Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Humble Home by ‘Jindu Iroegbu

    I came home to see my little brother’s drawing. He tries his hands on drawing and painting, and the least I can do is to encourage him. His work is littered all around the house, mostly in the living room. As you can see he had included his name in this drawing. 😀 This is…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit (Dibia Ndem)

    When Dibia Ndem left our home that evening, I wanted to follow him outside my father’s compound. I wanted answers; I needed to ask how he knew it was my leopard that destroyed the boar that almost wrecked my Uncle’s farm. Yesterday’s nightmare was the worst I ever had. I dreamt of a long fight…

  • Wild Colors

    Sweet and wonderful are smell of dry air in the breezy and solitary open LIke that of bread soaked in margarine, quasi burned in the oven The taste is remindful of romantic acquaintances hewn to fields of Roses Stretched afar, to where the lands open to other lands of colors and scents The fineness of…

  • Sunset in Ovim

    Yesterday I trekked to the market square. During my lonely trek I met old friends and distant relatives. As noted before, in Africa we place much value on family and friends. My trek was short, because the market was just around the corner. I bought two pieces of dried meat from a vendor, one for…

  • A poem for Ovim, Isuikwuato

    Morning wakes with the sun Windy clouds, happy yawns Quiet town, down the hill Misty paths, birds sing With the forest’s inhabitantsTall palm trees stand guard From their branches, birds tweet Squirrels look down in fright or excitement Dropping oily snacks on trespassers Forest pathways are hijacked by monkeys Protesting when a group of boys…

  • Shameless Love by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    They say I love you, Yeah I do, I’m shameless about it, I’m weak to confront you, Your very appetites, As I find no alternative. I’m shamelessly in love, The disease is not new, Probably there’s a dew, We only had but a few, I’m the Judas in the twelve. Some probably won’t get it,…

  • African Proverbs 8

    What do you make of this Ovambo saying? A Parasite can not live alone.

  • Weirdest Snacks in Africa

    Here are some of the weirdest snacks you can find in Africa. Palm Grubs: Yuck, I know right? Some of the grubs can grow big enough to fit in one mouthful. The grubs are found in dead and decaying palm and raffia trees. Some people eat the grubs alive but to be on a safer…

  • Anunebe: The Masquerade as reported by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    The moment is almost here as people in the village are all dressed to watch the great Anunebe perform in the village square, one occasion that is performed once in a year, and this makes the event one of the greatest anticipated events in Ibeme, Isiala-Mbano, a small village in Imo State, Eastern part of…

  • Shepherd’s poem

    From bed of wool, sound of settling sheep bemused him Far up the night sky, stars want and rain was on her way These three things blessed the Shepherd’s thoughts and rest

  • Jehovah: My Beautiful Dream

    I remember days when I was lost and hopeless Was all alone, I was helpless I didn’t care about it so much For all I had was a dream And it was beautiful… I realised You were standing there Even when I thought no one was around Now I understand You came as a Dream,…

  • Initiated Relationship by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    I was drunk last night, Thinking about your very words, How this our love is an initiation, And not a relationship, What I call, inspired spirituality. You accosted the actions, While prolonging your decisions, You never truly loved me, Will it be best I say; You rather used me, I have heard men are scum,…

  • Muse: Homecoming

    Nada o! O nada o! Nada o! I’m back o! Kuje kusanar, go and tell them! Bring my jug, bring me kola, bring a mat, For justice will be done to Mama’s soup pot I must lay under the mango tree tonight To watch the stars glitter and hear the crickets sing Ah… I’m glad!…

  • Haiku: Tides

    Sunshine, blue skies and approaching tide Brown crabs crawl away, walking sideways Amused egrets follow, escorting their trail

  • Haiku of the Morning

    See these sparkle of gold Brew bubbles across the clouds, While they sail away to other lands

  • African Proverbs 7

    The bush in which one hides has eyes – Gusii Proverb. Explanation: There’s actually no hiding place for anyone.

  • Don’t Cry

    Now listen dear child, listen attentively To the forested hills, for they are your ancient brothers To the birds, they carry gossip and might have answers Watch the sunrise and sunset from tree branches Search the valleys too, let your eyes behold our land Feel the flowers with your finger tips Smell the caking dust…

  • Rainfall, Drummer of the Year!

    Nothing compares to the feeling you bring, With queer beats, you spice up Summer, Singing as in songfests with the Thunder!

  • Three Poems: The Waterfalls, Peace and Your Love

    The Waterfalls: I tell the trees of your sounds and they are jealous When you fall, birds and the wild stop to listen, To hear Nature sing while she wash her garment in your mist Peace: Bird songs, butterflies, sun rays and peace, All are fruits from the green forest, Nature’s providence to mankind Your…

  • Muse: Swift Stream

    The blue stream flow swift Three patient toads sit aghast Waiting for the current to pass

  • The Baobab

    This is for you humble castle, beautiful succour and living citadel, You whose roots are soft seats; you who shelter ants, mushrooms and birds, Your leaves are shield from rain, you are a friend to all that may come *** As we read through, let’s remember to play our role in protecting Earth’s vegetation and…

  • Haiku: Smiles

    Smiles are colorful dresses, Bright are the clouds that sail by, Brighter are lips that wear loving smiles *** Image by Botlhale Nyandeni

  • African Proverbs 6

    Every Dog is a Lion in his own gate. -Ghanaian Proverb Explanation: This metaphorical statement translates to every man is King in his own house.

  • Haiku: Sunset

    Grey shades fall on the land, fast travels the sun through the clouds Songs of slumber, dog barks, the airy evening’s last memories, Time to wake all night creatures, crawling or walking

  • African Proverbs 5

    He who shows himself at every place will someday look for a place to hide. Explanation: Anyone who is always available to everyone will find it hard to keep a private life.

  • Kedike by Chidimma

    This is a nice song with (Igbo) African beats. Learn Igbo language and culture here.

  • Haiku: Smile Beautiful Flower

    Smile beautiful flowerLet your tissues and petalsBring warmth to all that see

  • African Proverbs 4

    Here’s an Igbo proverb made popular by Chinua Achebe: When Elephants fight the grass suffers. There’s a Swahili version of it: When two Elephants fight the grass gets hurt. Explanation: For instance, when a child’s parents fight or separate, the child suffers most. Also when there’s war or strife in a country the poor masses…

  • My Muse

    I love your dimples, joyful grace on your smiles It stole my stare each time I looked at your face, Night falls herald day’s end and our retirement But for the Sun’s slumber we gladly wait Evening is timid, passing through the horizon, The setting sun took her gold from morning There’s a fire made…

  • African Proverbs 3

    Consider this proverb for the day: What has horns must not be hid in a sack. – Zulu (South African) Proverb Explanation: Something’s are not meant to said or done in the public. This is an African version of the English saying “Don’t wash dirty linen outside”.

  • The Frogs and the Well

    Look at this fable and reflect why we should think twice before acting. Two frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up and they left it to look for another place to live in, for frogs like damp places of they can get them. By and by they came…

  • African Proverbs 2

    Here’s a Guinean Proverb: Knowledge of leadership is not plucked from the air, one is born with it. Explanation: Selflessness, honesty, compassion and every other qualities of Leadership are groomed from good home training, personal decisions to live upright and treat others right.

  • African Myths 4

    It’s a good and rainy evening. Welcome, again to another episode of African Myths. I will take you through some of the craziest things you might have read today. Have fun. As a growing kid we were told not to walk behind our elderly ones. If you do, you will see evil spirits and they…

  • African Proverbs

    Look at this proverb, what do you make of it? Not everyone who chased the Zebra caught it, but he who caught it chased it. – South African Proverb Explanation: Sometimes what we want may not come the way we want it or we may not even achieve that! But then, to attempt to achieve…

  • I Felt Roses by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    It was a dream, The deepest of it, The silent have it, But this moments stole it, I whisper a little, She knew, It was love, She felt it, I never wanted it back, I gave it, A shyly shaky witty love. Oh no, What if I dent the colours, I spoilt it with odours,…

  • Self-Control: The Fox and the Crow

    How is everybody today? What are you guys reading for the weekend? I’m compiling a new reading list, anyone willing to share or suggest a book? It’s almost bedtime here, but sleep can wait. I’m trying to study my guide to scholarship application. I have this bedtime tale to drop before I retire for the…

  • Don’t Forget by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander

    Don’t forget how we started, Don’t forget where we met, The circumstances, How it happened, Don’t forget so soon! I was just like a stranger, The other day, I was a nobody to you, A commoner, An ordinary soul, Flying and searching for love, Searching for hope, In pursuit for happiness, Until the encounter, Don’t…

  • Wait for me by Johnny Drille

    Johnny Drille gives us a touching country music. The first time I saw the video I got all emotional. Enjoy this African beat.

  • Celebrating Philanthrophy: Lisa Jo Symonds

    Today I came across an amazing person who is working to help improve the lives of rural orphans in East Africa. She supports the Hope For Rural Orphans, an orphanage based in Mbale, Uganda. Permit me to introduce Lisa Jo Symonds, the author of The Hands That Held Me. She is from Adirondack, New York,…

  • Thoughts on Character

    Character sustains beauty Character sustains destiny One thing that makes everyone unique or stands out is character. Character is moral strength and describes notable and eccentric feature(s) of a person. As smoke can not be hidden, so it is a person’s character. Character is linked to self-control, temperance, and discipline. Deborah King, the co-founder of…

  • Shepherd’s Tale

    Sweet are memories of the fields- Valley greens and blue clouds, The frolicsome rabbits and slow worms, All shades of flowers and singing birds Replay on the shepherd’s mind In the morning, was a light shower The path wet with dew- Heaven’s water But the sheep went happy, through the misty path When evening came,…

  • Thoughts on Africa: oiroegbu.com

    My name is Okechukwu. I’m a Math teacher and I’m the brain behind oiroegbu.com. I’m from Isuikwuato in Nigeria. I enjoy writing. I love watching wildlife and playing Sudoku. Initially, oiroegbu.com was a poetry blog, but was modified to accommodate other thoughts, personal experiences and places I’ve been to. Hopefully, I’ll start traveling more, to…

  • Thoughts on Friendship and Honesty, from an Introvert’s view

    Friends are family we chose for ourselves. Although there are many forms of friendship, which can vary from place to place, certain characteristics are common across different types of bonds. These traits include affection, kindness, love, virtue, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, mutual understanding, and compassion—along with enjoying each other’s company, trust, and…

  • Kindness: The Lion and the Mouse

    Here is one of the oldest and best loved stories of kindness paid and repaid. From it we learn that compassion lies within the power of both the mighty and the meek. Kindness is not a feeble virtue. One day a great lion lay asleep in the sunshine. A little mouse ran across his paw…

  • Muse: Evening Rain

    Listen… Hear the clouds rumble, for it rains again Soft breezes from the quiet evening Come drumming, mildly on the pan, The rooftop has got a companion Up this ancient forested hills The trees dance and twist To songs from the Winds tongues From the pond, the back-up frog choir get set, Waiting for their…

  • Grandmother’s Table

    Good evening everyone. This story was adapted from the Brothers Grimm and I’ll like to share it with you. It may be that the older we get, the more this story will mean to us. But we should learn it while we are young, for the sake of the generation coming before us. We should…

  • Haiku: Searching the Flames

    The unhappy hawk search the burning bush Folk say she was scouting for her old granny, But an escaping rabbit caught her attention instead

  • Poetale after the Days work

    Now we gather by the fireside Waiting for yams to roast Warming our hands in the heat On this evening, cool and mild The dreams we wait to dream The waiting pillow beckoning The tales in hopes of telling And a joyful evening it seems The hot day had gone up those hills Releasing a…

  • Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up

    Ututu oma, ach, that’s good morning in English. It’s a bright and sunny morning and I wish I was in Kenya, watching wildlife. World Teacher’s Day. Today is Teacher’s Day! I celebrate all who share their knowledge with others, cheers and thanks for being a teacher. To parents, guardians, school tutors, clergymen, imams and everyone…

  • Haiku: The Wind surfs

    How happy, the wind surf the sea! Bending double to strong waves, To escape the doom before her