Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Amuse: Pretty Tomatoes

    Sometimes I smirk at myself, They say I’m confused on what I feel, But if I gave a tomato stalk a hug Then maybe what they say is true I laugh at myself… When I arrest the kitchen Searching for raw tomatoes Which refused to grow in my garden I’m angry, don’t ask why, Not…

  • If you let me paint

    So if you let me paint the world, I would imagine the sunrise over wheat fields And fast approaching evening when birds fly home

  • Self Reflection 27: Laughter

    The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -Nicolas Chamfort

  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Published in 1958, its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, one of the first to receive global…

  • Fantasy: Dream with me

    Let’s lie on green fields Close your weary eyes Dream with me of a pretty land I want a tree by my side And a bunny out there too, Sunshine, cute clouds and blue skies Let the sun wear her garment And her warmth mild upon us Let tree leaves shade her light So I’m…

  • Prayer for the Earth

    Continue in prayers -Colossians 4.2 The night is colder than the last Dreams fly away like the egret But we won’t let go yet Now cold nights are strong Even when all seem wrong We run to faith to rest Heal us now, dear Lord, Let this evil storm pass, Let the raging storm wear…

  • What’s in a name?

    A name signifies a person, place, or thing. It may reflect why a person bears it. For instance, one can say Akpan, meaning the firstborn, or Judy, the mechanic. So a name can also serve as a trait, feature, or attribute. In African culture, people name their children after experiences, events, or situations they have…

  • The Slug and the Rose by David Thane Cornell

    Oh how I praise the hour When I was born a snail, Beneath a crimson flower Beside a garden pail. At first she didn’t notice me As I moved so slow, But with my pointed thinking cap We thought up a show. And what an audience I won On a summer morn, When she awoke,…

  • Butterfly

    See Mother Nature’s art See her paintings, black and white Behold gift of the rising sun, The wind a prize to be won So fly pet of the blue clouds … and friend of the wind Break forth from your cocoon Hit the silky walls wide open Fly away, you pretty butterfly Travel farther away,…

  • Happy Easter

    Image from Indian Express Let you be filled with Joy and Hope this Season. Seasons greetings.

  • Draw the sun

    Draw the sun and paint your dreams Believe in the little you do, hope for the best Connect to your mind, live your dream!

  • Sometimes by Robin Bliss

    Sometimes, When the sun has just set. The clouds still reflect colours, Orange and red glowing bright. Behind them the endless turquoise sky. I feel that I can see forever and ever. Touching the eternity within. Longing to fly on gossamer wings, Soaring gliding at my will. The happiness of eternity glows within, And I…

  • Dawn

    ** A slope of rounded hills Black against the horizon Threatening the sun with its fierce thrust With thin clouds streaking across the sky ** The clouds underbellies glow reddish hue The morning warmth fighting the heady moon Wide plains stretched, savannah grass paradise Sometimes lonely trees stand with the yellow grass Ancient, raw, the…

  • My Facebook Poll on Covid-19

    Recently I set up a pool for my Facebook friends. Though response was low I still got a reasonable answer. Out of 49 viewers/votes, 84% voted NO to the question on the image and 16% voted YES. I reached out to the YES voters to ask them for reasons for their choice. Some admitted they…

  • Amuse: Singina likes my tales

    “I remember your funny and lovely tales,” she yawned “You complete my day with those poems of yours!” At first I wasn’t sure of what I did right exactly, But as a shepherd I find pleasure writing about life, Telling of my travel, of my long days and how it ends Now, tomorrow I shall…

  • Irony: African Leadership and Covid-19

    I’ve tried to figure out why we have cases of both stupidity and shrewdness when it comes to the drama between voters and politicians. As one portray stupidity and the other shrewd, they exchange the baton afterwards. During election time African leaders share enticing gifts, which include cash and food stuff to voters in exchange…

  • Fade

    Nothing compares to speeches made by the eyes When fine memories tumble into low faint sighs Now see our glamour fade before the waking morning With the old tree, where we played sitting and grinning Mourning the demise of a union which might not be Or which was but could not be totally seen

  • On Covid-19 Vaccines by West Indamakin

    Author’s opinion, editted by oiroegbu.com Today Africa is slapped with Covid-19 vaccine testing because of her over dependence on the West for solutions to every challenge faced by the continent. African leaders deny their countries modern medical infrastructure like hospitals and adequate resources to support professionals to attain desired results and match what health practitioners…

  • Beautiful Day

    Is it not a beautiful day? From our places of comfort and seclusion, I trust everyone can get at least a warm and beautiful view of nature, of trees swinging in strong winds, of bird cries across the skies, and sunshine over quiet country or town. I’ll love to share your experiences over a bottle…

  • Even by Robin Bliss

    Even when I walk, In deaths dark shadow, And the sun is hidden, From my sight. Yes. When pestilence is near, And people panic afraid. Although fires rage. Or the darkest night, Has come upon me. When illness nears, And isolation is here, Languishing But. With you, my beloved, Close by my side. I will…

  • Lockdown by Greech Psalms mgms

    As I’ve watched the streets thru this glass wall.. Sadness envelops my world… Nobody walking on the streets … No jeepneys, buses and private cars busy moving around… No children playing in the park…. No more restaurants to dine in … No more shopping malls to buy something… No more bookstores selling my fave book…

  • When Leadership inspires

    Leadership is a great responsibility. It’s in no way a small feat because it involves handling other people’s issues. For the public to trust anyone with power and authority such a person must have earned it through evident charisma and selfless character. A leader is open minded, available to lead the way, and be able…

  • Poetry Challenge by Robin Bliss

    When the Moon Dies and the Wind Cries. April Oh! April what can you bring? The final blow;death to Summer? Even though it’s warm and dry. I know that this warmth is false. Ah! Fickle month filled with lies. For this warmth means death. Pretending that all is well. But! Soon the icy coldness comes,…

  • My thoughts on Love

    I love you, and I want you to know. We know that love is a feeling and a state of mind, desirous to be there for someone or see a person succeed or be better. This desire lead to kind acts and actions summarise it all. Yet love can be expressed verbally. Who needs to…

  • By Still Waters

    By still waters, happiness is found

  • Self Reflection 26: Be Kind

    Be generous with kind words and deeds.

  • Self Reflection 25: Diligence

    If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. _Martin…

  • That Leap of Faith by Arunav Barua

    Ever woke up scared, disoriented and not knowing where? Open your eyes and you’d see that the Sky’s still there Even the worst nightmare passes away with a little smile All that we need is a heart strong enough to withstand while The planet remains, its beauty intact, hidden in white pages That are real…

  • City Life by Robin N Bliss

    Tall,towering up so high Glass towers touch the sky Man made canyons concrete,stone There the wind funnels mourn n’moan People hurry push and shove No time here for thing like love Neon signs glowing bright They are such a colourful sight Buildings forming angles sharp Here and there,there is a park Cars and buses grind…

  • The sun may hide

    The sun may hide for a while But faith is our fortitude and citadel

  • Update on CoronaVirus in Africa

    This is heart wrenching, what began as a joke is gradually escalating. Nobody is laughing anymore. When I got the updates I knew that we still have a long way before calm. Closing state borders is not enough. African countries are finding it extremely difficult to handle the scourge with their poor economic status. Now…

  • Self Reflection 24: Be Strong, Be Yourself

    “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”_Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Nostalgia: Traveling memories

    I remember my first attempt at hunting. I was a little boy then and just arrived my hometown for holidays. It was fun and I was glad I went home. As a town boy I had little experience in hunting and general country life. Traveling home was a great way to get in touch with…

  • A kind poem

    I sit in my little space To watch the world spin, I watch kindness show How joy and hope is sown I consider the wind And her benevolent ways, How she spreads fertile seeds To lands far and unknown And realise as I strive to find happiness That other people’s joy matter too So when…

  • Smile for me

    Smile for me beautiful child Show me your happy face Let me find inner peace Because of your beautiful smile Do not be shy Let those lips part, Let your joy fill me with hope Let me see those little dimples And the lines of your face Smile for me pretty African child Let go…

  • Information on Covid-19 in Local Languages

    This is Umukwu, Amune Ovim in Isuikwuato. An uncle sent this video to me yesterday. I’m happy to see this happen. Now that information about the virus is spread through local languages, I expect to see some change in attitude and willingness to observe social distancing. The video is in Igbo language. I think the…

  • Self Reflection 23: Generosity

    Spare a coat, clothe the naked Spare a spoon, feed the hungry

  • We are a circle

    Dear friends, Want a WordPress site like this one? Then click here.

  • Blessed New Month to you

    *April 1, 2020. I’m grateful for life and for my family, friends and followers. I pray for a blessed and fruitful month for everyone and the healing of Earth. Love ❤️🖤💜💙💛💚

  • Movie: The Ghost and the Darkness

    As we observe our social distancing, I started seeing old favourite movies. I remember this historic film back in the days. Trust me, this is a thriller you will enjoy. Plot from Wikipedia. **** Plot: In 1898, Sir Robert Beaumont, the primary financier of a railroad project in Tsavo, Kenya, is furious because the project…

  • Rain!

    Guess what! Heaven’s tummy is rumbling! There’s some comfort from Heaven finally! It’s been hot since weekend, coupled with the Covid-19 issue, life has been solitary. Now it’s raining heavily outside! I’m seconds away from dancing in it but the lightning is frightening. I smell the wet dust. I’m sure mushrooms will visit tomorrow, haha.…

  • Leadership and Nigeria’s Covid-19 situation

    As of March 29, confirmed Covid-19 cases in Nigeria rose to 111 and counting. The sad reality is that African leaders are not doing enough to prevent the virus from spreading further. Also, the testing equipment and medical personnel are NOT enough should the disease escalate. Even so, some people doubt the existence of Covid-19.…

  • Remember 2

    Remember… My wrinkled lips were once your muse, The moonshine and joyful tears we shared Remember… My shaky hands once held you while we danced But will you forget my soul now my body is frail and old?

  • Need for an Afrocentric response to Covid-19

    I received this thoughtful anonymous write up and like to share it with everyone. **** Dear Writers, can you help share this to get to the top before it is too late? Is self-Isolation the best for Nigeria and Africa at the moment? Let’s look at its end result. When I listen to young people…

  • Self Reflection 22: Get Knowledge 2

    A lack of knowledge creates fear, seeking knowledge creates courage. NB: To reject something you know nothing about is ignorance.

  • I hear you whisper

    I hear you whisper in the morning, Waking to your tweet and joyful song, Lonely morning, seeds spread to the rising sun, Fields of tropical wheat sing with the mountain, And with you, beautiful birds; choir made in Heaven

  • Self Reflection 21: Faith 2

    Believing is seeing, not the other way round.

  • I choose Faith over Fear

    Just a few months ago, the world celebrated the new year. People, companies and countries nurtured aspirations and dreams, hoping for a happy year. But the advent of the virus brought fear and uncertainty. With what is going on, this pandemic may cause economic stress across the globe, particularly in Africa. I’m happy it’s Friday…

  • Self Reflection 20: Dream

    If you can dream it, you can do it _Walt Disney

  • Modern Chaos

    Untarred dusty roads, free wind beat Ancient hills hanging in the smog, While heaps of trash greet travelers Airy morning now, cheerful birds sing Smell of gutted fruits and vegetables, Markets swam with strange faces Human stench overwhelm the breeze At the distance, grasslands burn Hawks descend upon thick smoke As the fire lick the…