The blue stream flow swift Three patient toads sit aghast Waiting for the current to pass
Author: Oke Iroegbu
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… Continue reading The Baobab
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… Continue reading African Proverbs 4
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… Continue reading My Muse
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… Continue reading The Frogs and the Well
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… Continue reading African Myths 4
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… Continue reading African Proverbs
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,… Continue reading I Felt Roses by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander
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… Continue reading Self-Control: The Fox and the Crow
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… Continue reading Don’t Forget by Okoroji Chidiebere Alexander
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,… Continue reading Celebrating Philanthrophy: Lisa Jo Symonds
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… Continue reading Thoughts on Character
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,… Continue reading Shepherd’s Tale
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… Continue reading Thoughts on Africa: oiroegbu.com
Thoughts on Friendship and Honesty, from an Introvert’s view
Friends are family we chose for ourselves. Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many types of such bonds. Such characteristics include affection; kindness, love, virtue, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, mutual understanding and compassion, enjoyment of each other’s… Continue reading Thoughts on Friendship and Honesty, from an Introvert’s view
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… Continue reading Kindness: The Lion and the Mouse
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… Continue reading Muse: Evening Rain
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… Continue reading Grandmother’s Table
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… Continue reading Poetale after the Days work
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… Continue reading Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up
Haiku: The Wind surfs
How happy, the wind surf the sea! Bending double to strong waves, To escape the doom before her
Muse: What I love about you
I love the dimple that grace your face, Your hearty smile and warm embrace I love the joy I get when you smile And those thoughts you serve me I love the taste of your turmeric and garlic, Sweet soup that makes my heart frolic! I love the airs around you, Roses and lavender, I… Continue reading Muse: What I love about you
The African Palm Tree
The palm tree is one of the strongest trees in the world. In tropical Africa, this plant grow wild, though it’s now cultivated. In Igbo land, the leaves, barks and roots is used to produce different kinds of medicine. The boiled seeds serve as food and the oil is used for cooking. The wood is… Continue reading The African Palm Tree
Visit Africa: Masai Mara
Video from Guardian TV
Twist and Turns
Twist and turns, that’s the song of life and the road But crawl, walk, run towards those brown hills, Dust shall become a dress or a travelling companion
Haiku: A Summer Walk
Take a summer stroll down the green bush Find three squirrels play by fallen tree logs Splash! A frightened frog jumps into the quiet pond
The Goose that laid the Golden Egg
You may agree with me that evenings are best for story telling. In Africa, evenings are valuable family time. Dinner or sitouts allow time to reflect on the days work: achievements and disappointments, and to tell tales. Tales don’t just act as lullabies but convey moral virtues (and vices) as well. Now when a story… Continue reading The Goose that laid the Golden Egg
A poem for Sailors
See the sailors ships dance on the wave To the rising sun they prepare to sail Waiting to greet birds and smooth tides, And to dream when the evening rides See the sailors gather their sails With rum as their better companion They sing and tell tales from happy mouths, While the ready ship waltzed… Continue reading A poem for Sailors
Can you spell IF?
Please can anyone help these guys? 😅😂
Nigeria
In the morning, the sun rises Above the horizons and cliffs And on the smiling faces on the farms Hope rises with the sun, As the children roll out their bicycles To the tanned fields of the hamlet Followed by their pets, puppies and kittens A proud cloud draws a huge smile And on the… Continue reading Nigeria
Unabhangigkeit Nigeria!
Today is October 1, 2019, doubling as the beginning of October and Nigeria’s Independence Day. This day in 1960 we became self governing when the Brits left. So †Unabhangigkeit Nigeria! From the coasts of West Africa, I wish a Happy New Month to all my followers and to Nigerians I say Happy Independence Day! As… Continue reading Unabhangigkeit Nigeria!
Smile for me
Smile for me beautiful one, Draw your joy, let it infect everyone Be happy when it goes well And when all seem uncertain But pay no heed to illusions, To thoughts that groom pain For when heavy storms gather, It takes a smile to break the fear Now consider the colorful rainbow, 🌈 How noiseless… Continue reading Smile for me
Teach me to Love you again
For our love’s memory I cherish your love dose, Your care and your beauty, Each time the swift sun rose Gracefully, I recall our hopes… But the candle light dwindles And I miss you, now that it faints Teach me to love you again Embrace me when I fail; The hugs, cuddling, I’ll relearn- For… Continue reading Teach me to Love you again
Visit Africa: Gaborone
If you love nature, then you should visit Bostwana. There’s a lot of Game and Nature reserves in this country, trust me, you won’t get enough of wildlife sighting here. We’ll be checking out the capital city; Gaborone, a beautiful town in my ‘to visit list’. Gaborone is known for the Gaborone Game Reserve, sheltering… Continue reading Visit Africa: Gaborone
The Shepherd King
If you are conversant with David’s story in the bible, then you can recall that he was a lad who led his father’s sheep to pasture in the forest. He learned to fight, for he fought off Bears and the Lion that came to steal the sheep. He learned to play the guitar which came… Continue reading The Shepherd King
Thoughts on Contentment
Most vices become when there’s a lack of contentment. Burglary, pilfering, all manner of stealing, falsehood, and even hatred of oneself are all discontentment factors. I asked some elders about their thoughts on contentment, and they gladly led me through their wisdom. As we all know, happiness is a great virtue worth teaching our younger… Continue reading Thoughts on Contentment
The World’s Greatest
Join me to reflect on this †video clip. You become what you tell yourself. Wake each morning with a desire to become a better version of you. The world needs your skills and talents, don’t hide them. It’s a good morning from West Africa. I’m up and thankful. Have a blessed day. * †Video excerpt… Continue reading The World’s Greatest
The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”
This is one of Aesop’s most famous fable. It’s old but not rusty. As you read through note that the fastest way to lose what we call our good character is to lose our honesty. There was once a shepherd boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village. Once he thought… Continue reading The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”
Happy Autumn song
Autumn plays a game of colors Warm is her painted trees and land Sweet are the songs from her birds With the two, she gave benevolently *** Image by Yaran Qadr
Positive Attitude to Life: Gratitude
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happened- John Miller. Be thankful for all the gifts of life. We can hear birds sing and… Continue reading Positive Attitude to Life: Gratitude
