Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Africa

  • UC Berkeley (Settling Down)

    California is exactly what I dreamed it would be The clean streets, diversity of people, and hills represent nature, all in an inspirational school setting lined by joy-bringing trees. Where there are trees, be sure to catch a glimpse of birds that add their musical presence to the scenery. From my room, I can hear…

  • Image: A Giraffe Family

  • Nature’s Circus

    1 When you call, your sound rent through the windWhispers, songs of the wild, emissary of mother NatureYou send birds, they ‘caw-caw‘, they fly the blue cloudsMaking the skies their tuft, and you: their leisure 2 Green trees, red flowers, purple feathers, all in perfect unisonYou call to your own, you Baobab, Bee and Flamboyant,…

  • September

    When you feel this morning’s aura gather around your limbs, spread your wings, and fly! Dear friends, it’s September 1, I wish you all a beautiful new month.

  • Quote: Home

    Home is a warm hug

  • Joke: Lions and Buffaloes

    If you get caught in between a lion and buffalo, run towards the lion. Both the lion and you will be running from the buffalo!

  • Daybreak

    Getting up to faint bird tweetsWhen golden shine sifts through curtainsAnd morning airs – so delightful and swiftWander through this little town I heard the older folk greetThey talk of night’s heavy rainBut as the storm is now pastA mild drizzle cheers the lawn Sunlight warms my room and townEach cosy day is a blessing…

  • Quote on Africa: A Whole Story

    Africa is much more than a setting, it’s a sentiment, sensation, symphony, sustenance and everything in-between spirited and spectacular. It’s a whole story, not completely told yet.

  • Podcast!

    I’m looking to start podcasting soon. This has been in my mind for years. I think it’s the right time! Stay tuned for more details.

  • Treetop

    This smell of wet clay when watching the sunrise, Clumsy tree leaves peeling streaks of weak sun rays, With the cold breeze brushing against my skin Remind me of grace and magnificence, And fully discloses where the sunshine hides I love the feeling of being held above the ground On a peaceful day staring at…

  • The Broken Heart by Saeed Rukayya

    The Broken Heart This greatest dream of mine has been shattered,I fall and stumble into the dark hole,Grasping for light in a place of no shadows, Oh, my heart aches. I watch salty water trickle down my cheek,Thinking of how I’ll stitch this broken heart,Suddenly, his voice echoed in my head,Bringing back the unwanted memories,…

  • Footprints

    Footprints pattern quiet imagesOn soft sands, immaculate as whiteWith time images are blurredAnd other times widespreadTracks stamped on grains of sandDistort the marks of regular sand But tracks may live for the moment or forever

  • Evening Voices & Hues

    I hear the wind howl through the gapsWhispering, solemnly to the approaching duskI hear your name being sung, by fading rhymeOne hundred bird voices; flying towards sunset Green, and the taste of seasoned vegetablesPurple hues, of flowers and her fragrancesBlack and pink, of waddling pigeons, dressedHuhuhu-ing from the lonely rooftops Orange is sunset, a shade…

  • August Poem

    I have seen tree leaves twist in the air, as they dance to meet the earthBrown, some red, some still green; but all rushing to touch the groundThe floor is littered, a gathering of old and fresh tree leaves lay on the dirtAnd why they fall, they won’t say, but when they do, they seem…

  • Twinkling Stars

    There are few stars out thereTwinkling across the horizonTo shine a special light uponMan and hills he calls home

  • Quote on Being Yourself

    I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me…

  • Muse: Sunshine

    When you smile you open up my heart When you are not aroundIt feels like no sunshineHold my handLet us be like one

  • Africa: Golden Sunrise

    I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy – Ernest Hemingway

  • Rainmaker’s Poem

    When the green neighbourhood dance to the call of the wild oneDark are the skies; darker even are the clouds that stalk the rainThe wind came swift and slow; rushing at times as petals of flowers danceTo the music of the coming rain; to lullabies that made heads bounceAnd to the Forest people, to the…

  • Stormy Night

    Why is the storm angry?I heard tiny fireflies askThis evening of barrage,Of tempest and darkness The rain bothers me tooShe flirts with my vision Hurls my soft curtains upAnd annoys the candlelight Even the gloom is ephemeralBut window panes growl and shakeEach time the clouds rumble outside

  • Image: Bedia, Obudu

    I love to share this piece of Nature with you. This is Bedia, a serene village in Obudu located in Cross Rivers State in Nigeria. Obudu is home to mountain ranges and the popular Obudu cattle ranch.

  • July 2022: New Month Muse

    Free and fresh as air are weThose who live where Nature sportWaterfalls dabble same rhythm this mornMother Nature wash her garments in the steam To cloudy dawn is a pleasant songVocalized by a multitude of birds,Playful monkeys or lazy reptilesBeneath this serpentine woodlandTo peaks overlooking the valesThe path may be lost in thick fogBut in…

  • Reflection: Favourite Time

    Sunset is my favourite time of the day. Not only are evenings made for telling stories but are moments of self-reflection and truth. It’s the sun’s way of reminding everyone of the need to take some break from the day’s hustle. In Africa, it’s a time of rest. Each time I travel to the countryside,…

  • Igbo Myths: Owls, Bats and Vultures

    In the Igbo cultural society, nocturnal birds are considered to be harbingers of evil. Night birds like bats and owls are associated with witches or dibias (traditional medicine men). It’s believed witches use them as messengers or even transform into these birds. The owl is perceived as a messenger of death. There’s this belief that…

  • Rumbling Clouds

    The rumbling clouds talk to meCracking through the dark skiesSprinkling raindrops on my stepsTwilight emerges above the skiesThe quiet evening brings about A batch of cold wind & shower

  • Lullaby: Night Rain

    Light rain, mild breeze, magnificent shower, Like the faint drums that usher in the noble, Faded lightning, a plethora of tiny drops Those that drench the backyard every night

  • A Shepherd’s Night

    The shepherd lays quiet in his gardenHis face interacting with the black skyFamiliar with the singing night insectsAnd bleating sheep behind the barn doorHe listens to folk music from vales below,Staring up at the faint darkness aboveHe smiles when the early barn owls hootReminding of nature’s friendship & love

  • Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

    Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is going a great job in wildlife conservation in Kenya. Check out their website to see what they do or support them: https://links.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

  • Quote About Africa: Lifelong Opportunity

    I aim to love and live every moment, every opportunity to witness something beautiful like sunrise, sniff the morning air and hear the chirping birds.

  • My Dreamland is Awake

    Waking to vocal birdsThat greets the rising sun,The atmosphere is brightSo are the school kids Daybreak scent from gardensLittle residents crawl and roamThe cold morning breezePlunge from ancient hills Green below, blue above,Gold across the horizonNature colours lovely selfWith happy, life-giving hues Morning reflects on window panesSmells through the opened curtainsAnd nothing sums it allMy…

  • One People

    Many colours, one people

  • Happy June

    In Africa, it’s a tradition to wish people good when it’s the beginning of something new. Today is the first day of June 2022 and I’m sending lots of hugs and hearts to everyone. ❤🤗 So here’s to all my friends and followers, I wish you a cheerful new month! Remain happy and healthy.

  • Home Tales

    Nightfall dreamsA ride through moonshineHome wait for tales

  • Muse: Talking Drum

    Permit me to etch this melodious stanza upon your heartLet the verbal rhythm be greeted with this fair talking drum,Give me your ears, let them listen as lyrics tell of the night frogWho challenged the melodious nightingale to a song duel

  • Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 7

    Dada said I had to be hale and hearty to attend the Tales by Moonlight night. He also promised I could play and hunt with other children if I got well quickly. So, I took my medication seriously. The moonlight night tales happened once every two weeks; sometimes they were delayed, especially during the rainy…

  • Muse: The Millipede’s Award

    Now, do you know why the animals returned late from the insect award night? The muse below gives us a hint. Once it happened far awayIn the old insect kingdomMany dignitaries appearedHues of diverse fur & feathersAnd what a colourful galore it was! So it was a ceremony to last a dayBut took a couple…

  • Africa Day 2022

    Every time the sun goes downReminds me of the love I’ve foundAt sunset, sunsetSunset, African sunsetI hear you calling me, so far awaySunset, my African sunsetI feel you reaching outAcross the water — Tommy Page I’m delighted to be part of this year’s Africa Day celebration! Africa is indeed a beautiful and diverse continent that has…

  • Love

    There’s a lot of bitterness in the world, we need to spread some love You are like the beautiful golden sunriseYour smiles are like the petals of a flowerWhen you smile I’m lost in lettersI’m happy in your hallowed happiness

  • Quote About Africa: Drums

    The drums of Africa still beat in my heart — Mary Bethune

  • Light in The Dark

    Amid dark skies and night,Through silence and mistsDear Providence grantsEven light in the twilight

  • Reflection: New Beginning and Golden Sunrise

    New Beginning Dear Friends, Today, 365 days ago, I decided to start writing at least one blog post each day of the year! Through tough tides and smooth sails, I came out successful! I’ll like to thank everyone who stayed with me during this journey. The likes, comments and shares gave me the strength to…

  • The Lions Sleeps Tonight

    Indeed, whenever I see images of sleeping lions, Mariam Makeba’s song starts playing in my mind. But don’t let those cute and innocent looking sleeping cats fool you! They would be awake at the slightest noise. Now hush! It’s a good night for me and the lions! 😴🦁

  • Rise & Shine

    I watch the gold dawnPrompting the sky stain,Impressive and grandSudden breezes andOptimistic birds sing This morning broughtThe smell of life aboutDamp clay and mistsMany views of horizonsEmbedded in gold clouds Birds fly off in echelonCalling to the flying rankSpreading strong wingsI stretch my arms againIt’s time to rise & shine

  • The Rainmaker’s Poem

    Do you want to hear the rain howl in the wind?Then you must come to AfricaHere the rainfall is a sport to childrenAnd a time to count numerous blessingsBut if you doubt this, I will make it pour! Come rainfall! Come, dear friend!Send this town scuttling for safety,Let the first rain, fill pots with murky…

  • Shepherd lore: Sunset

    I wonder why she hides behind the hills and cloudsShying away from the approaching breezy eveningOn clouds where birds fly in echelon, calling a farewell as they wentOn casted tree shadows hanging on the springs like rags on the railBored frogs may resume their croaky ballads;Hundreds of bass voices singing, in harmonyThe coloured clouds melt…

  • Stars

    When I wait under the old mango treeI count the glittering stars far awayAnd laying on soft sandy soilI get a better glimpse of the dark skiesThe wind is my guest,She rents her cold self to me,She whispers tunes of natureAnd drag tree leaves to fan me,It’s an evening of quietness and cold,Moments of thought…

  • Quote About Africa: State of Mind

    When you leave Africa, as the plane lifts, you feel that more than leaving a continent you’re leaving state of mind. Whatever awaits you at the other end of your journey will be of a different order of existence — Francesca Marciano

  • Love Poem: Tryst

    I invite you to a two-people drama; not Romeo’s, not Juliet’sJust you and I, under the full grey moonshineStand aside, watch me do this new dance I learnedCome closer, look into my eyes, and let me smell the rosesCome let me tell you of my love and how loving set me free Nothing excites me…

  • Peace

    I love the peace each morning brings:Wake to a reassuring and mild breezeReminds of the perfect gold sun risingBehind those exotic and ancient trees It’s not intentional to meEach time I’m awestruck!With this beauty all around,The smell of life is abundant! So scenery & landscapeOf cheerful flying birds,Of ducks & deer walkingWelcome the lovely day

  • Pic: Zimbabwean Wilderness

    From Jaspher Mecha