Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • 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 dances 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 Looking back on my nursery and primary school days, I would say I didn’t have much interest in the games provided for schoolkids. I was not too fond of the swing. I had no joy in rocking back and forth on a piece of…

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Two Poems: Fly and Babies by Peniel Gifted

    FLY Fly little bird Through this sky of whites I want to watch The green wings, flapping. Fly high, even higher Like the bar-headed goose Your bod- blithe As I kiss the Jasmine Hugging from the sky. BABIES With them I sit- The people of Rainbow raiment. They tune in Jillion tunes Sketching a heart…

  • Autumn

    Autumn plays a game of colours Warm are painted trees and land Sweet are songs from her lovely birds With those two, she gave benevolently

  • Muse: Be Kind

    Is it not said that sweet fragrances cling to the palms of those who distribute roses? Be Kind.

  • Opinion: Leadership and Hypocrisy

    No change at all Nothing changes here. Even the nationwide protest that claimed many young lives didn’t lead to substantial change. I wonder what could persuade our leaders if the deaths of protesters haven’t. Every time I travel through this blessed state, I see nothing new; it’s heartbreaking that amidst abundance, we have nothing to…

  • Poem – Little Carnival

    Long train of soldier ants Aboard the swerving tree Several spiky leaves float When swarms of bees And flies waltz in sunlight, Beautiful birds tweet This little carnival was about The milk from a leaking coconut

  • Quotes on Fear

    Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small. Ruth Gendler. FEAR is False Expression Appearing Real.

  • Sitting by Robin Bliss

    Sitting on this grassy knoll, Overlooking the vastness Of the vast open sea and A strip of aureate colored sand Hearing the gulls calling mournfully Seeing the breakers endlessly Crashing against the shore In the distance are islets Dark blue against the sky Beyond them, the boundless ocean Feeling quite relaxed and mellow Feeling at…

  • Muse: Stars within

    We dream of stars without, while a galaxy glitter within.

  • What is Love?

    Love is a tiny seed that grows silently and evolves into a tree. It’s green leaves, and strong branches give succor to all that run to its shelter. It’s kind and compassionate. Love knows no religion or tribe. It does not shame or get jealous. It dreams and, like birds, soar above all. It is…

  • Night Poem: Call

    Ever heard birds call out To the fast-falling night Across the glossy horizon As the setting sun sink? Ever waited for sunset To bring in pots, Take out warm mats And wait for moonlight? Slowly night falls here So ends the noisy day

  • Africa’s Deadliest Mammals

    Hippopotamuses have a deadly reputation. They can be huge, weighing up to 3,628 kilograms, and, though they live primarily on plants, they can be very aggressive. They are territorial and will fiercely protect their young. Hippos can use their enormous jaws to turn over small boats, which they mistake for crocodiles. With their sharp 30…

  • African Proverb: A Smooth Sea…

    A smooth sea does not make a skillful sailor. Background: The proverb is originally from Namibia. Significance: Life is like the sea: sometimes we get a gentle sea. But a peaceful sea never made a great sailor. Parents who always shield their child from challenging situations will, in the end, have an idiot of a…

  • Night Poem – Starry Night

    One night, two flasks, A room full of mild wind, A grey paw-licking cat, And a naughty parrot A story rising off the kettle As it goes on with its whistle Two tablespoons of sugar, Lettuce, beans, and cucumber, A very confused dinner Bat parade, Early night, coming cold A gust of breezy wind But…

  • Muse: Song in my Heart

    You are the song in my heart The moments I crave within

  • African Proverb: However black a cow is…

    However black a cow is, the milk is always white – Gambian Proverb Background Traditionally, Gambia is an agrarian society. The country which falls in a fertile valley keeps a lot of farm animals, cattle being the predominant livestock. Senegal borders the state, from the north down to the south. Senegambia, a short-lived confederation was…

  • Muse: Rendezvous

    I’ll wait, By the stream path Where road parts Gather beneath The baobab Where all life began

  • Hibiscus by Elizabeth Amarachukwu Okafor

    Red petals, green tan Three singing hornets And a happy, happy sun Hovering above the scent Marrying my words with yours is so good a hibiscus. Scenting every phrase with juice

  • Folklore: Tortoise and The Spirits 1

    Growing up Growing up was fun. School holidays took me to the countryside, where I was acquainted with folklore life. I have done strange but funny things like wearing a girl’s skirt to play with other children (that’s a story for another day), returning to the stream to bury a dead crab I killed, attempted…

  • Quote: Life Is A Circle

    Life is a circle, and stories take us all around it. © Oke Iroegbu

  • Colours of Nature

    Autumn is a second spring when every leaf becomes a flower.