Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Africa

  • Sunrise – Nature’s Painting

    Magical Moment You will agree that sunrise is a beautiful and magical moment. The glamour and attraction are practically indescribable. Moreover, I reckon that sunrise is a therapeutic time. Sunrise signifies a new beginning, a fresh start, or hope. Sunrise I glimpse at the rising sun far away, It paints this reserved country gold, Glittering…

  • Peace

    Peace is like a journey of hope, Where throngs of colourful daffodils and dandelions greet, Peace is the quiet riverside, where tumbling brooks rush, And fishes halt to hear the rushing tides of water, Peace is this dreamy grassland, where green limbs shield, A citadel I run to when endurance & courage is hurt

  • Muse: Imagination

    The fireside is my favorite stage And I’m set to be the entertainment So listen to the fire lick the wood, And to these words and humor Here’s the realm, I created in the mind; A guard musketeer belts his gun, An impatient innkeeper ordering, The butchers to supply some beef, All preparing for the…

  • Dance With The Wind

    Won’t you like to dance as the tree leaves do when the wind drifts past? Don’t be shy, let burden, toss your hands in the sky, and have some fun Tree leaves sail on the wingless breeze They swerve and scatter at the winds bidding Birds are amused at the strange flyers Who had neither…

  • Dialogue With The Storyteller 2

    Dialogue With The Storyteller 2

    Storyteller: Ifochakpi! Audience: Waa!! Storyteller: Nkita nyara akpa? (When a dog picks up his backpack?) Audience: Nsi agwu n’ohia! (All faeces in the bush go wanting) Storyteller: Spread your mats and sit at the foot of the tree. It was a long day for me, we could use a good story to wrap it up.…

  • See The Sun Rise

    Observe high above the sky; when the cloudy, golden sun drift away, Hiking by her side is the hilly country, where shines colours of day, Glittering clouds, a nought abundance of gold may define the beauty, The smell of dew on dry clay on air; life wakes to benevolent serenity, The earth is up; with…

  • Living Life & Having Life

    Oh, unlucky folk, those clothed in costly coats, In dire metros, wandering noisy, busy, tricky streets, Their wares, cars, & belongings, amassed aloft, Yet life proceeds somewhere far away, in lush modest Villages where thrives no anxiety but odds and faith

  • Set My Sail

    I set my voyage to many fantasies; it’s another cold night I ask for a dance under this golden view of the sunset Let’s share the lovely moment of glee over this district, Each time we swerve under the dusk wind and twilight

  • Memories By Vanny Onuoha

    Pleasant Evening Well, it’s an exciting evening here. It’s cold without, but I bumped into young talent. So she writes a muse I will love to show you guys. Ladies and gents, here is Vanny Onuoha’s first published work. She’s a Nigerian teen and a budding poet. What do you think about her work? Memories…

  • Father’s Day

    If you have a father, cherish and love him Sober reflection Father’s day is a day of sober reflection for me. It’s a day I had tried fruitlessly to erase from my diary, but no one can ever run from his/her past. Fathers day reminds me of my father, late DSc Nduka Iroegbu. The dark…

  • The Leopard Spirit 7

    Papa said I had to be vital to attend the following Tales by Moonlight night. He also promised I could play and hunt with other children if I got well fast. So I took my medication and exercised seriously. The moonlight night tales occur once in a fortnight; sometimes, they may be delayed, especially during…

  • Poem: The Brook

    Pollution to the Human Mind I do think that living in large towns for a long time can constitute pollution to the simple human mind. Each time I return to the countryside, I feel a mix of vibrant and enthusiastic energy. Living in dry cities drains me fast. I could try to live in one…

  • Reflection: Lafia

    Lafiya The word lafiya in the Hausa language means good. Say hello to any Hausa speaker, and he will blurt out lafiya! I presumed that this was the origin of the name this ancient city held. True presumption or not, I took the city as a harbinger of good, and good it turned out to…

  • If We Ever Fall In Love by Njabulo N.

    Falling In Love I think that falling in love is a risky business. There is the risk of falling, haha. One might become a shadow of himself in the process. What I mean is, if anyone ventures into the business with all his being, he might become a changed person either for good or bad.…

  • Night Poem: Silence

    Silence is not the melody of night Lingering moon, dawdling owls & crickets Emerge to begin the circus called dusk

  • Wade

    I wade through this slow current,Touch of loose sand on my feet,And many songs of the wild forestDrop lyrics that get me elate

  • World Ocean Day

    The roles Oceans play Today is World Ocean Day! This post is a reminder of the roles oceans play. I’ll share a fantastic blog written by the National Ocean Service. The ocean plays an important role in shaping our climate and weather patterns. Warm ocean waters provide the energy to fuel storm systems that provide…

  • Dialogue With The Storyteller 1

    Entry Of The Storyteller Storyteller: Ah, it’s a monstrously cold evening. Hurry, take a seat closer to the fireside, warm your hands and wait for the night’s tale. I may tell stories of love, adventure, life’s lessons, and that of the animal world. Remember, these stories serve to teach the ways of life. It has…

  • Bridges

    What more is marvelous, To bring cultures together, To bring worlds to an embrace To bring land over water?

  • These Highlands, Her People – My Muse

    Gold from daylight is upon my glass window Her warmth is pure, a dew upon the fine green grass If sun flies parade, why then the empty front yards, Oh – a horde of vampires trolling the townlet in disguise Two giant lizards quarrel over a weary worm I have seen the mother hen busy…

  • Drench Me

    I love the rain Rain! Drench me Let me catch Those drops To tell how Much I love thee

  • The Muskrat

    Don’t let little details get the better of you. Vices Vices are bad habits. Society is full of them. Indeed, the contemporary youth is impatient and this had contributed immensely to the problems faced today. In this short tale, the muskrat had demonstrated two vices that can destroy anyone – impatience and anger. We must…

  • Poem: Hear The Clouds

    The Clouds are Angry Dear friends, as I write this, it’s raining cats and dogs out there and goodness, the cloud is very angry. Have you read the tale of the angry cloud who flooded the earth, whom he accused of stealing his wife? If you haven’t, don’t worry. I’ll tell you about it another…

  • When Waterfalls Sing

    I told trees of your songs and they are jealous, When you drop, birds and the wild stop to listen, To hear you sing a melody from the long fall And watch you wash your garment on the rush below

  • Tradition of Greeting

    In African fables and tales, it’s believed that people have met with good luck just by greeting strangers Welcome to the beautiful morning of June 1st, 2021. By African tradition, it’s formal to say greetings to anyone encountered on the way. Some cultures consider it taboo not to say greetings to people (especially the aged).…

  • Reflection and Dusk (Poem)

    Reflection: Day End & Kindness Why do I like it when it’s day end and the sunsets before my gaze? That’s a question which even a response from me may not explain precisely. Well, I don’t just enjoy the views of the beautiful sunsets alone, I worry about many things too. Each evening is an…

  • Haiku: Morning Ride

    Sail bright rays Scramble fair clouds, Dawn your mistress

  • I’m on Patreon!

    Hi Friends, I just created my Patreon profile and would appreciate any support you can render to keep this blog going. I’ve included a little note on why I seek help on the ‘About Patreon Page.’ If you want to be a patron, please follow the link below: https://www.patreon.com/oiroegbu. Thank you so much! Yours’ Oke…

  • Africa Day

    The African Union acknowledged today being the 25th of May as Africa Day. Here are some images with important information about Africa.

  • Break The Silence by Njabulo N.

    Police Brutality Police brutality is a disaster. It’s quite unbearable to watch the ones we entrust with our lives and protection evolve into civil nightmares and agents of dismay. Sometimes it seems that people do not have rights anymore. While there are global protests against police brutality, little is done by government institutions to address…

  • Night Poem: Nightfall

    Don’t Overthink It My favourite time is nightfall. It is time I get to assess and summarise my daily activities and productivity. Here in rural and semi-urban Africa, it’s time for reflection and rest, even as people prepare to sleep. Sometimes the reason tales are told in the village square is to help people relax…

  • Lullaby: Down By The Riverside

    {Shepherd lore…} Down by the riverside, I wait for my flock to graze, I listen to lovely young lambs call out to their mothers, I wait for the sun to set and for the breezy evening to arrive, Thoughts of a warm bed, stacked with hay return to me, Of the night sky, which is…

  • A Kind Charge

    Sweet fragrances cling to the hands of those who distribute roses What if you had the power to make the world better, To put a warm coat over someone’s shoulder Or give out polite words and beautiful flowers? Do not hesitate to be kind no matter what the world is turning to.

  • Night Poem: Your Love

    I’ll tell the world what Your love means to me… Your love is kind and the peace that steers my boat, It’s the song of the bass guitar playing in my heart when the beats stop, It’s golden sunrise and the joyful birds singing about its glamour, It’s the serenity of walking alone and being…

  • Moonlight

    I behold the nightfall across the dark blue clouds I watch evening carry desires of men waiting to unfold I enjoy the sensation of the imminent weekend Drums of merrymaking sound miles off, Cackling, singing, every bit of mirthful noise However, the shepherd sits to enjoy his time alone I hear deep-voiced frogs calling out…

  • 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…

  • Humanity First

    The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life Birds up the trees There, up the trees, I saw several nests. I knew more were there because I could hear a multitude of birds chirping. Most of the nests were…

  • Sunset upon the river bend

    Sun set slowly above the wood Shadows appear, shepherd dreams; A soft breeze upon evening tide, The smell of sheep dung, Slices of malted bread, Songs from the wine inn, Situated by the river bend, Sober men drink their heart fill, Silent hills, retreating birds, Sally may sing her radio favourite, Something to celebrate our…

  • Rhyme: Pensive

    What shall we say Now at this delicate moment of May That we stand on this wet clay Watching the Sun leave the day? Now the leaves fall and fade In the streams, we quietly wade And to our past, we solemnly bade Welcoming the future which the Creator made The dark clouds grow and…

  • Muse: Splendour

    The swift surge of the evening air Compares not to your amazing smile Your glittering teeth, the splendour of my soul

  • Love Poem: Remember

    Love poems weren’t my thing when I first attempted to write. In high school, my English literature teacher saw my war book manuscript, which I still have today (goodness, I have a way with books), and thought I could better write about love. I wasn’t into love, you know – an introvert, nervous in crowds,…

  • Loving You

    Loving you feels like the touch of the calm night breeze,Blowing on the open green fields where roses growLoving you feels like a voyage through the blue sea,Where dolphins, drift with the wind and whistle their songsLoving you will be a blissful dream come trueSuch that we journey together, through our imaginations

  • Which Way Nigeria?

    My Fatherland What a beautiful country Nigeria is. This glamorous country has got it all – rivers, deserts, rainforests, savannah, highlands, mountains, and every geographical feature you can think of. It is the most populated African nation, with most black people on earth. Nigeria is known as the ‘Giant of Africa’ – the cultural diversity…

  • Shadows

    What does it represent? I’ve always wanted to write a piece about shadows. Please note that for the poem below, I am referring to the shadows of man. I’m fascinated by their appearance and have always had many thoughts about them. In some cultures, shadows are considered sacred, while elsewhere they are seen as evil.…

  • Muse: Night Memories

    A silent evening The sun is asleep And the night awake With it, every creature of the dark Burrowing rats, squeaky insects, and birds Country, radio music, dark mists Sweet breeze, lightning, wilderness, Fading fire, lonely happy moment, Where all memories flock There’s a brewing rainstorm, Right from rumbling clouds, Shrieking crickets and night flies…

  • When A Poet Loves

    Poets are unique creatures Living in their playful minds They are facets of adventure Hewn to investigate life & why When poets fall in love They soar in their craft They prevail in fantasies Then lets life pace on art They travel to & fro the moon In their art, there is joy & pain…

  • African Proverb: On The Rat and The Lizard

    Igbo: Oke soro ngwere ma mmiri, mmiri guoro ngwere agagi ako oke English: When a rat swims with a lizard, his hairs won’t dry as the lizards. Origin: This proverb is widely used in Igbo land. The aged use this to instruct young people and children, mostly in folktales. Reptiles are good swimmers and can…

  • First Night Rain

    This night rain flatter my townShe sneaked up our curtainsAnd let her waves wrestle with themThe breeze blew out the candlelightsWhen the thunder howl in his deep voiceEach time the lightning appearsBe sure to wait for some rumblingYet the downpour clapping outsideJust by the dark and slippery balconyTries to let the pata-pata cover all sound…

  • Tales Of The Village Boy

    The Leopard Spirit 5 When I arrived home that evening, it seemed like the whole world was turned upside down. I felt my head swell as the bee stings and sharp roots hurt. By the side of my bamboo bed, Nene and her dog sat, staring at me. She held my hand and squeezed softly.…

  • My Life As A Poet By Njabulo N., Commentary by Oke I.

    My life as a poet, Has not been a sweet one, It has been tedious as the sea waves, With slithering moves like a snake, With a lot of punches more than a boxer, It is unpredictable, It can get you lost in wild thoughts. Words without sounds, Voices without people, Minds without hearts, Bones…