California is exactly what I dreamed it would be, although my worst worry did catch up with me. 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 […]
Category: inspiration
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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, […]
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Night Poem: Brewing Storm
Dark cloudsAnd lightningSilhouettesDogs barkBurdened roofsWary inhabitantsDancing curtainsUnruly candlelightNeighbors yawnFaint pillow talksWhistling windChilly breezesAll waitingFor a brewing storm
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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 […]
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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.
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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 […]
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August Again
August AgainAh, August again! My month of birth is one of sunshine and glamour! How fast times fly. It’s already 12 months but last year’s August was a little bit dramatic for me. A few days after my birthday I started filing graduate school applications, one in Nigeria, and two abroad. Unfortunately, the academic strike […]
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Light in The Dark
Amid dark skies and night,Through silence and mistsDear Providence grantsEven light in the twilight
If you can dance and be free and be embarrassed, you can rule the world – Amy Poehler We celebrate women all over the world for their extraordinary contribution to society. Happy International Women’s Day!!!
Limits like fears are often just an illusion – Michael Jordan Limitations In my last post on African proverbs, we discussed how the eyes become useless when the mind is blind. In this short story below we will understand more about mental limitations. Held by Ropes! A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp and […]
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Go For It
Go for it
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Quote: Don’t Give Up
How high can a sycamore grow? If you cut it down, you will never know – Pocahontas
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Try Again
This piece is tilted more to advise. Dear friends, ever failed? Try again. Try Again Ever tried and failed? Try again Ever loved someone But it went down the drain? Don’t give up, try again! Ever applied for anything And yet find life wanting? Don’t give up, try again! Ever trusted someone But got disappointed […]
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Don’t Give Up Yet
Never forget, “if you lost it, it’s because you are meant to find something better.” Let go of the past and make room for what is coming.
A Japanese proverb says “fall seven times, stand up eight.” Vince Lombardi said, “There’s only one way to succeed. In anything, and that is to give it everything.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.” ALWAYS REMEMBER […]
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My Father’s Hill
It’s chilly down this valleyAs this village is immersedIn between these ancient hillsWalked by my father, and his fathersI find it spectacular to be home,To family where it all beganI’m a king, after all, tells my heart
A young woman got a job as a waiter in a restaurant. She was always happy and upbeat but after some months, she lost excitement. Something had gone wrong. On a particular day, there were lots of people in the restaurant and she had to serve people. They started murmuring and shouting at her, “When […]
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Happiness
The pursuit of happiness is a moral duty So what is happiness? Everyone has got a definition depending on their life’s viewpoint. Happiness is contentment. It’s bliss, joy, peace of mind, and hope. The pursuit of happiness is engraved in the US Declaration of Independence. Happiness is the sound of waterfalls. It’s the whistling of […]
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Last November Rains
When it’s time for the rain to journey away, the days turn gloomy and nights cold. In a few days, the rainy season will be over. We don’t know when but the older folk says it’s almost time. Nowadays the rain falls every evening. It starts with a sudden change in the weather, like a […]
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Harriet Tubman
If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going. Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (nicknamed Moses) was an African American born into slavery in Maryland, USA. She […]
The shed of trees is our playful home It’s where we learn to sing and dance, Under it, we wait for the moonlight, It’s a citadel when we play our games, Limbs we cling to, to mock the monkeys, It’s the grand shanty where father’s tales are told, The onset and climax of night where […]
Do not fear failure, fear regret Arise! Wake up! This is a clarion call! Resolve to take action today. Write that book or lyrics. Volunteer. Start that business. Vocalize that song. Take dancing classes. Work out. Travel. Live. Just a take step. What will it be? What will it take? If Failure or Success? If […]
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Morning
Cruise Sometimes I get jealous of the free birds and butterflies. No one ever traveled like them. When the bird’s tweet they tell mighty stories of places man has never seen. There’s a particular family here, they sing all day. I keep marveling at what they are saying. One with the loudest voice repeats an […]
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Untold Stories
Little twinkle stars bold Upon the vast void Where invincible forts hold Abundant stories untold
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Let It Shine
If we let our light shine we are unconsciously permitting others to do the same Light Someone’s World How can we make our lights shine? When our deeds or words light the heart of someone. Let’s explain this with an example: a dark room represents gloom and sadness, and so does anyone who happens to […]
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Thank You
Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable – Zig Ziglar It’s a new month! 🎉🎈🎁 Dear Friends, I hope that your year’s plan is going as schemed. If it is, that’s great, stay on track! If it isn’t, then don’t give up, continue to work on it. Looking out the window, there […]
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals
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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
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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 […]
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
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 […]
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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.
Let’s compare beauty to this month, April of pleasant skies & pretty flowers Obvious on benevolent blue clouds Broad with bright weather & gardens Where light & dark storms linger With glowing sunrise & peaceful dusk Painting images of hope from wands Of stars featuring as a result of the vision
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 […]
Dear woman, I smile when I recall what you depict, who you are and the peace you represent. Woman, life-giver A grand masterpiece of nature, Life bespoke of elegance, Of glamour, a living golden statue Fear what it could be When life has no she When we assume maybe Woman, lover She brings peace to […]
It’s Mother’s Day in my local church, Methodist Church Nigeria. I had published this piece a year ago and here is a revised one. My words alone can’t express my warm feelings for mothers. I had been raised by amazing women who taught and still teach me in one way or another. This amazing gift […]
Dear Friends, Good to see you again. I trust you are doing well. I’ve got a story that was sent to me by a friend on Whatsapp. Sadly, the story portrays reality, people measure progress and success with that of their friends, classmates, and relatives even with the limited information they have about them. I […]
Arnold’s success story taught that hope and resiliency is key to success. Big Fan, Big Lessons… I’m a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I love his wit, accent, movies and general principles. As a growing kid, I recollect Arnold’s superb acting in Conan – The Barbarian; and the mysticism portrayed in the film astonished me. […]
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Story On Patience
I received this short story on Whatsapp and thought I should share it. A 40-year-old man visited his old father, who could no longer see very well. As both of them sat in front of his house chatting, a dove flew in and perched on the window. The old man asked his son, “Is that […]
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Hope by Peniel Gifted
Now I know, he’s a seraph In dreams- long ago, Searching the way to home. With beamy winks, the kin Of which bird legs do fly Watching greenie mount. Now I know, he’s a sire Of idols- bearing golden Scions, of which I’m one.
Oke Iroegbu's Blog (African Bard & Storyteller) 