Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Quote on Respect 1

    Let’s build a world where women don’t have to become violent just to be respected by men.

  • Poem: When Tree Leaves Fall

    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 Is Poem?

    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.…

  • Reflection: A King Without A Crown

    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…

  • Love Poem: Twilight

    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…

  • Reflection on Responsibility

    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…

  • Ashanti Proverb: When You Walk In Your Father’s Path

    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…

  • The Journey Is Short: Do Good

    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…

  • Night Poem: Peace

    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

  • Commentary on A Tale of the Wild Woods

    This is folklore written by Oscar Wilde, and one that I enjoyed as a teenager. I 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…

  • Muse: Sunrise

    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

  • My Hometown

    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…

  • Old Poem

    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…

  • Opinion: Ethiopia and Tigray 2

    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…

  • Someone There by Njabulo N.

    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…

  • Night Poem: Tranquility

    A walk away from men Silent songs on dry lips, A cold evening, guitar strapped behind, All explained, there a delighted quiet time

  • Amuse: December Cold, The Hill, and Two Foxes

    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…

  • Love Poem: Remind me of the sun

    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

  • Love poem: Tumbleweeds by Tracy Windisch-Mason

    tumbleweeds I send Love is a waterfall with A river behind come back to me in the end

  • Video: What Is Life By Schneider Dean

    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…

  • True Happiness

    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…

  • Nature: Hope

    We have seen vegetation crumble; Even the greens of Sahara go south Towing with it our life-giving earth Spreading tentacles of drought Upon man who knows only profits I walked ahead of time Beyond those warm blankets Of trees and sunny forest, Listening to Nature speak With hope, I gladly seek

  • Muse: Memories

    Memories, precious and pure Like hope on a beautiful promise

  • The Rainmaker

    When the green neighborhood dance to the call of the wild, one Dark are the skies; darker even are the clouds which 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…

  • Inspiration by Franklin Onuoha

    In this lovely piece from Franklin, my Nigerian friend, I could hear the echo of my voice. Well written poem. The sound of hooting owls The chirping of the crickets at night The calm breeze that massages my skin after a hectic day The acrid smell of harmattan The torrents of rain that make musicals…

  • Night Poem: Shining Stars

    Joy emerges as the cold evening mist, Love as glowing stars across the firmaments Dressing the night with glittering dots To impress on all pleasant moments

  • Country Profile: South Sudan (Soudan du Sud)

    Africa’s Youngest Nation The Republic of South Sudan got its independence in 2011, making it the most recent sovereign nation globally. It was formerly an autonomous region in the Republic of Sudan. Shortly a war broke out within the country as rival power groups battled the government. In 2011 it was reported that South Sudan…

  • Folklore: The Tortoise and the Rabbit

    The Mischievous Tortoise Do you ever wonder why Nnabe, the Tortoise, is always portrayed as a mischievous personality in tales? You are not alone. Sometimes I try to understand the nature of this fictitious character, how he reasons, and why he acts the way he does. I even ask why this animal was picked to…

  • Quote on Family 3

    Sometimes things change, but we all begin and end with the family.

  • Quote on Family 2

    Never allow hate in your family because hate can build up in a child’s heart until it swallows them whole and leaves them empty inside.

  • Quote on Family

    Learning from mistakes together is how a family works.

  • The Fruits of Forgiveness are exceedingly sweet

    Without forgiveness, love is not true Letting go of the past is one of the hardest things to do in life. Forgiving people for their wrongdoings are even more challenging. But what makes forgiveness such a fundamental virtue? For any man to go far in life, he has to inculcate the habit of forgiving. Indeed,…

  • Night Poem: Shepherd’s Song

    Shiny stars, still evening, Smooth, breezy companion, A shepherd’s lonely hymn

  • African Proverb: Evil Company

    If you choose to make friends with a pig, you must be prepared to live in the mud. The kind of friends we keep affect us and sometimes we are not aware of this. The pig here represents a dirty animal that loves to wallow in the mud. This is an anglicised version of the…

  • Brenda Fassie

    Video of Wedding Day By Brenda Fassie – my favorite pick. Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was a South African anti-apartheid Afropop singer, songwriter, dancer, and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she was sometimes described as the “Queen of African Pop,” the “Madonna of The Townships,” or The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned…

  • Quote: On Happiness

    Happiness is contagious; spread it. It is a direction and not a place. Spread it as you go. 🙂

  • Video: Pangolin Conservation in Nigeria

    Meet the bold Nigerians who are fighting to protect the worlds most trafficked mammal. Credit: Natgeowild

  • Wild Woods Tale: Summer Returns

    When summer finally came, a lot had changed The last snow melted, and the sad land woke Grasses started growing, covering the outer earth So those who burrow scrambled out from the dust Soft airs and tidings surround the mountainside Sending sweet emissaries around the valley below Vines, myrrhs, mistletoes, and pines sprout happily In…

  • Image: Hope

    Dreams do come to pass; we only need to believe to see. #Hope #Resilience #Believe #Faith

  • A Night Walk in The Forest by Robin Bliss

    The darkness gently enfolds us Rugged up against the cold air “Stay together”, says our leader “We don’t want anyone to get lost” Entering the dark mysterious woodland Torches lighting up the way “Look over to your right”, she instructs Her beam focuses on a bird Asleep perched high up. A Boobook Owl flies silently…

  • Shine Forth

    Let your light shine; the whole of providence is cheering. It’s your day to excel, to exceed, and outshine your past achievements. Arise and Shine! 🌄🌻

  • Put The Glass Down

    It hurts to let go, but sometimes it hurts more to hold on. To heal your wound, you need to stop touching it. A professor entered his classroom with a glass of water. He raised the glass of water. Everyone in the room expected the half entry or half full question. Instead, to everyone’s surprise,…

  • Love Poem – How Lucky I’m

    The fragrance of undying love – Sweet perfume from the lavender I sit, I admire you from the fireside, I realize how lucky I am to have you

  • Night Poem: Dark Night

    Thick fog lay siege, blinding the stars, Now clouds black with looming night Grant the moon to lead the journey As the soft wind sang a languid tune

  • I Gained My Freedom

    Freedom sometimes does not come free. Gained My Right of Way Reminiscing on my primary school days, I would say I didn’t have much interest in the games provided for school kids. I was not too fond of the swing. I had no joy in rocking back and forth on a piece of the metal…

  • Nature Poem: The Butterfly

    Sunflower rests under the tree’s shade, Blushing over the fate of a butterfly, With strange but colourful stripes, One that kept all nature wondering.

  • Night Poem: Sounds of Water

    Your love is a balm to my heart Like an elixir, it refreshes my spirit For each time I lay beside waters quiet, Streaks of golden sunlight retreat When sounds of water splash – a dulcet

  • Opinion: Ethiopia and Tigray

    I believe dialogue is the best way forward. Let me start by saying that no government, because of her privilege of power, should exercise extreme force, especially where there are options for dialogue. I remember reading about the events that took place before the Nigerian war. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Biafran authorities were…

  • Africa’s Strongest: The African Dung Beetle

    Prepare to be amazed by what you are about to read. I decided to write about this excellent weightlifting beetle because of the sheer strength it demonstrates. Yeah, the dung beetle feeds off other animal waste, and it’s common to see them roll it across the countryside with such force that one can’t help but…

  • Video: Responsible Tourism

    We must educate everyone on responsible tourism.