Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • 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.

  • I stand beautiful – Poetry

  • Deshauna Barber

    Resilience is key to success. A resilient person through series of failures, disappointments and tough experiences build character and important virtues like confidence, patience, and empathy. Watch Deshauna discuss how being resilient molded her into what she became today. She has a simple message for us: Never give up. 💚 Credit: Goalcast

  • Nairobi

    This is Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and most populated city. The city is also known as The Green City in the Sun and Safari is just a few kilometres ride away. There are museums and parks in the city. Uhuru Park and Nairobi Botanical Garden is an excellent place to relax. When you consider places to…

  • Plant A Tree by Sir David Attenborough

    If the heat bothers you plant a tree If the water bothers you plant a tree If you like fruits, plant a tree If you like birds, plant a tree And if you like life, plant many trees

  • Petition: Global Ban On Illegal Wildlife Trade

    The global trade of wild animals is cruel and puts our health and the world economy at risk from pandemics like COVID-19. Join in calling on African Governments to support and champion a global ban on the wildlife trade. Tell global leaders to act now to protect wildlife, our health, and the planet before it’s…

  • The Devoted Friend from Project Gutenberg

    One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure…

  • Story about the Tongue

    Once, a chief told one of his servants to bring him the best meat from the market. The servant brought him a tongue. The next day the chief told the servant to bring him the worst meat from the market. The servant brought a tongue again. “What?” the chief said. “When I ask for the…

  • Quote on Greatness

    “You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Whoever planted an Iroko tree — the greatest tree in the forest? You may collect all the Iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it…

  • Poetry – Safari

    We may do many things Out in the sunny African noon: Take a swim, gather fruits, Talk to nature or sing with it, Dance to live drum beats And eat skewered suya meat Anything that makes life fun And all that makes us nature bond We may have sun-flies on our trail Or pluck the…

  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    Chinua Achebe was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, Nigeria.”The sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.” — Chinua Achebe, THINGS FALL APARTABOUT THINGS FALL, APART THINGS FALL APART tells two overlappings, intertwining stories centered around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Igbo village in…

  • Thought on Compassion

    Always remember that we are considered human when we show kindness to all that Providence placed under our care, and when we love others as we are born compassionate beings.

  • Suicide – Poetry

    Failure defeats losers but inspires winners Is it not odd When life turns Blurry, vague, With memories of Disappointments, breakups, Death, and great failures? If pain greets the weary, Life like salt may lose its taste Instincts then question life: Its meaning and reason Daring it to find another In a world away from the…

  • Quote: Think and Act Differently

    Let’s think and act differently every day. Let’s spread some love – Oke Iroegbu.

  • Opinion: A Sitting Time Bomb

  • Igbo Proverb: Sound of The Bitter Cola

    Igbo: Ùda akùilu abùghí ùtō ya English: Bitter Cola doesn’t taste like its sound (literally). Background: Just like the name, bitter cola is a very bitter fruit! Sometimes I do wonder why it’s not called a ‘very bitter cola.’ Alongside the kola nut and garden egg, it is commonly used as a ‘welcome fruit’ in…

  • African Wonders 4: The Pharos of Alexandria

    The Pharos of Alexandria was a lighthouse completed in about 280 BC and was used to warn ships of the rocks surrounding the port of Alexandria, Egypt. The building measured over 110 metres to the top. During the day polished bronzed mirrors reflected the sunlight, and at night a fire burned that could be seen…

  • The Crow and The Rabbit

    A Crow was sitting on a tree Doing nothing all day. A small Rabbit saw the Crow, And asked him, ‘Can I also sit like you And do nothing all day long?’ The Crow answered: ‘Sure, why not.’ So, the Rabbit sat on the ground Below the Crow, and rested. All of a sudden a…

  • African Wonders 3: The Great Pyramid

    The Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt is both the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still around today. It was built for King Khufu who died in about 2465BC and is said to have taken thousands of men 20 years to construct. According to Herodotus, an Ancient Greek…

  • Sohana’s Little Poem

    She hears the sun cry. Only a sky full of pain. Her mind becomes crowded, and she remembers her country. Sohana penned these words for her #Rohingya friends. v/@unicefbd #TeamEurope #EUSolidarity #StrongerTogether https://t.co/ekPp1DBUd3

  • The Man Who Never Lied

    Hi, everyone! How was your day? I have a story to share. So, bring your seats and mats to the fireplace, listen attentively, and may the nightingales sing us a lullaby when we retire to bed. Once upon a time, there lived a wise man named Mamad. He never lied. All the people in the…

  • Muse: Town

    I came to town Where nights are cold And stray cats walk it, Where playing street children Kick oval leather around But return hungry to mothers, I see glittering stars Shine from afar Nothing lights night better I see men in huge cars Puff smoke into air Through engines and mouths I detest their folly…

  • Let me By Elizabeth Amarachukwu Okafor

    Let me lead you this way I found thorns with honey just for you Wishes I stroll you farther, for the intense of my instinct is all warming While along, I was going to tell you, But every passing sunrise, my words are rolled back to breathing you My fume is reluctant, craving you as…

  • African Wonders 2: Sahara Desert

    The Sahara Desert in North Africa is big – very big! It covers a third of the whole continent, measuring 8.6 million square kilometres. It is almost the same size as the USA. It is the largest hot desert in the world. The highest temperature ever recorded there was 58 °C. In a single day,…

  • African Wonders 1: Victoria Falls

    The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe earns the title of the biggest waterfall in the world. It is 1708 metres across and it drops between 90 and 107 metres into the Zambezi Gorge. An average of 9.2 million litres of water cascades over the edge of the falls every second at peak seasons. Because Victoria Falls…

  • Dear Politician

  • Three Colours of Love by Njabulo N

    Good evening. Today I will share with you THREE COLOURS OF L♡VE poem. In one’s lifetime one may experience only three kinds of love: 1. You love at a young age and let everything go down the drain because of stupid things 2. You fall in love and along the journey you get hurt, lied…

  • Distract me with love – Poetry

    Tell me an amusing story One that drives sorrows away Laugh at me or with me Sing a song, hum a slow lullaby Pull my ears and call me names Let’s ride on a train to Utopia Grab my hands let’s elope To fields wild as a writer’s mind Call my name, bring me back…

  • Thoughts – Poetry

    I’m memories away from you Yet you live just in my heart I look up the skies to see your face, And each star glitter with your smile I’m left with memories of us, so blessed It’s been 15 years already and I continue to miss your love and care. For DSc Nduka Iroegbu, my…

  • Sonnet: The Storm is Over

    How winds have howled! How all small life lay low, Trembling in the face of awesome pow’r!… Sonnet: The Storm is Over

  • The Village

    Once the sun rise, life regains its joy More birds glide up the pretty skies Fast rodents play in the shrub nearby As smoke rise from long chimneys Little children leave for school, Fathers spend the day in farms, Mothers gather materials for food Everyone has got a role to play Squirrels hide in tree…

  • Opinion: Eurasia & Nagorno-Karabakh 2

  • Two Poems: Nature Sings To Me and Once The Little Tiddlers by Peniel Gifted

    1. NATURE SINGS TO ME Nature sings to me In the most melodious tune of joy Tickling happiness into the shattered lonely me. Nature sings to me To make me feel like a king Tune of everlasting peace In my ears, it ring And truly, I know I’m really blessed. Nature sings to me And…

  • Soldier Ants

  • Nostalgia: Hills I Call Home

  • Lumberer’s Faith – Poetry

    Many walk this path, many never return the same Before sunset, the town gets filled-up with tired men Those who found providence in wood Returning hands weak and worn-out, Overtaken by life’s numerous good For faith waits to guide to paths Where hope as lush forests flourish

  • Opinion: Eurasia & Nagorno-Karabakh

  • Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

    On this day 60 year’s ago Nigeria got her independence. Things may not be right at the moment but our hope and faith will prevail. We shall rise above tribalism, intolerance, hatred and indiscipline. Let’s celebrate Nigeria, the giant of Africa with her beautiful images.

  • How to Paint like Van Gogh (Poetry) by David Thane Cornell

    Viewers will think it’s only a print when they view it, if you don’t put your whole body and mind into it. The sun in your head, a storm in your heart, is a good start. Now lie down for hours among sunflowers. Then, when the storm passes, don’t cut off your ear, paint this…

  • UNESCO ‘Sheroes’ Nigeria Competition

    Human rights and gender equality are gaining momentum, and this is the best time to get things right. So I submitted the piece below: She’s a lady and more, The mother of life And the heartbeat of nations, An innocent child by the street corner, Torn apart by her own society, Groomed in love and…

  • Morning Sun – Poetry

    Glittering morning sun, Woke to nature’s beauty, Warm scent of caked clay Leftover from night storm, To me life is series of moments; Made up of sounds and sights Cackling peacocks, blue skies, Green fields, huge waterfalls, A female goat calling to her kid, Group of laughing basket weaving girls, Three red headed lizards fighting,…

  • A Shepherd’s Poem

    Sun set slowly above the wood Shadows appear, shepherd dreams; Soft breeze upon evening tide, 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 countryside, Scent…