Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Author: Oke Iroegbu

  • May

    Oh, May, lovely May! The month I fell (for you) Like old tree leaves Swerving in the wind Carefree and happy To meet the dirt below I dreamed a lot Our memories worth Under the grim shadows Of this quiet mango tree And the glad glare Of the moonlight You remind me of May

  • The Messenger

    The wind grows soft and dryIt carries messages quickly forgottenWith its speed, it may be lostPines whistle, and men, stay to listen

  • Orbits of Love

    Your eyes are like orbits of loveWhere stars shine in the reverie I let you know thisYou – a creator of happiness,And every time you smileMy heart sings a tune of bliss

  • Video: Beautiful Rwanda

    Beautiful African motherland! Visit Africa and see how it will change you forever!!

  • Quote on Education

    Education is the foundation for human capital and management

  • My Brook – Oko’pia (VO by Aneta Felix)

    I’m excited to introduce an excellent journalist, poet, creative writer and voice over artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. This poem was voiced by her. Please enjoy this soothing weekend presentation from Aneta Felix! From home in quiet hamlets, I hear your surgeTelling stories when you pass through the roaring current,Through white clouds painted by sound…

  • The Night is Pregnant

    Now it’s raining again! The clouds quietly gather For Night is heavy with child And ready to yield pots of water! Lightning draw caricatures Across the blackened skies Frightening all who are awake These expectant clouds Or mischievous lightning Knew to keep heavy sleepers awake

  • Pic: African Wild Dog

  • Love Poem: Vocal Night

    A host of shrieking cricketsA plethora of frogs abundantAnd birds of vocal strengthPerform a chorus tonight,Wistful, thaw rhythms softSaved for a dull nightFor two gentle heartsIn natural silence rest I listen to your heartbeatOn my embrace, this night

  • Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 6

    When I reached home that evening, it seemed like the whole world was upside down. I felt my head swell with hurt from the bee stings and sharp roots embedded in my feet. By the side of my bamboo bed, Nene and her dog sat, staring at me. She held my hand and squeezed softly.…

  • Lion and Safari Park

    African big cats are unbelievable, I could watch this video from ‘The Lion and Safari Park’ all day! Lions are my favourite big cats. When you hear this in person it awakens a type of primal fear in you that really can’t be put into words. Come let’s roar together! 🦁

  • Tradition: Ofo na Ogu

    There are natural laws upon which the universe is governed. One of them is the Law of reaping what you sow. Another is the Law of Innocence. You can not do anything to an innocent person. No matter how hard you try. These laws are governed by universal principles to the degree that both good…

  • Pic: Victoria Falls

    The sound is intriguing

  • Muse: If I Love

    If I do love youI would make a hut at the gatesDrum and call upon your nameI would write very long poemsSing in the dead of the nightSo it sounds among the ancient hillsWith Echo, the talkative spirit of Air Start a stunning WordPress blog here.

  • Night Rain

    Hear the rain howl in the wind Outside, this blessed frigid night Rainfall is our sport for children A moment to count many blessings, And all doubts to wash off the pour!

  • Love

    Love is a song written On care & truth panes

  • Memories

    Breezes bring memories; mild rosy fragrance, They played and sang of the Nightingale, We wait to tryst, yearning for a lovely sunset

  • Quote on Resilience

    “The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” ― Robert Jordan, The Fires of Heaven

  • Pic: Ostriches

  • Love Poem: Best Sunset

    We wonder what it meant To follow orange twilights As it glides down the horizon Leaving all for the evening But the silhouette of love The best we keep for ourselves Staring into your pretty eyes Is my favourite sunset moment

  • Love Poem: Memory

    For love’s memoryI cherish this dose,This care, your beauty,Every time the sun roseI remember this feeling

  • Pic: Herd of Elephants

    A herd of African Elephants

  • Quote on Being You

    When a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he is listening to the beat of a different drummer, let him dance to the music that he hears, however, measured or far apart. When you are dancing to a beat of a different drummer don’t expect people to understand you. Don’t expect it…

  • Night Poem: Love Messages

    I send love messages this windy twilightLet the breezes carry them fairly aloft

  • Speak Up

    Silence is not always golden When it comes to caution and discipline, silence may be an adversary. Take, for example, seeing a kid who rides bicycles on the busy road and deciding not to warn him of the hazard. Also, consider not calling the police instead preferring to record or watch gang violence across the…

  • My Brook – Oko’pia

    From home in quiet hamlets, I hear your surgeTelling stories when you pass through the roaring current,Through white clouds painted by sound sunlight,And greener footpaths, heading towards the waterfallsI sit on the banks, to hear rumours of the wild woods,Surrounding trees and happy birds blow me kisses,Farther off, children pick palm fruits and rocksSeeking a…

  • The Shepherd’s Song

    Tut, tsi, tsii, tuut, tsiiWill you think I was talking to myself?Haha, not in any way! I call to my sheep that waySo we bond, we use a special codeAnd when they spread over the grasslandI sit to play my guitar- singing HallelujahQuivering fingers, dry in the noon sun,Taste of dew on my lips, a…

  • Quote on Africa

    If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa – John Hemingway

  • Happy Stars

    Happy stars are outBeige dusk, moonlightOn pathways brightKept in the looming mistWindy evening gustBlow out on the hamletOverlooking hills & sunsetBrewer of legends & myths,A sleepy moment of twilightAnd fascinating one for that

  • African Proverb: On Hospitality

    A home that welcomes strangers will never lack food Hospitality is an act or service of welcoming, receiving, hosting or entertaining guests. It’s an attitude that portrays openness, respect, and generosity. There are always rewards for those who have good hearts. Is it not said blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that…

  • Sounds of African Drums

    I hear the sound of drumsVigorous beats across the land,Bird rhythms rise and fallFar away in the damp jungleWhere the grass hides allThe earth sang with the windInsect wings zither like guitarsSwimming fishes create ripples,Tiny circles of gentle musicAll melodies for the quiet earth!Far away in the damp forest!

  • Africa my Continent | Njabulo N.

    Africa my continent,The land of our ancestors,The home to beautiful nature and diverse species,That sings humming songs,Even on cold weathers and rainy seasons.Africa my continent,Africa my pride,The land of the black blood,Flowing down my veins,That irrigates all the beautiful fields.Africa my continent,Africa my land of learned youths,Knowledgeable generation,With a beautiful and bright future. Africa my…

  • She 2

    The storm made all darkShe stood under the rainDaring all, wind, lightningHer stars will still glitterMorning is not far away

  • Night Poem: Stars

    The cold night callsStars glow up the skiesPicturing many talesStories only told by sight,So the Shepherd feels allFrom his fluffy bed of wool

  • Evening

    A tranquil evening is nature’s way Of welcoming a weary shepherd, Sunset – thoughtful views herald, Memories where trees dance And soft grasses wait when birds fly home

  • For You

    For you, I will continue to loveWhen your hair falls by your side, I see your mouth pout, my heart leaps insideSo the sun sets sail, to days where our youth fade like falling tree leaves;To establish memories of us, our experiences, felt and unfelt to relive

  • Quote: Beautiful Day

    A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset – John Geiger

  • Night Rain

    Fresh air stirRaindrops fallHard roof drums

  • Sunset

    I wonder why you hide behind the hills and cloudsShying away from the approaching eveningLetting birds fly in echelon, a farewell callingTree reflections on the waters like ragsWhen bass voiced frogs resumed their songsHundreds of vocalists singing, in harmonyThe cream coloured clouds melt awayAs queer images draw across the skies,Shepherds call to sheep from the…

  • Quote on Grace

    Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” – Benjamin B. Warfield

  • Image: Strolling Elephants

  • Changing Skies

    We sang of a proud cloudOnce of love and benevolence,Rains when there is heartbreak in loversShines in the cold hands of the windAnd allows the green to shed the fields Now we live under a sky that changes apparitions when stirred

  • Fade

    Nothing compares to speeches made by the eyes,When memories tumble into faint sighsWhen this glamour fade before morningOn fallen tree leaves, where once we played,A reminder of sadness – the demise of a unionOne which was once but could not be seen

  • Muse: Night

    Daylight shrink offEvening breeze howlClouds are orangeWhen birds fly awayThe cold night is nigh

  • Muse: Rejoice (2)

    My heart rejoices, but why I can not say!The sun has risen, the land is goldenThe firmament is bright, blue and greyDews melt, trees dance, flowers openI rejoice for the lights which have come,For the love which I see all about me,For the little fine hamlet, I call homeI rejoice in her immense beauty So…

  • April 2022

    How times fly! Flowers still grow on the dirt by the roadside. That reminds me of hope. Tree leaves fall and new ones replace them. Now that’s greater hope! So I would love to smell the flowers by the roadside and experience love again. Happy New Month everyone and don’t be the April fool today.…

  • After the War — May Wedderburn Cannan

    After the war perhaps I’ll sit againOut on the terrace where I sat with you,And see the changeless sky and hills beat blueAnd live an afternoon of summer through.

  • Folklore: The Goats and The Tortoise

    Two goats fought over a loaf of bread. The tortoise saw them and offers to resolve the issue. He tore the bread unevenly and because it’s uneven he takes a bite from one half. But the bread remained uneven. So he took another bite and continued until there was no more bread left. The goats…

  • Quote on Happiness

    If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else. – Chinese Proverb

  • Rainmaker’s Tale

    When the green neighbourhood dance to the call of the wild one. Dark are the skies; darker even are the clouds that stalk the rain. The wind came swift and slow; rushing at times as petals of flowers dance. To the music of the coming rain; to lullabies that made heads bounce. And to the…