Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Africa Day

    The African Union acknowledged today being the 25th of May as Africa Day. Here are some images with important information about Africa.

  • The Richest Man

    No beauty shines brighter than a good heart When Bill Gates was still the richest man, somebody asked him if there was anyone richer than him. Bill Gates answered yes and started telling the story of a newspaper guy and his encounter with him. Gates said that while he was waiting for his flight, he…

  • Break The Silence by Njabulo N.

    Police Brutality Police brutality is a disaster. It’s quite unbearable to watch the ones we entrust with our lives and protection evolve into civil nightmares and agents of dismay. Sometimes it seems that people do not have rights anymore. While there are global protests against police brutality, little is done by government institutions to address…

  • Night Poem: Nightfall

    Don’t Overthink It My favourite time is nightfall. It is time I get to assess and summarise my daily activities and productivity. Here in rural and semi-urban Africa, it’s time for reflection and rest, even as people prepare to sleep. Sometimes the reason tales are told in the village square is to help people relax…

  • Lullaby: Down By The Riverside

    {Shepherd lore…} Down by the riverside, I wait for my flock to graze, I listen to lovely young lambs call out to their mothers, I wait for the sun to set and for the breezy evening to arrive, Thoughts of a warm bed, stacked with hay return to me, Of the night sky, which is…

  • The Story of Love by Arunav Barua

    It would be so easy to let go today What was held in the heart yesterday This bond that has found sure essence Of love that beguiles the mind, of sense… Without sense then, let this new flower bloom My heart besotted, wanting you in this room Where I tell you that your beauty sublime…

  • A Kind Charge

    Sweet fragrances cling to the hands of those who distribute roses What if you had the power to make the world better, To put a warm coat over someone’s shoulder Or give out polite words and beautiful flowers? Do not hesitate to be kind no matter what the world is turning to.

  • Night Poem: Your Love

    I’ll tell the world what Your love means to me… Your love is kind and the peace that steers my boat, It’s the song of the bass guitar playing in my heart when the beats stop, It’s golden sunrise and the joyful birds singing about its glamour, It’s the serenity of walking alone and being…

  • Moonlight

    I behold the nightfall across the dark blue clouds I watch evening carry desires of men waiting to unfold I enjoy the sensation of the imminent weekend Drums of merrymaking sound miles off, Cackling, singing, every bit of mirthful noise However, the shepherd sits to enjoy his time alone I hear deep-voiced frogs calling out…

  • Speak Up

    Silence is not always golden When it comes to caution and discipline, silence may be an adversary. Take, for example, seeing a kid who rides bicycles on the busy road and deciding not to warn him of the hazard. Also, consider not calling the police instead preferring to record or watch gang violence across the…

  • Night by Robin Bliss

    Softly the gentle night descends Slowly my quiet soul ascends One by one the sparkling lights appears Driving away all my daytime fears The deepness of the solemn night Sweeps away all traces of the light Then Luna shows its lustrous face The milky-way is draped like lace The incandescent peaceful moon rays Seemingly sets…

  • Humanity First

    The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life Birds up the trees There, up the trees, I saw several nests. I knew more were there because I could hear a multitude of birds chirping. Most of the nests were…

  • Sunset upon the river bend

    Sun set slowly above the wood Shadows appear, shepherd dreams; A soft breeze upon evening tide, The smell of sheep dung, Slices of malted bread, Songs from the wine inn, Situated by the river bend, Sober men drink their heart fill, Silent hills, retreating birds, Sally may sing her radio favourite, Something to celebrate our…

  • Rhyme: Pensive

    What shall we say Now at this delicate moment of May That we stand on this wet clay Watching the Sun leave the day? Now the leaves fall and fade In the streams, we quietly wade And to our past, we solemnly bade Welcoming the future which the Creator made The dark clouds grow and…

  • Dear Starry Night

    Dear starry night, This quiet and lonely friend of mine here comes once more my fable , passed to me by a surge of the wind , and the waves of the breezy ocean The stars whisper; Dream one more time, dear shepherd . Consider the lilies that grow by the riverside , for they…

  • Muse: Splendour

    The swift surge of the evening air Compares not to your amazing smile Your glittering teeth, the splendour of my soul

  • Love Poem: Remember

    Love poems weren’t my thing when I first attempted to write. In high school, my English literature teacher saw my war book manuscript, which I still have today (goodness, I have a way with books), and thought I could better write about love. I wasn’t into love, you know – an introvert, nervous in crowds,…

  • Loving You

    Loving you feels like the touch of the calm night breeze,Blowing on the open green fields where roses growLoving you feels like a voyage through the blue sea,Where dolphins, drift with the wind and whistle their songsLoving you will be a blissful dream come trueSuch that we journey together, through our imaginations

  • Which Way Nigeria?

    My Fatherland What a beautiful country Nigeria is. This glamorous country has got it all – rivers, deserts, rainforests, savannah, highlands, mountains, and every geographical feature you can think of. It is the most populated African nation, with most black people on earth. Nigeria is known as the ‘Giant of Africa’ – the cultural diversity…

  • Shadows

    What does it represent? I’ve always wanted to write a piece about shadows. Please note that for the poem below, I am referring to the shadows of man. I’m fascinated by their appearance and have always had many thoughts about them. In some cultures, shadows are considered sacred, while elsewhere they are seen as evil.…

  • Night Poem: Home

    Nightfall dreams A ride through moonshine Home wait for tales

  • Earth Day: Doing What Is Right

    Every day should be designated as Earth’s Day Indeed, I acknowledge that today and every other day should be proclaimed as Earth’s Day. Not just as the planet which harbours life, but as a reminder to treat it with more respect. There are so many ways to treat the earth right. But one thing is…

  • Remind me of April

    Let’s compare beauty to this month, April of pleasant skies & pretty flowers Obvious on benevolent blue clouds Broad with bright weather & gardens Where light & dark storms linger With glowing sunrise & peaceful dusk Painting images of hope from wands Of stars featuring as a result of the vision

  • Muse: Night Memories

    A silent evening The sun is asleep And the night awake With it, every creature of the dark Burrowing rats, squeaky insects, and birds Country, radio music, dark mists Sweet breeze, lightning, wilderness, Fading fire, lonely happy moment, Where all memories flock There’s a brewing rainstorm, Right from rumbling clouds, Shrieking crickets and night flies…

  • When A Poet Loves

    Poets are unique creatures Living in their playful minds They are facets of adventure Hewn to investigate life & why When poets fall in love They soar in their craft They prevail in fantasies Then lets life pace on art They travel to & fro the moon In their art, there is joy & pain…

  • African Proverb: On The Rat and The Lizard

    Igbo: Oke soro ngwere ma mmiri, mmiri guoro ngwere agagi ako oke English: When a rat swims with a lizard, his hairs won’t dry as the lizards. Origin: This proverb is widely used in Igbo land. The aged use this to instruct young people and children, mostly in folktales. Reptiles are good swimmers and can…

  • First Night Rain

    This night rain flatter my townShe sneaked up our curtainsAnd let her waves wrestle with themThe breeze blew out the candlelightsWhen the thunder howl in his deep voiceEach time the lightning appearsBe sure to wait for some rumblingYet the downpour clapping outsideJust by the dark and slippery balconyTries to let the pata-pata cover all sound…

  • Tales Of The Village Boy

    The Leopard Spirit 5 When I arrived home that evening, it seemed like the whole world was turned upside down. I felt my head swell as the bee stings and sharp roots hurt. By the side of my bamboo bed, Nene and her dog sat, staring at me. She held my hand and squeezed softly.…

  • My Life As A Poet By Njabulo N., Commentary by Oke I.

    My life as a poet, Has not been a sweet one, It has been tedious as the sea waves, With slithering moves like a snake, With a lot of punches more than a boxer, It is unpredictable, It can get you lost in wild thoughts. Words without sounds, Voices without people, Minds without hearts, Bones…

  • It’s Easter 2021

    May this season bring us all love, peace, and happiness. May we find joy through these turbulent times and in all we do and to show compassion to those who need help. May this season bring us hope and remind us how being godly can help man conquer all his troubles—a happy Easter celebration to…

  • Amuse: ‘Sunny’ April, the Good, Bad and Ugly

    Ah, sunny April, you remind me of many things. You remind me of love, awful weather, happy moments, and good food! The Good 🙂 It’s usually an all-weather month; the sun rises, but the next minute it’s raining heavily. With the coming rains and the dust left behind by the receding harmattan, there’s enough soil…

  • Quote on Faith

    Open your mouth daily and declare good things; declare that you are healthy, that you are strong, that you are rich, that depression is not for you and you will see lines fall in places with time. Wishing everyone a beautiful month in April.

  • Muse: Be Happy

    People are not happy because they win, they win because they are happy – Stargirl Never let an evening go Without a moment of smile Grin, beam, laugh out loud Treat yourself to something nice And be a king or a queen For every moment you can Let those stars shine, let noble muscles flex…

  • African Wonders 5: River Nile

    Egypt’s Nile river, life-giver. One fascinating thing about the African continent is its landscape. From the mountains of North Africa through the Sahara dunes, down to the forests and savannah of West, Central and Southern Africa, there are wonderful things to behold. The sunny climate and the glittering water bodies in Africa add extra flavour…

  • African Proverb: On ‘Disguising’ Lizards

    Igbo: Ngwere nile makpu àfọ n’ala, mana onweghị onye ma nke àfọ n’asa. English: When lizards lay on the ground, no one knows those who have a runny stomach. Origin: This is an Eastern Nigerian proverb. Some fraction of the Igbo nation uses it. The agama lizard just like their reptilian brethren are quadruplets and…

  • Muse: A Tree House Dream

    I hope that someday humanity fully understands that trees are our life. Trees are beautiful. Tree shades are my favorite hiding places. The hot noon sun makes me seek these shades, where I find extreme relaxation and comfort. It’s pretty delightful to sit under a group of trees on a sunny day, writing, reading, or…

  • The Virus called Racism

    Indeed no one deserves to be discriminated against based on race, ideologies, beliefs, and personality. Unfortunately, mankind and his civilization had conquered or are in the process of conquering all kinds of viruses except the greatest of them – racism. If love traveled to another land Then I saw it fly on the wings of…

  • Quotes on Resilience

    Fail big! That’s right! – Denzel Washington Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits – Robert Brault I never lose! I either win or learn! – Nelson Mandela When a man sticks to his dreams he will eventually meet with great success.…

  • Woman

    Dear woman, I smile when I recall what you depict, who you are and the peace you represent. Woman, life-giver A grand masterpiece of nature, Life bespoke of elegance, Of glamour, a living golden statue Fear what it could be When life has no she When we assume maybe Woman, lover She brings peace to…

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    It’s Mother’s Day in my local church, Methodist Church Nigeria. I had published this piece a year ago and here is a revised one. My words alone can’t express my warm feelings for mothers. I had been raised by amazing women who taught and still teach me in one way or another. This amazing gift…

  • The Taxi Driver

    Dear Friends, Good to see you again. I trust you are doing well. I’ve got a story that was sent to me by a friend on Whatsapp. Sadly, the story portrays reality, people measure progress and success with that of their friends, classmates, and relatives even with the limited information they have about them. I…

  • Night Poem: The Messenger and His Gong

    Kokookoroko kokorokoro A greeting calls from afar, Children ran out excited As if the message was for them But then, who knows? Heads up, let’s listen Kumkum korookom Another beat rings out Pushing the mild hit Into the ears of the heaviest village sleeper ‘Oh how cute, it is the King’s messenger’ ‘A tall and…

  • Happy International Women’s Day

    Women are the real architects in the society I’m pleased with the roles women play in bringing worlds together and for the peace and love they represent. I’m happy that the world is waking to the reality that women are significant and must be treated with care, respect, and affection. I’m optimistic to see more…

  • African Proverb: On the Child Strapped Behind The Mother

    Igbo: Nwata akwô na azú amaghī na ùzó di anya English: A child strapped to the back of the mother does not know the journey is far. Origin: The Igbo people of Southern Nigeria use this adage. In many societies, it’s prevalent to see mothers, young and old, strap their babies behind them, especially when…

  • Lullaby: Breezy Evening

    Good evening. Howdy? I love it when it’s evening. Why? Cos that’s when I find time to dream and reflect under the watchful eyes of Mother Nature. One way Providence rewards hard work is through good food and mild evening breezes. Indeed, I have had both and still enjoying one. So I’m going to give…

  • Reminiscence by Peniel Gifted

    Today, my wings remind me of Africa, of how she would curl Up her birdikins in lonely colours. My eyes running through the four Walls of her pigeonhole, her father’s Angels, wrapped in China Pink’s glitters. Africa made me, yes Africa made me Like the Adobe Lily in her holy Oasis Salty waters flow from…

  • Quote: Be Yourself

    Figuring out who you are is something nobody can do for you.

  • The Rainmaker’s Poem: Come Rainfall!

    Do you want to hear the rain howl in the wind? Then you must come to Africa Here the rainfall is a sport to children And a time to count numerous blessings But if you doubt this, I will make it pour! Come rainfall! Come, dear friend! Send this town scuttling for safety, Let the…

  • Africa Changed Me By Nikki Lockwood

    The open-air safari vehicle rattled along the golden dirt S-28 road, in Kruger National Park. As the wind whistled through the golden grass, I reached out my arm, letting the grass brush against my palm as I passed it by. Even though I was shaded by the canvas roof from the bright African sun, small…

  • Video: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Secret To Success

    Arnold’s success story taught that hope and resiliency are key to success. Big Fan, Big Lessons… I’m a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I love his wit, accent, movies, and general principles. As a growing kid, I recollect Arnold’s superb acting in Conan – The Barbarian and the mysticism portrayed in the film astonished me.…