Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: folklore

  • True Leadership

    Earlier this evening, I overheard the women talk; my mother, aunts, some helpers and my little sister. From my room window, I heard their discussion on the funeral and all they did to make it a success. Usually, I don’t eavesdrop on women chats, but I couldn’t help but listen to this particular discussion. I…

  • Ide Stream

    We took a walk through Ovim. I decided to show my friends around. Just after Ugwu Uwaoma, we saw the table mountain. From the distance, it looked magnificent. Further ahead, we came across the stream Ide, with her tide gliding smoothly through the green forest. The stream is deep and some fish trapping go on.…

  • Poems of The Night

    Night falls after the sun And to homes we all return Counting the days stress and toil Letting the darkened kettle boil And preying our eyes on passing people While we eat out plates of sweet potato When the full moon came out The whole clan grants a sit-out, The infants, the boys, girls, men,…

  • Love Challenge 10

    Twist and turns, hills and valley, Day and night, your love is home

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 5 (Fata)

    When I reached 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 my foot. By the side of my bamboo bed Nene and her dog sat, staring at me. She held my hand and squeezed softly. I saw…

  • Thoughts on Friendships and Personal Autonomy

    I received several messages from close friends, complaining of the way their friends or partners treat them. I tried to see reason from different angles so that I can make an impartial judgment. Being right is not a guarantee that people will treat you well, and returning people’s favours is not ideal too. Well, we…

  • Images: Growing Up

    These images show children having fun in the African countryside. I can relate to most if not all…

  • African morning

    In the morning the mild golden sun rise above the huts and hills Painting the corn fields yellow and making the streams shimmer Upon flowing rivers it glitters, till the dead end below a tree root Big fishes stay ready to strafe up to pick insects off tree barks In the hamlets, dogs chased cats,…

  • Your Smile

    Your smiles are good therapy, they tickle my soul It takes me to great heights of love and brings me joy When you smile, you remind me of the rose flower, The parting of your red lips, a memory to cherish In your beautiful warm smile I find unspoken love, It showed me untold and…

  • Beautiful South Africa

    Take a moment and breath… 💙💚🌺🌻 Images from I Love South Africa page…

  • Homesick rhyme

    |. I’m coming back, that’s my happiness Tell the strong boys and beautiful girls, Get the boys to gather much wood And the girls to sweep the compound I have got many stories for all, haha So get ready, our nights will be longer! Go on, run along now, and tell them ||. Tell Mama…

  • Let’s take a walk

    Let us take a walk through the pine forest, Under the cool shade which she provides, Through the path where tree leaves form a cushion And a place where squirrels make their abode Let us walk pass the dark shrubs in the hot noon, To feed our eyes on mother Nature’s wonders, Through lands where…

  • Muse: Life

    Quiet breezes roam this evening, I let my weary mind stroll with it, Walking it down these streets of life, And reflecting on life’s true meaning, Aware of seasons, of sowing and reaping, I wonder if life come in such seasons, And when stars die, if they fall off from heaven Or if there’s such…

  • Dramatic sky over Kalahari

  • I’m happy motherland!

    I’m happy dear motherland, I’m happy! I’m happy to lay my head on your shoulders To sniff your wet hair that smells like cocoa butter! My feet is swift to run to the wild So I wash my feet on the stream’s slow tide I fright mambas and laugh at mating frogs All cold morning…

  • Little Feather

    Dreams are not for you little feather For you must fly and soar above all, Above those who may delay your sails And across thick forests and arid lands Which are nobody’s foe or friend I am jealous of you but wish you well So wave me a bye, spread your wings, And let the…

  • The Animal King

    Do you know why there is no king in the animal kingdom? Here is a story narrating why. I wrote this poetale a longtime ago. Have fun. Once upon a time In a land far away, Across seven rivers And seven hills Lived a clan of animals They knew no strife No envy, no rivalry…

  • My Muse

    I love your dimples, joyful grace on your smiles It stole my stare each time I looked at your face, Night falls herald day’s end and our retirement But for the Sun’s slumber we gladly wait Evening is timid, passing through the horizon, The setting sun took her gold from morning There’s a fire made…

  • Self-Control: The Fox and the Crow

    How is everybody today? What are you guys reading for the weekend? I’m compiling a new reading list, anyone willing to share or suggest a book? It’s almost bedtime here, but sleep can wait. I’m trying to study my guide to scholarship application. I have this bedtime tale to drop before I retire for the…

  • Poetale after the Days work

    Now we gather by the fireside Waiting for yams to roast Warming our hands in the heat On this evening, cool and mild The dreams we wait to dream The waiting pillow beckoning The tales in hopes of telling And a joyful evening it seems The hot day had gone up those hills Releasing a…

  • The Goose that laid the Golden Egg

    You may agree with me that evenings are best for story telling. In Africa, evenings are valuable family time. Dinner or sitouts allow time to reflect on the days work: achievements and disappointments, and to tell tales. Tales don’t just act as lullabies but convey moral virtues (and vices) as well. Now when a story…

  • African Folktale: the Crows and the Cuckoo

    It is evening here and I feel like telling you a story. Bring your mat, come sit with me outside, by the fireside and let us enjoy the night breeze. Once upon a time there lived a set of Crows which plundered farms. Each day the farmers try to catch the Crows to no avail,…

  • Muse: Lullaby

    What is the sound of lullaby to you? Is it the touch of raindrops on rooftops Or the mild, soothing voice of love? Will it be a swift palm upon a light drum Or the Sparrow singing her heart away? To me, lullaby is a touch to the soul What the body is too heavy…

  • African myths

    Do you know that in Africa there are many ridiculous myths and beliefs? This is not Voodoo or any kind of mystery. Myths do exist. Most times, they are used to scare children, to refrain children and young adults from being rude, behaving wildly or disobeying their parents or elders. So let’s define a myth…

  • Why you should visit Africa

    If you are in rural Africa, when the sun set you will be very lucky to witness events that you may never see elsewhere in the world! The sun rise brings joy. Dew, Heavens water, congregate on the roof tops, tree leaves and grasses. The sun may stay for a while but can rise as…

  • Reintroducing the Legend of Wawadomea

    1 Now I write you a piece of my heart, tonight In the growing Harmattan and her temperament I am cut in two- halved in your Providence One for your happiness, another for Your happiness 2 This piece of heart tells a tale of the sea folk a story of survival, a war of loneliness…

  • You and I…

    You and I… Is my idea of a team Together, against odds, In ups and downs, Greatness and littleness, Plenty and scarcity You and I… Is my idea of love Our wish, against all odds, My help and friend My muse and madness One whose joy makes me happy

  • African tales by Moonlight

    Living in the countyside was fun. I can’t forget the numerous activities/events I participated in. I remember the rodent hunting, farm work, fruit catching, swimming in the streams, wrestling fights and the night tales. My favorite was the night tales which was something else. How I love to sit in the warmth of other kids,…

  • Rainmaker Tales, the first

    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…