Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Candlelight

    Dear candlelight Dance for me, throw your light Upon the darkness in this box Make these great shadows a hoax Fire your joyful flames up So you may read words my pen drop Gather your heat and strength Waltz with the wind, feel the warmth Dance again when you lick the air Mock me when…

  • A lovers poem

    Will you stare into my eyes when I say I missed you, To see the strings that hold my heart melt before your gaze And the fire in my soul dance for the joy of beholding you? Will you hold these tired hands and caress it As a skilled guitarist would with his instrument To…

  • How I see trees

    It’s grandeur how trees culture mushrooms, Gathering all little termites to themselves And providing their needs of shelter and food Their branches are playground for monkeys and flies, They shed leaves which serve as bed for worms below Birds nest and sing from the farthest of leaves, Squirrels hide and seek, throwing nuts at strangers…

  • Folklore: King Grisly Beard from Project Gutenberg

    A great king of a land far away in the East had a daughter who was very beautiful, but so proud, and haughty, and conceited, that none of the princes who came to ask her in marriage was good enough for her, and she only made sport of them. Once upon a time the king…

  • In Ovim 2

  • Haiku of the night 3

    Airy evening for all tree dwelling fellows Sparrows sing, Robins bass as crickets chirp Two happy lovers sit listening *** Hello everyone. I promised to post more about my hometown. I’m having issues uploading images, so I’ll do that once I’m back to town.

  • In Ovim

    I’m back to Ovim Isuikwuato, my hometown. It has been a long week for me, marking and grading students’ math exam. Coupled with the noisy neighbourhood, the stress nearly overwhelmed me. Thank God it’s Friday. Now far away from work and town’s hustle bustle, I can feel myself heal. The surrounding hills – notably Ugwu…

  • There is more to life by Miracle Kelechi

    I stumbled on this and think it is worth sharing. Thank you Miracle Kelechi for the reminder that there is more to life than worries.

  • A haiku of the night 2

    Soft wool, fluffy pillow, starry night Three fellows bidding a shepherd sleep Crickets sing from cracks in the wall

  • The Animal King

    Do you know why there is no king in the animal kingdom? Here is a story narrating why. I wrote this poetale a longtime ago. Have fun. Once upon a time In a land far away, Across seven rivers And seven hills Lived a clan of animals They knew no strife No envy, no rivalry…

  • Happy New Month, December 1 2019

    Ah. It’s December the first again. The Year’s last born month. 😊 Good morning everyone. I wish you all a great month and merry Christmas in advance! 😘

  • Reflecting on the Sunset

    There’s that feeling of nostalgia when the sun drifts away from the hamlets, sinking, sailing through the clouds like a golden phantom, spherical like a child’s playball. Sometimes when it’s hot we wish away the sun and when it’s cold we wish the sun’s heat could warm our land. It’s man’s nature to want balance…

  • Every man is King…

    In Africa it is believed that every man is a King (in his house). Here is an image of an African child having fun sitting on his throne of bricks.

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 4 (Headhunters 2)

    One of the men unsheathed his shiny machete while the others looked on. I stopped in my tracks, thinking wearily. Were they indeed, headhunters? Maybe they are hunting for slaves for, in those times, the slave trade was booming. If they were none of those, why would they be blocking my way with machetes? Strange…

  • The Baobab

    I tried drawing this evening and this is what I made. I call it the Baobab tree. The Baobab is an iconic African tree. It’s a symbol of the African Savannah that can survive in arid regions. The wood, barks, leaves, fruits and roots serve as food, drugs and raw materials for man and animals.…

  • Pirate ship by ‘Jindu Iroegbu

    ‘Jindu paints another image. This he identified as a pirate ship sailing on blue waters. There are birds enjoying the sea breeze. ‘Jindu likes The Pirates of the Caribbean and other sea faring movies, maybe this influenced this painting. Sometimes I wonder how it feels to go on a sea voyage. Thanks to ‘Jindu’s painting,…

  • The Witch’s Lair

    Once there was a traveler, weak and weary, Fatigued with the burden of travel and bag on his back, And many tiny painful stones hiding in his shoes He carried a bag which held a guitar for he could play But faint was he, clinging closely to his life, Hoping to see an inn or…

  • Visit Africa: Safari

    Safari is a term used for expeditions to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitats. It has a Swahili origin and it is commonly used in East Africa. You might want to consider Safari as a holiday option. There are beautiful things waiting for you to enjoy. The misty sunrise and magical sunset will…

  • Sunset captured by Robin Bliss

    Beautiful hues adorn the skies when Robin captured these images.

  • Night rains

    Darkened clouds bark with dogs When surging winds sweep through The hamlet and nearby forest Flying rain drops turn deep bass Blowing out the sticky candle light, Wrestling with tree branches, shaking window frames Twisting away, undressing tied curtains As the rain drops play on the glass Ghostly lightning snap across the skies Creating alien…

  • Amuse: Slow School Bus

    Where’s that slow school bus?

  • Destiny Community School, Zambia

    Doctors, accountants, lawyers… These are just some of the dreams of the students at Destiny Community School in Zambia. These underprivileged students love going to school. Help them continue their education. As you’ll see, they have bright hopes and dreams for their future. #GivingWay

  • Love

    Every child deserves to be loved. Children can be at their best selves when loved and would reciprocate this act while growing. So if love is lacking in the society, it may be that people failed in their first duty to love. A man who lacks love was once a child who knew no love!…

  • Say it now: for Yemeni children

    Say not your voice has no power, For we listened and heard you speak from radios, And you spoke of many things, that helped not dying souls They say humanity is not defined by guns nor skin But look at kids wallow in great pain for no reason Look not another way while we die…

  • African Proverbs 14

    Consider this proverb from Ethiopia; The mouse is silent while laboring, but when the baby is conceived, she cries.

  • Gratitude

    Gratitude reigns over might or gold, It is greater than reputation, profits sold It gives reverence to all, young and old And makes every thankful person bold

  • African Wildlife: Bongo

    Bongos might be the largest antelope in Africa, but they are very timid. They scare easily and will run away and hide when frightened.

  • Haiku: Evening tide

    Fast falls the evening tide, Kids play on tree branches Squirrels watch from holes

  • Nature’s simplicity

    Grey skies, morning wakes to roosters, Gold spreads across the cloudy horizon Morning was just Nature’s simple character

  • Friendship

    There’s always a companion for everyone. There’s someone to confide in and share issues of life with. Friendship is characterized by love, sympathy, kindness, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, altruism, mutual understanding, compassion, trust and ability to be oneself and to express one’s feelings.Even Africa’s wild agree that everybody needs a companion, a friend. Do you agree?…

  • Appreciation

    Good morning from West Africa. It’s Friday and a bright new day. I wish I can throw a poetry (blog) party! I’m very grateful to all my followers. I see your comments, likes and suggestions. Honestly, I’m happy knowing you are out there. It means a lot to me, Imeela! Let’s do more.

  • Hope

    Hope is a smile drawn across faces. How happy they are with hope in their hands! *** Image from Fiverr

  • Shepherd Lore

    Dusk is messenger of sunset, birds fly away, hills sink, Fireflies become touches to guide the Shepherd through hills and valleys; nothing troubles man and sheep more than the thought of warm wool and smell of hay

  • African Proverbs 13

    The moon and the stars are not above us, the Earth is on the other side of our feet. -Moroccan proverb

  • Happiness 3

    Do you know that Africans in general, Nigerians in particular are considered the happiest people on earth? Believe me, there are many things that can put a smile on your face in Africa. Happiness comes from the inside. Check out the image of a happy African girl.

  • Human – Animal Relationship Awareness Week

    The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the importance of human – animal relationships and highlight the benefits and variety of these special bond. Whether it’s a puppy, giraffe or a caterpillar, all creatures deserve our love and respect. How will you recognize the holiday? Raise awareness, pay extra attention to your…

  • African Proverbs 12

    Here’s from Bahumba people of Congo: To engage in conflict, one does not bring a knife that cuts but a needle that sews.

  • A haiku of the night

    Howls and barks from sad dogs, Full moon, cold grips the quiet night When silhouettes walk the lonely streets

  • African Proverbs 11

    This is a Bambara proverb: No matter how long a log stays in the water, it doesn’t become a crocodile.

  • Happiness 2

    Here is an image of happy African children riding their wheelbarrow. Happiness is free. 😊 Do you find joy in simple things?

  • Happiness

    A saying goes that for every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Also, there’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons. I learned that contentment grows happiness and joy bears no grudge, considers not mistakes or failures. Consider…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 3 (Headhunters 1)

    The next Eke day, I was sent to buy provisions for the family. Dada gave me £2 for food and medicine. The money was enough to buy things that will last for a week. The Eke market sold once in two weeks, and many people, traders, artisans, and technicians came from far and near to…

  • Dancing in the Rain

    Joy is dancing in the rain… 😊🤗🙃 Have you tried this before? #Nostalgia

  • Herd of Elephants

    A group of Elephants is called a herd. Elephants are herbivores and peaceful animals. Sometimes writers call them “Gentle Giants.” They are found all over Africa and are territorial. Elephants are social animals and love mud bathing. Most of their day is spent grazing. Their diet include barks, tree leaves and roots. Here’s an advice:…

  • Granny’s Compound by ‘Jindu Iroegbu

    Here’s another painting from ‘Jindu, my little brother. He’s amateur but I see talent. This one is named “Granny’s Compound.” He explains why: “Whenever we were at Granny’s place, we had fun and played under the trees. Granny’s place is small but her heart is big, she accepted everyone.” Granny’s Compound was a melting pot,…

  • Peace of Mind

    This image of an African child depicts peace of mind and contentment. What are your thoughts? #peace #contentment #joy #happiness

  • Nature: Best Vacation

    Nothing heals faster than Nature and this healing feeling is unexplainable. It’s something everyone should experience. Most vacations should include moving away from hustle bustle and noisy streets of familiarity and town. I can’t say what works for everyone but if you need inspiration or thinking space, I recommend travelling to the countryside, where serenity…

  • The Spotted Hyena

    I was amazed the first time I saw this animal. That was during a trip organized by my secondary school to Songhai Redemption Centre, near Owerri, Nigeria. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa’s most common large carnivore. They have excellent nighttime vision and hearing and usually bear litters of two to four cubs. Cubs…

  • Haiku: Tropical Fantasies

    Sun rays, sea breezes; gold and blue fantasies, Twilight muse from clouds when evenings approach Noisy monkeys play beside the raffia palm forest

  • A poem to my Childhood

    I like to watch the sunrise So early I rise to fly my kite Clouds are my playground, I look to the sun to see her smile And to the butterfly that dress in fine colors, I dug a pole for my little mast on the sand Waiting for the moon to rise again I…