sunsetSmiling up those hillsNothing left behindBut silhouettes of loveI stand before you, you before meSharing, staring into those blue eyes, While the sunsetQuietly behind us.

  • Night Poem: Feelings

    Starry nightWishes mutualLove feelings

  • Sounds of Rain

    Rooftops flyCurtains sailSounds of rain

  • In This Moment | Arunav Barua

    There’s a war raging, so we understand, or made toHere, there’s a child who goes to school without a shoeSaw a boy trying to collect garbage, no school for himDid you have your sumptuous breakfast? So, it’d seem That old lady who can’t walk straight, goes around aloneShe has never held a gadget, oh! Recharged…

  • Hope

    I heard the wind:‘Cry no more, child‘

  • The Poet & The Peasant | O’ Henry

    THE OTHER DAY a poet friend of mine, who has lived in close communication with nature all his life, wrote a poem and took it to an editor. It was a living pastoral, full of the genuine breath of the fields, the song of birds, and the pleasant chatter of trickling streams. When the poet…

  • Quote on Affection

    To the world you may be one person, but to one person you are the world.” — Unknown

  • Tale of a Moonless Night

    there’s no moon tonight,just littering galaxies,there’s pitch darknesson the path leading homeshadows grip the passerbywe are told night is no friend. this night of unusual aura,thoroughly cold and dreamy,of hills surrounded by mists,and a village amidst a relic,dreams are not far awaythe night sounds are lullaby. flickering lights come aliveunnatural solar lamps glintgreen forest and…

  • Africa No Filter & African Women in the Media Graduate Trainee

    Africa No Filter Here’s an opportunity for female African storytellers! Please if you know anyone, share this with them. The latest media grant by Africa No Filter will only fund women storytellers Women’s voices are still underrepresented in the media. To help close this gap, the latest Media Grants by Africa No Filter are aimed…

  • Night Poem: Bald Moon

    Misty tasteBald moonshineLonely silhouettes

  • Like Vs Love

    When you like a flower you pluck it, but when you love a flower, you water it – Japanese quote

  • Peace Not War

    It’s time all youth let older men (those clueless leaders) fight their wars themselves Maybe we wouldn’t have arrived at wars if enormous powers were not vested in one man. When older men declare war, it’s the youth that must fight and die. My heart goes out to every Ukrainian and Russian family, to everyone…

  • Mud | Robin Bliss

    There was black mud.Dirty, slimy, smelly mud. Some seeds landed in the mire.Brown ordinary looking seeds.Nothing special to look at. But! They germinated sending,Down roots into the slime.Soon shoots appeared,And leaves grew. Bright flowers appeared.Pink, lovely blooms.The mud was covered,With verdant leaves and,Beautiful colourful flowers. Without the mud there,Would have no flowers.May the beautiful blossoms,Of…

  • A Shepherd’s Grin

    Dear friends, this little message below is an invitation to smile. No matter what you’re going through, smile. I have won angry or unhappy hearts with a smile; we can win anything with it! A cold twilight of sortLost in quick thoughtsWhen black clouds sailAway with the day’s memoriesThe crickets and owls,Galaxies and moonshine,All gathered…

  • Another Tale of The Wild Woods

    When beautiful summer came… Upon the glades and vales of the wild woods The Mountain took her position and stood quietly by the forest side, Sniffing the sweet smell come from fresh growing flower shrubs Happy birds came flying home Followed by pretty insects and the boar herd The skies tinted with blue skirmish Sometimes…

  • Quote on Dreams

    Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly – Langston Hughes

  • When Night Is No Man’s Friend

    The dark know many a fury When from the back of hills Shadows, fog play on paths When the moon is weary And the cold grip of rebuff, Of howling, unholy laughter Frighten the quiet evening, Sending chills down spines The path is hidden in smog Throwing over the hamlet A blanket of fear and…

  • First Drop

    The first drop of moisture upon earthThe ground rejoice in tumbling lotsUltimate love, overwhelming sootheAs tiny drips, numerous puddles createAnd smell of wet clay wake with the dirt

  • Ukraine| Robin Bliss

    Rockets whizzing through the air.Filling people with despair.Bombs explode, and tanks roar.In this one, one sided war.Forcing people to submit.Is no victory, I’ll admit.Forced submission is no winner.Like a bully taking someone’s dinner.It’s time for peace, no more hate.War its self is out of date.