Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Short Story: True Beauty

    the true beauty of the word beauty is felt when we see things differently… One Word – Different Opinions Everyone has a different notion about beauty. To me, beauty is a function of the heart. Beauty is everything that makes someone or a thing wholly pleasing, attractive, or acceptable. Hence, beauty goes beyond the physical.…

  • Sunrise in Eswatini

    Do you notice how the sun’s golden blanket spread across the horizon? Life in rural Africa unhurriedly returns to its weekend chores. Breath in! Good morning Africa! 💚🌱

  • Joy

    Weeping may endure the night, joy comes in the morning let daybreak bring happiness, lookout and share this joyful self, there are many reasons to smile

  • Sunset in Eswatini

    sunset scene, dear fatherland home is within when gold spreads a treasured heart dreams of you

  • Agulu Crocodile Lake

    Thalassophobia Thalassophobia is the fear of water depths and water-dwelling creatures. If you watch National Geographic or any wildlife program on TV, you will agree that a hungry crocodile is brutal. I have had a personal experience myself, watching them display savagery during feeding time, in different zoological gardens. Since then I have made up…

  • Quotes on Kindness

    There’s so much power in love and compassion. The first part of healing is finding the courage to forgive. Let your message to the world be one of kindness and humanity. Love is the fuel that keeps the world glowing. Light the world.

  • Beyond The Mirror Called Self

    Look beyond the hurt and pain Let trust and love again Suffer the distress of another’s grief To break this mirror called self Put a foot on another’s shoe Learn what they know The globe hurries around in her loop For no man or belief will it pause or stop Like the globe; be quick…

  • Muse: Time

    Smiles bring back what belongs to the cheerful shepherd, The evening is her favourite moment when daylight fade

  • Seek

    Doors of opportunity are open to those who knock To discover a good idea, meet a special person, or develop a skill one must go searching. No one ever gets anything done doing nothing.

  • Night Poem: Cold

    timid nightfall mosquito symphonies a faint music down the country road receding rainfall wailing babies, a caravan homesick out in the immense cold drenched wall wet mattresses midnight ticks but all homeless struggle in the cold

  • Briar Rose from Project Gutenberg

    A king and queen once upon a time reigned in a country a great way off, where there were in those days fairies. Now, this king and queen had plenty of money, and plenty of fine clothes to wear, and plenty of good things to eat and drink, and a coach to ride out in…

  • Footprints

    Footprints print quiet images On soft sands where immaculate is white Images are sometimes blurred And other times widespread Grains of sand ingrained on tracks Distort a dent on the regular sand A track to memory and sands of time

  • Beauty by Mike Noxaura

    A baby cooing A star is going nova The smile of a bride The blush of a teenage boy The laughter, unafraid of a grandma The solid advice of a grandpa The wind in the trees A tiger on the hunt The smell of sage and sweetgrass burning in a sweat lodge The peyote and…

  • Green Shade

    Greenlight Perfect shade When trees Serve as citadels On rough days

  • The Spotted Hyena: Africa’s Strongest Teeth!

    Passion If I didn’t have a degree in finance or work in different humanitarian aid endeavours such as schools and human rights institutions, I would be a zoologist or a vet. This love for nature was captured in my nursery school report as a kid who loves playing with living objects. Then, I had a…

  • Reason

    There’s a reason that you are the one. When there are many motives and whatnot; in you, I found a reason to love again.

  • Africa’s First Story

    High up above the hills of Africa, the dark-winged clouds of the night were still folded above the village and surrounding valley. Man and the domestic animals that were his slept. But the antelope of the forest and the small fleet-footed gazelle were wide awake. In a short time, early morning dew descends from ancient…

  • For Haiti

    Modern civilization or mechanization is worthless without humane affection and love Beautiful Or Not What a beautiful morning. I wake to familiar bird songs. Every morning these cheerful birds sing their hearts out, welcoming everyone to a new day. Treelines are lit up with the rays of the rising sun. The melting dew collates at…

  • Sweet Lemons by Njabulo N.

    Twists You may agree that lemons are not as sweet as they look. Some of the species are not just sour but bitter. When life gave us lemons, we learned to make lemonade and every poet knows how to paint this well. Enjoy this piece straight from eSwatini. Sweet Lemons I wish I could use…

  • Daylight Aura

    daylight aura keen tantrums distant flyers the sky is alive with joy a positive bird moment where singing greet the blue skies, bright days wed birds and firmaments and a pleasant symphony waits for all this morn of frolic & awed spectators

  • Cheer For Love

    I cheer you to this drama; not Romeo’s, nor Juliet’s, One for everyone, under the full glare of the setting sun tide So stand aside, and let this new dance learned to unfold, Come beloved, allow this moment to bless our lands, Let me tell love stories and prove how love can set all free

  • Imageries Of The Fireside

    I love how the fire gives rise to dancing things; Flickering fire tongues lick the wood that sits astride, The odd form of musketeers and brave swordsmen Of likenesses behind the light walls, we watch plays Fierce kingdoms, which I may liken to Camelot With her chariots riding off to skirmish, Dire wolves in the…

  • Silhouettes

    Shadows clone for good or evil Like a hefty hoe tilling the soft soil Her shadow strikes too at things dead Under the moon’s watchful eyes this land, Shadows of branches on the ground Were green trees during the noon Taunt timid skies overall, shining on fair nuns But they become the dark spells in…

  • Happy International Youth Day

    This is one of my favorite days of the year—though, to be honest, every day should celebrate young people and the amazing work they’re doing to create a better future for themselves, their communities, and the world. Here’s to wish everyone, especially the youth, a happy celebration.

  • Cold Night

    The cold night is no man’s friend we are taught, But lovely are impressions of fireflies and stars drifting about And with this quiet time, an extremely pleasant twilight

  • Quote on Love

    Love is always there if you would look for it

  • Thank You

    For My Beloved Followers Okay, so I’m writing you this love letter. To you, who is worthy of love and every good thing. It’s rainy this evening; those kinds of pleasant times I let my imagination on an expedition. Luck on me, the mild wind lets it soar on her invisible wings. In a world…

  • Lullaby: Night Rain

    Light rain, mild breeze, magnificent shower, Like the faint drums that usher in the noble, Faded lightning, a plethora of tiny drops Those that drench the backyard every night

  • Dialogue With The Storyteller 4

    Otii/Oyoo & Assumed Folk Characters Storyteller: Otii! Audience: Oyoo!! Storyteller: Some Igbo communities start their folklore session in that manner. This could be the equivalent of Ifochakpi and would usually be repeated until the audience shouts the loudest. What I do know is that the ifo in ifochakpi means tale in the Igbo language. The…

  • Birthday: Why 8’s?

    My Special Day Again Wasn’t it just 365 days ago when I wrote a birthday message? How time flies! Last year, I spent my birthday trying to assess my achievements. I realized I haven’t done much with myself. Fortunately, I got a job that made me rethink my purpose. Through this job and the acquaintances…

  • Everybody Deserves Love

    Everybody deserves love Love transcends the color, Or the human figure we see, It’s not skin, hair, or wits So wherever it comes from Or wherever it is headed Don’t be afraid, just love Don’t let it fade, just love Not trying to beget not knowing For love is the true way of life

  • Beautiful Blossoms

    Beautiful August my favorite aura Large fruit trees blossoming around the countryside form a flower shelter, which also provides a spectacular view. The rains had gone for a break, stream and river levels recede. It’s August break. I noticed this morning, the petals were on the verge of blossoming. Now I must wait for handsome…

  • Morning Muse: Rising Sun

    The waking sun that comes every morning, shining upon the land where flowers bloom and food is harvested in its season, the air that we breathe in every moment embraces without a desire for anything in return. This is the love we are constantly receiving – love that never changes.

  • The Spider’s Tale and Song

    The Spider’s Tale Childhood classes taught a lesson on perseverance and diligence. This was a lesson that featured the little spider who never gave up and the overthrown king who learned to be resilient. I’ll retell the tale in simple words. Once there was a king who was ousted by his brother. He sat in…

  • Sonnet of The Day | William Wordsworth

    William Wordsworth Wordsworth is a fine English man whose poetic words are worth reading. Each time I read his poetry I think of him as a jockey of words. He is so elegant in his use of puns. His diction occurs so naturally that one can’t help but wonder. Below is a poem he composed…

  • I Heard The Waterfalls Sing

    I heard the garrulous waterfalls sing once, Drowning the noise of the forest in its wake She cascades down, drawing curtains of white waters, Pitching shadows behind the rocks that let it form I have seen the streams divide into two or three files, Each guarding its way through shiny stones and rocks, Creating a…

  • Live

    We assume that tomorrow will always be there None of us is promised tomorrow. So we have to decide what happens with our lives. We must choose what we react to, how we see the world and what our pain will be. Ignoring all superficial things people do is the first item in the healing…

  • Home

    No matter where you go don’t forget home We may fly, live far away, Far away Papa sits, watching TeeVee Far away, I look back, I crave home’s love Far away, Mama makes tasty dinner Far away, My little ones – all home in my heart I send all my heart and love home

  • August

    august is a beauty, an aura and energy like a robust apple on the calm sun ripe august is a feeling, craving for winning past songs, no regrets the verge of an onset

  • Friends: A Loop That Never Ends

    Friends are family we chose for ourselves Today is the International Day of Friendship and I’ll like to share a little thought. We all have friends and they may come in different forms; fellow men or pets such as a dog, cat, horse, etc. Friendship is an ancient tradition, dating back to the earliest times.…

  • Muse: Make You Smile

    Long before this nightfall, I’ll freestyle, just to see you smile.

  • Muse: Little Dancer

    Spread your palms, take my hands, Let’s break out from the circle, Hover about, see the morning smile, Tonight you will be my little dancer

  • Windy Music

    There uphill, music from the wind Arrive upon paths walked by the kind It’s a hymn for the simple-minded Piped in the day and late in the night The whistling wind conducts, From uphill the melody went Wandering with a rhythm so soft That the wild is attentive to it The dusk breeze is a…

  • A Lover’s Muse

    Love conquers all, everything Falling in love was least on my list. The world no longer was a dark place, having met someone who brought light to everything and everyone. Someone who lights the world with all beautiful hues. Until now, I keep wondering what I did to deserve you. Let’s keep this light and…

  • Anger

    Anger is one word shorter than danger Anger Anger is terrible. It leaves regret in its wake. Although it’s normal to get irritated by people’s actions and words, by situations, and even by trivial details, we should always be mindful of uncontrolled anger. I got this short story from a devotional booklet. The story demonstrates…

  • ShepherdLore: Music of Nature

    Tree roots are favorite chairs, the velvety mushrooms cushions, My thoughts drown in the music of nature, the sheep and birds

  • Let The Fireworks Roar

    Colorful fireworks rise and roar, Splendid ribbons fall and cheer, We stand astounded To symphonies of festivities and The awe of love proclaimed

  • Dialogue With The Storyteller 3

    Another Igbo Folktale Introit Storyteller: Ifochakpi! Audience: Waa!! Storyteller: Enwere akuko m ga akoro unu (There’s a tale I wish to tell you all) Audience: Koro anyi ka obi di anyi mma! (Tell us, so that we can be happy!) Storyteller: I welcome you all again. The Igbo folklore tradition allows each storytelling session to…

  • Trees are Nests

    Trees are nests, Leafy homes, Greened and lawn

  • The Golden Bird From Project Gutenberg

    A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener…