Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Quotes on Teamwork

    “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

  • Harmattan Has Come!

    Harmattan arrived grandly With the smell of burning grass, Dry nostrils and painted faces Harmattan made land arid So mud is now waterproof, And men without a sense of smell The thick fog of smoke and dust Greet the land that once knew rain Speak of her cold art: dusty faces & feet

  • Muse: Love is Magical

    Love is a magical feeling Binding two or more souls Their hopes & impressions, Establishing trust & to heal

  • Story of Compassion: Life-giver

    A young woman got a job as a waiter in a restaurant. She was always happy and upbeat but after some months, she lost excitement. Something had gone wrong. On a particular day, there were lots of people in the restaurant and she had to serve people. They started murmuring and shouting at her, “When…

  • Story of Compassion: The Brick

    Dear Friends here is a story about compassion, shared by a close friend on Whatsapp. A young and successful executive was travelling down a neighbourhood street, in his new Jaguar. Suddenly, a brick smashed into his side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the car back to the spot where the brick had…

  • Morning Wakes

    Morning wakes in the sun Windy clouds, happy yawns, Up the hill a quiet town Misty paths, bird tunes, All, green forest’s tenants

  • Quotes and Lessons: Resilience

    You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ Joel Osteen. A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose. John Maxwell. I love the light for it shows me the way to…

  • A Shepherd’s Song

    Tree roots are my favorite seat, mushrooms are cushionsOccasionally my thoughts drown in the music of sheep and birdsLight-colored birds fly above me, up in the trees they gatherTo watch the meeting of white wool spread across the green grassSome bolder birds come down to join the massive banquet,Picking stray insects that fled the grass…

  • Let

    Let this morn, a huge favour grant; Let it be known: I cherished you first

  • Depression

    The English dictionary defined depression as a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future. Many people experience this daily. Depression sucks out the joy and life of an individual, even when the person is still living. Honestly, I think being sad is the youngest brother…

  • Reflection: Be Happy

    A Goat’s Stubborn Story A friend sent the picture above on WhatsApp. I was amused by the sight of goats pulling a wagon. Out of all quadruplets, stubborn goats were chosen to pull a cart. It seems more like a fairy tale. Well, my smiles gradually turned to thought when I realized that the goats…

  • Selflessness

    An old man once told me the story of how as a young man, his mother used to ask him: “What is the most important part of your body?” Through the years, he would guess what he thought was the correct answer. The first time, his answer was: “The ears.” The mother replied: “No, many…

  • I felt roses by Alexander Okoroji

    It was a dream, The deepest of it, The silent have it, But this moments stole it, I whisper a little, She knew, It was love, She felt it, I never wanted it back, I gave it, A shyly shaky witty love. Oh no, What if I dent the colours, I spoilt it with odours,…

  • Say You Believe Me

    The past won’t make me think less of us The worlds pain and hurts won’t either So I invented a formula to love you, To make you smile in several ways, Tell you the story of the tall giraffe And how she ate the sick moon half, Perhaps we can act the noisy two You,…

  • Night Poem: Nature Lamps

    I lived in rural southern Nigeria for a generous amount of time. Each time nightfall throws her pitch-black blanket over the horizon, I can’t help but wonder. I would stretch my eyes as far as they can go to see where the darkness ends, this ends with disappointments because no one can see or measure…

  • Isuikwuato Hills

  • Shepherdlore: Dreams

    Down, down the quiet valley, Where skies are always blue, and rivers rush over pebbles and birds sing all day long, lived a young, ruddy shepherd who knew the forest and made friends with her dwellers. His voice was kind, so were his hands. He believed in fairy tales and angels and having it all…

  • Love’s Memory

    For love’s memory I cherish this dose, This care, your beauty, Every time the sun rose I remember this feeling

  • Speak Positive

    In Africa, whatever you believe and yearn for, comes to you Dear friends, Let me distract you from all the bad news circling the globe. So I have written this just to remind you how awesome you are. So if you could just do me this favour; take a look at the mirror and tell…

  • Amuse: The Hill

    A few miles away, stood a hill Which the simple villagers revere It is said that all cold and wind Came from the foot of the hill And so the villagers admired it, If their day was cheerless and hot It is that someone angered it, Took a piss on roots by the hillside Or…

  • Igbo Proverbs

    Proverbs are sources of wisdom. They are the oil with which the Igbo eat their words. In this post, I wrote in Igbo, translated into English, and then gave its meaning. Sometime ago, I did a blog post on proverbs used in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Click here to view it.…

  • Quote: Helping Others

    Life’s support system is not one-laned; sometimes we need to be there for others too.

  • Haiku: Misty Moon

    Misty moon Twilight verse Wishes wait

  • Friendship 1

  • Family Is Everything

    Family is what we make it In Africa, family is everything. Family is not necessarily people related by blood. I know friends who have become and feel more like family to me. It’s all based on trust, unconditional love, and acceptance. That’s what family is. Family is a cushion and citadel. Family is a home…

  • Haiku: Bright Evening

    Bright evening Sparrows sing, Lovers listen

  • African Proverb: The River Route

    If the river route changes, the crocodile is obliged to follow – Proverb from Burkina Faso In today’s proverb, the crocodile can be likened to life and the river route to vicissitudes. Hence, when things change, for good or bad, life has to go on.

  • Night Poem: Dream Away

    Your voice wakes the wild nature in me When you sing the lyrics gladden my soul I adore those moments you look over your shoulder To catch my happy stare; as you dance away, laughing *** You dress like tulips that grow on the farmyard Fresh, delicate pink, lively as green bean pods Scenting the…

  • Wilderness in the Skies

    There’s wilderness in the skies, Embellished with many galaxies Of numerous twinkling stars— Cosmic jewelry, Playing peek-a-boo With folks down below. Once upon a time, A moment of thought On a journey called life.

  • Happiness

    The pursuit of happiness is a moral duty So what is happiness? Everyone has got a definition depending on their life’s viewpoint. Happiness is contentment. It’s bliss, joy, peace of mind, and hope. The pursuit of happiness is engraved in the US Declaration of Independence. Happiness is the sound of waterfalls. It’s the whistling of…

  • Life, A Walk In The Park

    Life is like a walk in a wooded green park, where strange, fine flowers and plants grow, and pests—rodents, bunnies, and insects—abound. Along the roadside are mistletoes, thorny roses, even cactuses, With so many harmless weed plants sprouting all about. They hurt if one touches them, and won’t If one lets them be. Rocks and…

  • Haiku: Silhouettes Walk

    Grim pups howl Cold full moon Silhouettes walk

  • Muse: Love

    Love is when we stare into the eyes of each other When we smile for no reason but each others warmth It gives me pleasure to love you, masoyina And I cherish the thought of it every sunset **** Masoyina*: Hausa language for my love.

  • African Myths

    Do you know that in Africa there are so many outrageous myths and beliefs? Mind you, this is not voodoo. Myths do exist. Most times, they are used to scare or refrain children and young adults from being rude, behaving wildly or disobeying their parents or elders. So let’s define a myth to get a…

  • Last November Rains

    When it’s time for the rain to journey away, the days turn gloomy and nights cold. In a few days, the rainy season will be over. We don’t know when, but the older folk say it’s almost time. Nowadays, it rains every evening. It starts with a sudden change in the weather, like a smile…

  • Fresh Start

    Waking sun reminds of onsetsFor the past is kept without,So light dew may bless the moment

  • Night Poem: Setting Sun

    Favourite pastime My favorite moment of the day is sunset. The golden rays of the setting sun reveal a lot to me: better is the end of something than its beginning. Watching the sun fall reminds me that my soul will remain an infant. I don’t want to get used to it. It heals a…

  • Life

    Life is like a mist Life is a precious gift, a blessing that we should never take for granted. Life is like a mist. The mist appears for a while and disappears forever. So in your thoughts, relive the moments that brought smiles to your face. Relive the hugs from the ones you love, the…

  • Muse: Dear Starry Night

    Dear starry night, Friend of the lonely shepherd Attend to these heartbeats So that the night aura be grand Play the silent music of night Chart a path for this heart Where flowery dreams sprout Sweet & memorable moments With the approaching twilight Permit these emotions to pause At the sunset golden gate Let it…

  • Onyinye (Gift)

    Keep It On Lately, I have tried to write more about love. So I decided to draw inspiration from my old work. I visited my archive, and there’s a lot of rusty but good stuff. I grin when I see my old writing and how it has changed over the past decade. It reflects my…

  • She Plays

  • Peace

    A tranquil evening is nature’s wayOf welcoming a weary shepherd,Sundown – his thoughtful views heralds,Memories in which trees fiercely danceAnd soft grasses wait where birds fly home.

  • Come Thunder (1967) by Christopher Okigbo

  • Chose Africa

    Africa!Land of quasa drumNature’s valid essence,The land of palm beer,Of enormous cascades Africa!Land of hills & valleysCourteous clans,A land of milk & honeyFlowing all about Africa!Land of pots & drinksA calabash of hot soupCheerful smiles & winksA merry couples night Africa!Cradle of civilization,Terrific folk & historyMother of all nationsHome to the first man My Africa!Land…

  • Night Poem: Vocal Nature

    Night Nature has a way of entertaining itself, you know. Some nocturnal insects and birds sing through the night, along with whistling pines and the stubborn wind. At times, the night can be annoying when buzzing insects bother sleepers. It can also let its musicians play lullabies for weary people as the rain falls and…

  • Love Quote

    One of the toughest things to say is ‘I love you,’ but it’s an expression that can heal broken hearts. Love someone today.

  • Woman

    The braids on your hairTypical of an African womanBlack and natural. Well fitStraight cheekbonesMixed into hair,Like a young gazelles face.Your nose is like the fine basketWhen you breathe, it’s a wonderSame with your walk on flowers When you dance, you smile,Showing teeth, unspoiledThe teeth: white and strongPerfect fitWhen you love, it is realYou’re black and…

  • Reflection: Faces

  • Nightfall in The Savannah

    Night falls behind the village fenceLast traces of day, shadows fadeTree lines turn grey and blackWhile the sky host a million stars Quiet evening, sound of waterHeard down the waterfalls, by the streamsideAnd from thickets bullfrogs wadeEnjoying the fresh and sweet breeze Tree branches play with the windSoft singing is heard from huts awayWhile hill…

  • Wisdom Secrets from the Ant

    If experience is the best teacher, must it be our own experience? Wise men stand out because of their willingness to learn from the experience of others. Wisdom is not a function of size, neither is it dependent on age or experience. Until one learns from one’s experience, he can’t develop wisdom. Wise men stand…