Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Africa, Poetry and Love

  • Oscar Wilde’s Selfish Giant: Seasons Greetings

    I came home yesterday and saw my dad’s favorite Oscar Wilde book of tales. The selfish giant is my best of them all; there’s a big lesson in it. I’ve applied a minor revision to the original story. The Selfish Giant Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and…

  • A Shepherd’s Song

    Tut, tsi, tut, tsi, Do you think I was talking to myself? Haha, not in any way! I call on my sheep that way So we bond, using this unique code When they disperse over the pasture I sit to play my guitar, a song hallelujah Trembling fingers, dry in the noon sun, The flavour…

  • Quiet Night

    A silent night from the inside A noisy one out in the wild Nighttime for cricket buzzing Lullaby against a sleepy wind

  • Poem: When Tree Leaves Fall

    Tree leaves dance when they fall, trembling quietly Brown leaves, some dull in red and lighter green All manoeuvre in the same direction of the wind When bold leaves fall off the branches They twist and sail through the wind Some set up leisure, settling on the moist below Sailing off, noiselessly to other stream…

  • Love Poem: Twilight

    Evening lurks behind Even as sunset float ahead, It heralds the end of daylight So we watch it go in installments, We feel softer airs traverse Drifting with pure grace Upon our hair and coats It gets darker; nature’s notice We wonder what it meant To follow orange twilights As it glides down the horizon…

  • Ashanti Proverb: When You Walk In Your Father’s Path

    When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him – Ashanti proverb This excellent Ghanaian adage is self-explanatory. I’ll try to explain some salient points. Generally, it’s an African believe that a child who goes nearer to his father grow up acting and speaking like him. Indeed, this is…

  • The Journey Is Short: Do Good

    I champion good leadership, love, peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness. That’s why so much of my stories and writing emphasis those virtues. I like to borrow a leaf from Mandela, who, after encountering great tribulation, did not adapt to his prosecutor’s ways. The short story below was copied from a friend’s Facebook timeline. I decided to…

  • Old Poem

    I like to think that the stars had seen it all—the beginning of life and the present. The stars are always up there, day and night, and they have seen a lot happen on earth. They have witnessed government regimes come and go; kingdoms rise and fall, and all we can ever imagine – known…

  • Someone There by Njabulo N.

    Today I sit in a room clouded by darkness, With pain dominating my body system, Writing for a better tomorrow. As the butterflies flood my tummy, With the air breeze so sweet and calm. I can see beauty deep inside my eyes. Show me the sun that shines bright, Bright more than a bulb in…

  • Amuse: December Cold, The Hill, and Two Foxes

    December Cold Once upon a cold night, Trees knew little peace When a strong wind swept by, Slippery was the grassy pathways Leading to the small village But many won’t risk it outside For the wind was growing to a storm “What do you make of this cold?” A grey-furred rabbit broke the silence His…

  • Love Poem: Remind me of the sun

    Your pretty face reminds me of the sun, When she rose from the back of many hills Dragging her gold blanket before farms So if I am to paint this beautiful muse I would imagine sunrise over wheat fields And fast approaching evening when birds fly home

  • The Rainmaker

    When the green neighborhood dance to the call of the wild, one Dark are the skies; darker even are the clouds which 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…

  • Wild Woods Tale: Summer Returns

    When summer finally came, a lot had changed The last snow melted, and the sad land woke Grasses started growing, covering the outer earth So those who burrow scrambled out from the dust Soft airs and tidings surround the mountainside Sending sweet emissaries around the valley below Vines, myrrhs, mistletoes, and pines sprout happily In…

  • Love Poem – How Lucky I’m

    The fragrance of undying love – Sweet perfume from the lavender I sit, I admire you from the fireside, I realize how lucky I am to have you

  • Night Poem: Dark Night

    Thick fog lay siege, blinding the stars, Now clouds black with looming night Grant the moon to lead the journey As the soft wind sang a languid tune

  • Nature Poem: The Butterfly

    Sunflower rests under the tree’s shade, Blushing over the fate of a butterfly, With strange but colourful stripes, One that kept all nature wondering.

  • Night Poem: Sounds of Water

    Your love is a balm to my heart Like an elixir, it refreshes my spirit For each time I lay beside waters quiet, Streaks of golden sunlight retreat When sounds of water splash – a dulcet

  • Two Poems: Fly and Babies by Peniel Gifted

    FLY Fly little bird Through this sky of whites I want to watch The green wings, flapping. Fly high, even higher Like the bar-headed goose Your bod- blithe As I kiss the Jasmine Hugging from the sky. BABIES With them I sit- The people of Rainbow raiment. They tune in Jillion tunes Sketching a heart…

  • Muse: Song in my Heart

    You are the song in my heart The moments I crave within

  • I stand beautiful – Poetry

    Memories fade, distanced more Yet apart we wade, off Tears are part of the roles And distrust has become one too Your words still cut through I’m assured that love went wrong I was rock but you made me gold So I offer this little flower token In appreciation to your absentia love I always…

  • The Devoted Friend from Project Gutenberg

    One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure…

  • The Man Who Never Lied

    Hi everyone! How was your day? I have a story to share. So bring your seats and mats to the fireplace, listen attentively and may the nightingales sing us a lullaby when we retire to bed. Once upon a time there lived a wise man by the name of Mamad. He never lied. All the…

  • Let me By Elizabeth Amarachukwu Okafor

    Let me lead you this way I found thorns with honey just for you Wishes I stroll you farther, for the intense of my instinct is all warming While along, I was going to tell you, But every passing sunrise, my words are rolled back to breathing you My fume is reluctant, craving you as…

  • Three Colours of Love by Njabulo N

    Good evening. Today I will share with you THREE COLOURS OF L♡VE poem. In one’s lifetime one may experience only three kinds of love: 1. You love at a young age and let everything go down the drain because of stupid things 2. You fall in love and along the journey you get hurt, lied…

  • Distract me with love – Poetry

    Tell me an amusing story One that drives sorrows away Laugh at me or with me Sing a song, hum a slow lullaby Pull my ears and call me names Let’s ride on a train to Utopia Grab my hands let’s elope To fields wild as a writer’s mind Call my name, bring me back…

  • Sonnet: The Storm is Over

    How winds have howled! How all small life lay low, Trembling in the face of awesome pow’r!… Sonnet: The Storm is Over

  • The Village

    Once the sun rise, life regains its joy More birds glide up the pretty skies Fast rodents play in the shrub nearby As smoke rise from long chimneys Little children leave for school, Fathers spend the day in farms, Mothers gather materials for food Everyone has got a role to play Squirrels hide in tree…

  • Two Poems: Nature Sings To Me and Once The Little Tiddlers by Peniel Gifted

    1. NATURE SINGS TO ME Nature sings to me In the most melodious tune of joy Tickling happiness into the shattered lonely me. Nature sings to me To make me feel like a king Tune of everlasting peace In my ears, it ring And truly, I know I’m really blessed. Nature sings to me And…

  • Nostalgia: Hills I Call Home

    I sit outside my granny’s house, clad in blankets and a pillow. It was a rainy day and a very cold one. The cold extended into the evening and early night. The village is surrounded by streams and hills and this must have contributed to the extreme weather. I left town a few hours ago…

  • Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

    On this day 60 year’s ago Nigeria got her independence. Things may not be right at the moment but our hope and faith will prevail. We shall rise above tribalism, intolerance, hatred and indiscipline. Let’s celebrate Nigeria, the giant of Africa with her beautiful images.

  • Morning Sun – Poetry

    Glittering morning sun, Woke to nature’s beauty, Warm scent of caked clay Leftover from night storm, To me life is series of moments; Made up of sounds and sights Cackling peacocks, blue skies, Green fields, huge waterfalls, A female goat calling to her kid, Group of laughing basket weaving girls, Three red headed lizards fighting,…

  • Painting by Sthembiso Msibi

    Trust me she’s got amazing talent. See more of her work on IG: @sthekamsibi

  • Magpie and the Squirrel – A Poem

    Swooping down in excitement from a tree, A magpie spies the nuts and seeds with me. A squirrel nearby watches the commotion, Its swishing tail plotting paths of anticipation. The bounty descends effortless to the ground, Like wheat chaff in the muted siren of sound. As the magpie dances, delighted at the sight, The squirrel…

  • Quote: No Mountain Too Great

    There’s no mountain too great Hear these words and have faith -Diana Ross

  • The Lucern Tree by Robin Bliss

    The Lucerne tree in flower White petals floating down Carpeting the pathway, and The front veranda with a sea Of white, white everywhere Coming upon this alba sea As a child; with music in my head Amazed at the ocean of pearl Sitting down in the middle of whiteness Whiteness all around me, whiteness Whiteness…

  • Night Fall In The Countryside

    Night falls behind the village fence Last traces of day, shadows fade Tree lines turn grey and black While the sky host a million stars Quiet evening, sound of water Heard down the waterfalls, by the streamside And from thickets bullfrogs wade Enjoying the fresh and sweet breeze Tree branches play with the wind Soft…

  • Sun rays

    Tall tree canopies, Sun rays filter Morning their phantom

  • Hangout with Njabulo Nkambule from eSwatini

    Hello everyone. I’ve with me a friend and African brother who is passionate about poetry and his motherland. Please let’s welcome Njabulo Nkambule, a poet from eSwatini. I admire his work so much and if you follow my blog you might have seen a couple of his poems. So on this post I’ll be asking…

  • Musical Africa: Talking Drum

    The Talking Drum is peculiar to the Yoruba people of West Africa. Musical Africa You will agree with me that Africa is a musical continent. It’s full of sounds and songs. Every tribe and nation has a peculiar musical identity. As dressing and languages differ so do musical instruments. I will like to share a…

  • Poem: Love Conquers

    If dreams are colourless Then love is a magical dream That teaches and encourages, It trusts from the heart Builds bridges over water To bring worlds together True love shared Fear no colour or creed I lay my head On your shoulders Let’s take this love to moments Where all eyes see its beauty

  • Night rain on my window

    Night rain upon my window panes While clouds rumble in protest The lightning picture through my curtains And shadows dance away from candlelight

  • This Day, This Year, This Life By Pam Impson

    So much gone, so much wrong So much sorrow in this song Teary in my isolation Weary in my desperation Panting in my desolation Ranting in complete frustration So much yearning to belong So much is gone, so much is wrong This day It rolled me like a cheap cigar Stale inside a crowded bar…

  • Breathe Again by Njabulo N.

    Breathe again, Like you have just gained yet another chance to live, Life is not promised but experienced and lived. I have grown to be a different person, Different from normal people who do everything like everyone. My life is not the same anymore, I wonder why everyone is worried about it, I no longer…

  • Poem: Sail away

    Evening skies – sparkle of gold, Brewing mills across the clouds, While it may sail to faraway lands

  • Reflection: Counting the Costs 1

    At times you need to stop everything you are doing to sit by yourself and mend your broken wings. Cold evening and a To do list I sit outside. A cold evening out here with me. A community of crickets quizzing through the grassland. A gust of wind upon my face, swinging my helpless lamp…

  • Thoughts: I Wonder

    Sometimes it’s hard to stop a rolling stone, but whenever it may roll, it always seems to find its way back home. Brett Boyett Home Forever Dear motherland, I’m proud to call you my home. I’m reminded of sunset; it tells that it ends where it began. From tree branches on the hilly countryside, I…

  • Muse: Look in my eyes

    Look into my eyes See how special you are Feel my heart jump with joy And that is because you are here

  • Poem: Twilight

    Beginning and end Light after dark Dark before light Darkened skies With dancing fireflies Breezy evening Joyful moonlight And glittering stars A shepherd’s lore Down the country Sheep and goats, Green and gold, Patches of life, Water and fire, Dust and wind, Heaven and earth All in fine contrast But happy unison Shallow roots shoot…

  • Beirut

    Beautiful Beirut and AUB I’m writing about this lovely Mediterranean city because of my connection and attachment to it. I’ve seen several YouTube videos of it’s beautiful landscape and neighborhood. Beirut combines the tranquil setting of ancient history with the thrill of a modern city. I followed some Beirut based vlog channels and it’s always…

  • Night Poem: Stars Glitter

    I watch pretty stars glitter From this fine little window, When night a perfect picture Hung across the wide horizon Fireflies dance around light bulbs Mighty shadows cast upon my paper Distracting a work full of life and art Yet I stare out to behold stars glitter