Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • Thoughts on Love

    Love is an intense feeling of affection and cares towards another person. The English dictionary defines it as a deep or abiding liking for something—a profound and caring attraction towards someone. Note the appearance of care and affection in all the definitions. Let’s read from the Bible to get a clearer picture of what love…

  • Tradition: Iri Ji Festival

    Let us pray (ka anyi kpe ekpere)Nna anyi, we gather againTo celebrate the New Yam!The King of all cropsWhich you blessed us withThe crop whose soft tendrils crawl,Through our fine, fertile soilAnd carries with it abundance,Greatness, joy, peace and love!We celebrate the forests You tillOn our behalf,The greenery with shrubs and treesWith every fruit that…

  • Thoughts on Africa 2: Education

    The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the real goal of education. – Martin Luther King, Jr Education is vital for individual, community, and national growth. It is a key tool that can drive social, economic, and political transformation across Africa.…

  • Thoughts on Happiness 2

    Happiness is contagious. Happiness is like a light bulb in a dark room. It does not shine in a corner but lights the whole room. Note that happiness is not a function of material fulfillment. Peace, joy, cheerfulness, contentment, happiness, and gratitude are considered part of the family. This family works as a team. If…

  • Muse: The African Bride

    ‘I will never leave you! I go deh with you…’ he said. Tears rolled freely. She wept as her face went red. It was clear he meant it; his words cut her open. She must believe. So he went away to fight in the World War. When he returned to Africa, it was with a…

  • A poem of Happiness

    Grin Gift your hair your hands This is a great feeling… Life!

  • New Media Writing: Open for 2019 entries!

    The NMWP has attracted entries from the very best and most innovative writers in the field, from all around the world. For the 2019 competition there will be four prizes: The if:book UK New Media Writing Award, the Unicorn Student Award, the Dot Award, and the Digital Journalism Award. To read more and submit your…

  • Thoughts on Happiness

    Happiness is a state of mind. Joy, cheerfulness, and prosperity are all part of it. When you are happy, it affects the activities and environment around you. It shakes away negativity and gloom. Happiness is when you don’t worry much about material things. Contentment is related to happiness. When you are content with what you…

  • Tell the Stars

    Tell the stars To dress the skies For there’s a banquet coming, And everything must be in order, Every dark cloud must be lighted So let there be light

  • Thoughts on Depression

    The English dictionary defined depression as a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future. Many people experience this on a daily basis. Depression sucks out the joy and life from an individual even when the person is still living. Honestly, I think being sad…

  • Anyanwụ Ụtụtụ m (My Morning Sun)

    Anyanwụ ụtụtụ m My gift and joy from God Onyem ji eme ọnụ You glow like the red chilli And you are sweet, Sweeter than the palm wine, Ah nwanyiọma m! When the village drums beat You dance with ecstacy Laughing when you move Sometimes, words fail me I can only ponder on God’s creativity…

  • The song of a Shepherd

    Tut, tsi, tsii, tuut, tsii Will you think I was talking to myself? Haha, not in any way! I call to my sheep that way So we bond, we use a special code And when they spread over the grassland I sit to play my guitar- singing Hallelujah Quivering fingers, dry in the noon sun,…

  • Thoughts: Africa

    Don’t be overwhelmed by what you see. Stay calm in the raging storm Life has not been fair to many people. Sometimes, it is easy to imagine from a safe part of the world how people survive in war-torn, disaster- or disease-stricken areas of Africa. We wake up to different news each morning. Economic reports…

  • August Night Poems

    THE NIGHT The night is full of fresh air One which come with the wind Talking of the Wind, she is irresistable Sweetly, comely to the flesh of men And a quick aid to the lullaby’s effort RAIN It seem it will pour heavily, sometime later For the Lightning had come to snap pictures Of…

  • Tiv Princess

  • Three songs of the Night: The Shepherd’s Tale, a Star and Stinginess

    1 The Shepherd’s Tale: Fast, from afar The sun set Golden streaks touch the skies, So the sheep bleat with joy Full bellies rumbling with forage, In anticipation – For the night came slowly With her was the sweet breeze And all left to worry about Was a good night rest 2 A Star: There’s…

  • Thoughts on Loneliness 3

  • Thoughts on Loneliness 2

    Introverts often see themselves as a threatened species. What I mean is that they feel overwhelmed in crowds and often misbehave in such environments. I, for instance, can relate to this. I feel so consumed and inadequate when I’m in a crowded place. I won’t say this is about less self-confidence, but seeing a lot…

  • Titan

    I’m a Titan! For I dance under the greying skies, Strip the trees bare of green leaves And watch it slowly die with my pitchforks I’m a Titan I tease the streams and oceans So when they wash up dying lives on the dust I pity and sigh with discontentment I’m a Titan I dig…

  • When love is wicked

    Your love became wicked When I watched you walk, When you wished me away

  • Your smile

    Your smile is an elixir To my soul, When you smile at me I take in more joy and life

  • The Flock

    Fonuoha: I dreamt of a flock How I’d watch them graze But I’m always out of luck Like a mirage my dreams erase. Oiroegbu: For some of the flock are mirages And their mirages, people in my life Those who cast their nets before my bridges And dream to reap where they sowed strife. Fonuoha:…

  • Dear Rendezvous

    Dear Rendezvous, Tell the green trees, I am coming back, That the stars won’t fall from the darkening clouds That the nights will be as airy and sweet as ever And that our love meeting will remain beneath her shade

  • Love Song

    Still recalling our love story How smiles turned to warm hugs And how our hearts beat loudly To the rhythm of the quiet night

  • Colors, the First part

    Colors are very beautiful They tell a lot about all; And a little about this and that The ocean, the sun The mice that live across The busy street roads Or the golden corn field And the wild, the deserts And the ice of Antarctica Colors describe our feelings Red with rage The royal purple……

  • Wealth of Summer

    “The flowers blossom in magnificent desires The tree leaves are greener, and the airs milder But are all these, the only wealth of the summer?”

  • Diligence

    I saw someone humbled,With diligence A little fella, hairy and wingedWorking away on his masterpiece

  • A Tale of The Wild Woods 3: Summer Returns

    And when the beautiful summer happened to come… Upon the glades and vales of the wildwoodsThe Mountain stood quietly by the forest sideSniffing the sweet smell come from fresh growing flower shrubsThe happy birds come flying back homeFollowed by all pretty insects and the boar herdThe skies are tinted with blue skirmishSometimes it seemed it…

  • Thoughts on Loneliness

    Being lonely is by no means a wrong or painful venture. It doesn’t suggest that someone is unwanted in the society or is running the isolationist policy. Infact, being lonely most times creates the atmosphere for self reflection, for self discovery and for quiet times. Some times we hear introverts say a lot about loving…

  • Obedience

    1 Obedience is a function of humility For through life’s ups and downs; In Wealth, great Fame, or Beauty It speaks more of a man than gold coins. 2 Obedience is why Abraham was richly blessed, For he traveled to a place where he knew not With trust in God as a guide, through desolate…

  • Memories built on You

  • The Travelers Tale

    Traveling out of the city to find some solace, Passing through forests and undulating hills, And through grasslands and indigenous settlements To the countryside, where exists true connection, The ever green forests stretched out with the curvy roads Guiding the driver, who seemed to be awed by the scenery Up the skies, hawks scaled the…

  • Palm wine

    Have you tasted the palm wine? It is mother Nature’s own brew A combined effort of yeast and man Trained in the early morning dew If you ever come to West Africa Do not let the landscape fool you Look to the quiet traditional bars And enjoy a bottle or two

  • My Shoes (They fit me alone) by Franklin Onuoha

    Take a look at my life What can you say about me? You know just a little But you feign omniscient You care less about yourself But you put all focus on me Do you really think You can love me more than me? You hear rumours that ain’t true You spread it like bird…

  • What Love can do

    1 Corinthians 13 : 4 – 8 1 Taste and see Love never hurts If you agree with me Then love is all we got 2 Love is golden, So truly yours Brings joy to one When you let her soar 3 Love forgives all It paints different colors It mildly heals And turns around…

  • Crowns

    Crowns, kings and queens, Great men and women Purple with royalty, With greater authority Over greying cities And Nature’s dying beauties Can we crown a Daffodil And close all carbon deals? Can we plant forests In our modern cities? Can we let the fragrance of roses Cling to the corners of our buildings? Crowns, kings…

  • You can win

    1 You can win Don’t listen- To naysayers For you journey alone 2 You can win Look within Find what matters, And believe in yourself 3 You can win Of course you can Trust in Jehovah And let His peace guide you *** Commentary: Feeling down? Cheer up. You are far better than billions of…

  • Happy birthday to me

  • Let’s dance in the Rain

    Let’s dance in the rain Throw me a handful Catch my water blow And throw me another Let’s play under the rain, Hides and seek Catch the rain drops And take your trophies!

  • Share my Dream

    You shared my dreams. When I put my pen to paper, you were always there to turn my wishes into reality. All this time, you have stood by me. Now, what more can I ask for? I pray that I stay steadfast in your love.

  • Cheerful Friends

    Cheerful friends are much more, They contribute to our happiness And joy through their benevolence Memories of their actions Bring warm feelings and always soft, So we feel secure with their thoughts Cheerful friends are like young tendrils They grow with love and are selfless Even in one’s grief, they bond to purchase When our…

  • Fatigue

    Fatigue, I wonder why your name Is as you, Why you stress and bother me Even without an offense I wonder why you break my bones So that I may only feel limp And sit watching the hours fly by You tickle my nose, to mildly snore And breathed on me a heavy sleep

  • Muse: To the end of the Day

    Towards the end of the day I shall lay my head on your thighs To behold the glittering stars

  • Introducing the African Folklore

    Folklore are tales, legends, superstitions of a particular ethnic population. In Igbo and other African societies, story telling is unique, such that it is a passage to transmit the culture and tradition from one generation to another. These tales generally convey the history, messages and old knowledge. They are meant to teach morals and virtues…

  • Atmosphere of Love

    Love can not be felt When there is strife, When the moods tell foul Love can not be felt When the sails are low Or the winds are hot Love can not be felt When egos are high When words are faint Love is a great virtue That requires selflessness Courage and understanding

  • Greatness

    Greatness is not a virtue of wealth, nor beauty, nor fame. Greatness lies in courage, in faith, in change, in becoming, with experience, wise, honest, and compassionate.

  • Rising Sun

    1 I peered through my window pane The morning sun rose radiantly And from a distant plane A smile appeared so glowingly 2 Alas the golden sun arrives trifle shy With the clouds she sailed Growing above the valleys and heights And upon all who on Earth dwelled *** Commentary: This piece is a collaboration…

  • Tradition: Breaking the Igbo Kola nut 2 (Iwa oji Igbo)

    Onye wetara oji, wetara ndu. Ndi be anyi ekelem unu oo. God, our tryst maker! Chinekem ke b’nigwe! One that holds the Earth with bare hands And causes the winds to soar where You wills My God, we have gathered once again to celebrate To enjoy the life which you have blessed us with! Nna…

  • Muse: The rains and wet clay

    The smell of clay when wet Brings the feeling of life When heavy rains come The community is overjoyed And so the dry earth wakes With it, life becomes excited! The clouds turn dark As the rain grow stronger- With a great storm imminent The rain drops gather, Tripping happily into the big pots

  • Lust

    1 Eyes brought low From the distance, Watched her go Steady glance Cutting through her And she was not aware 2 Cage your emotion Let love flow Desire, genuine Let it grow Like a tree planted By the poolside