Author: Oke Iroegbu

Reflection: Friendship

Friendship is a beautiful gift. True friendship drives away all sort of fear and loneliness. It’s even said in myths that trees feed each other through their roots. So there are benefits to networking and keeping true friends. Note that friendship is central to human survival and that humanity thrives better in community.

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Elegy to you, Peace

I remember your smiles dear sister, Your struggle to live in this pathetic world, Your last smile and when you slept in peace I glad that your pains are no more Though I miss you and we may live alone I still see tree leaves fall from the window side, Sitted on the lawns that… Continue reading Elegy to you, Peace

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Tungan Maje By Michelle Basil

Our relationship with family and friends, with our immediate environment and passion for others makes us human. Michelle Basil is my guest this beautiful and sunny morning. This is her story. Michelle believes that simple things in life matter. She is a lover of outdoors, sunshine and trees. Her favourite spot is Tungan Maje, the… Continue reading Tungan Maje By Michelle Basil

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Tales of the Wildwood: The Beginning

Let me tell you about this poetale which was before “Summer returns” and journey of the Ice King who traveled away from his love, the Great Mountain. Winter brought her cold blanket and all living things knew not what to make of her appearance. *** Once upon a Time It was winter And a night… Continue reading Tales of the Wildwood: The Beginning

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Tales of the Wild Woods: Summer time

When beautiful summer came… Upon the glades and vales of the wild woods The Mountain took her position and stood quietly by the forest side, Sniffing the sweet smell come from fresh growing flower shrubs Happy birds came flying home Followed by pretty insects and the boar herd The skies tinted with blue skirmish Sometimes… Continue reading Tales of the Wild Woods: Summer time

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I’m happy motherland!

I’m happy dear motherland, I’m happy! I’m happy to lay my head on your shoulders To sniff your wet hair that smells like cocoa butter! My feet is swift to run to the wild So I wash my feet on the stream’s slow tide I fright mambas and laugh at mating frogs All cold morning… Continue reading I’m happy motherland!

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Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

It is breezy here and I have a tale for the evening. Gather around, sit with me under this mango tree, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy this poetale… Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once in the animal kingdom There lived a Hen and a Cock and Their neighbors, the Rat and the Lizard One day the… Continue reading Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

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February Morning

Good morning everyone. I trust we are all good. It’s a new month. To me, this means a fresh start. In West Africa, we welcome every new day, week, month or year with good wishes. So today being the first of February, I want to wish a happy new month to my followers and subscribers.… Continue reading February Morning

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Published
Categorized as Poetry

Iyi Okoroafor

As I mentioned earlier, Nigeria is blessed with many water bodies. Chief among them is Niger and Benue rivers. There are small rivers like Cross and Argungu. Kainji Lake and Nigeria’s part of Lake Chad provide electric power and fish tourism respectively. In Igboland iyi is the name given to streams or rivers. Rivers are… Continue reading Iyi Okoroafor

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Lullaby

Evening breezes are swift lullaby From the distance Burning grasses sigh Bats, owls hover above Tiny insects welcome a starry night Crickets quiz themselves While the mantis scavenge for a bite Still this airy night is very young

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Thoughts on the State of Leadership in Africa

No one can fully explain why we – Africans, are so poor amid plenty. I will try to explain why. There’s a lot of greed and grief in African leadership. When leaders are greedy, citizens stagger in distress. We still don’t know how the dust hit us between the eyes. And while we researched answers,… Continue reading Thoughts on the State of Leadership in Africa

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The Waterfall: Sounds of Water

I stand to listen to you, sounds of water, When birds fly above the green shroud And small fish glide in the green current When the waterfall sing a proud song Mother Nature sings and wash her garments on rocks, Happy girls and boys wash and sang along Pigeons, egrets, partridges and wild ducks All… Continue reading The Waterfall: Sounds of Water

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Thoughts on Life 1

I believe that life goes beyond what we see and what we see teach us a lot about our existence. I have met people with black, brown, yellow and white hair. I see blue clouds, sometimes grey, other times white. I have seen big oceans, small rivers and little creeks, lived in big cities and… Continue reading Thoughts on Life 1

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Four Poems

(i.) The Moon The Moon is following me And with her light I see Wherever I walk she stalks; Behind my shadow she follows And how she sweeps the land Looking for me in the quiet clan (ii.) Village Square The nights dancing festival Brings all, big and small The farmer, the wine tapper The… Continue reading Four Poems

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Noisy Weekend

Ah. It’s a hot noon here. Dry harmattan wind made it even worse as it brought hot air. I’m back from work and quietly sitted, looking out the window. I could be less bored in a natural environment but all I see here are buildings, electricity poles and people. There are little or no trees… Continue reading Noisy Weekend

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Tropics

The taste of coconut oil is on my lips Sunset surf the evening wind The cloud is blue, tree leaves green The sand is warm, sea water cold Up the skies, birds fly away happy And on the beach crabs walk Out on the sea, blue whales horn Beauty is our tropical songs For her… Continue reading Tropics

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Amuse: Three Things

Three things still baffles me A crab, walking like an undecided drunk, a tip to the left And then like a call back to his senses, a step to his right A herd of goats and sheep, giving a familiar stare, One might think they knew him from somewhere An ant, very wise to store… Continue reading Amuse: Three Things

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Green

Green is the color of life,Of dew descent upon tree leavesAnd branches,Of forests blessed with floral thingsAnd many beings that fly on wingsAnd plumages

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Two Poems: By the Poolside and The Shepherd’s Muse

1. By the Poolside By the pool that stills my soul I watch the slow tide drift by My song goes high pitch When a catfish disturb my tranquillity 2. The Shepherd’s Muse Glad that the night brought pleasant airs The shepherd lay to recall the day’s stress Crickets chirp, the night is very young… Continue reading Two Poems: By the Poolside and The Shepherd’s Muse

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The King’s Messenger: Town Crier

Kokookoroko kokorokoro A greeting called from afar The children ran out excited As if this message was for them But then who knows? Heads up, listen attentively Komkom korookom Another beat rang out Pushing the mild hit Into the ears of even the heaviest village sleeper ‘Oh how cute, it is one of the King’s… Continue reading The King’s Messenger: Town Crier

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Bad phone

Hi guys! I’ve a bad phone and this is affecting my writing. I won’t be regular as usual. Later…

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My Soul Longs for Thee

My soul longs for thee, dear motherland To run the patched dusty red muds And to swim in the rivers crisscrossing all over you Let me climb the trees of your forests And drink from the shallow streams My soul longs to nibble the tender pumpkin seeds Freshly cut from hilly farms To dance with… Continue reading My Soul Longs for Thee

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Family is Energy

For more than a week, the waters of our creek Oko’pia have been chalky. Villagers say each time this happened, an animal (Atah – Alligator) is digging away at the source. I don’t know where the source is and honestly if I knew I wouldn’t go. 😐 Our farm lies further away from the village,… Continue reading Family is Energy

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Reflection

Fast falls the evening tide in Ovim. At this time of the day thick fog descend from hills surrounding our village. Tens of thousand incessant voices converse in low tones. I’m confused on which to listen to. Evenings must be a time of reflection for every creature. It’s even more exciting to sit among them… Continue reading Reflection

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Morning sun

Shine forth morning sun Make dew drop and disappear Paint the world gold And take all gloom away, From fields let farmers behold, From forgeries let smiths smile And from hamlets let our joy flow With every fine memory you bring

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Morning view of Uwaoma Hill

Exotic view of Ugwu Uwaoma! The pathway leads to Umukwu, my granny’s place. This morning I was privileged to pass through this ancient hill. Around the hill are ponds and streams. There are Catfish and other species in them. I will visit the farm later to collect some wood. I heard there’s a stream before… Continue reading Morning view of Uwaoma Hill

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Dust of Locust with Steven M Ross

Okechukwu Iroegbu: A dark patch I saw from afar On a day the doors were left ajar A falling mist upon earth Greysome; a sight I loath The sun had seen much For I, never seen such Steven M Ross: Sunlight still prevail Every emotion that you feel Like poetry is a bust So does… Continue reading Dust of Locust with Steven M Ross

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Happy New Year

Morning of 31 December: I helped process cassava harvested from our farm. You might notice I haven’t been regular since new year’s eve. It’s part of my duty to work in the farm when I travel home. Processing cassava is a hectic task and I tend to sleep off each night without writing or reading.… Continue reading Happy New Year

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Uwaoma Hill

There’s a hill standing against my path This lonely morning, part of the cold forest Birds sing in trees, when sunrise in the mist Green and brown grasses escort my twisting path

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Happiness

Happiness is a state of emotion of being joyful. Real happiness comes from the inside. It is a function of love, peace, contentment and gratitude. The breath we have is enough reason to keep us happy! Don’t forget that happiness is free. So stay happy for the simple things you see. Love ❤

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Umukwu’s Masquerades

I never knew today was Ekpo (masquerade) day in Umukwu, Ovim. I was having a little nap when the noisy drummers arrived with the masquerades. When I was growing up I witnessed many masquerade carnivals and took particular interest in Ebulu–ogu – the biggest and stout masquerade. They are known to be merciless and stubborn.… Continue reading Umukwu’s Masquerades

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Giant Moth

I met a fluffy looking insect In the cold early morning Resting by the door step Looking comely and pretty And I said “What a beauty!” He looked rude and saucy For he twisted to a corner When I spoke to him Kept mute and ignored Then I knew he was also proud Sunrise, lizards… Continue reading Giant Moth

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Back Home

This morning I and Jindu traveled back to our village. Thanks to the holidays we have enough time to explore and enjoy the quiet countryside. We took the 6.30AM bus and arrived 10.23AM. It wouldn’t take that long but for bad roads and many checkpoints. It is common for Governments to abandon capital projects here.… Continue reading Back Home

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Merry Christmas Eve

As we progress to the year’s end, remember to enjoy the people God has put in your life. Drop all forms of disagreements and grudges, be humble to serve others, let things you can’t control be and try to help people. Forgive and see things from different angles. Never forget to spend quality time with… Continue reading Merry Christmas Eve

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Christmas Stories 2

“Tonight the stars will guide us to the baby Take your cloaks, it will be a long journey” One magi summoned his excited companions It was dark but they prepare their camel train Cold airs spread the late evening mist As they marched through sand and dust Winds soared, it was darker up the clouds… Continue reading Christmas Stories 2

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