Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Lessons from Experiences

  • Learning To Say No

    How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals? Saying no to someone or something can be a tricky thing, especially when you are considerate of other’s feelings. However, learning to say no is necessary to keep a person from behaviors and lifestyles that can be harmful in the long…

  • The Taxi Driver

    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…

  • 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…

  • Time

    Make hay while it shines This talent of mine… This is one talent I find solace in. It’s an avenue to paint my heart on ink, to play with the soul of nature and record lovely and beautiful memories. In my mind I create a happy and peaceful world; where I live in fine images…

  • Abraham Lincoln’s Story

    Abraham’s Humble Story When Abraham Lincoln became the president of America, his father was a shoemaker. Naturally, egoistic people were very much offended that a shoemaker’s son should become the president. On the first day, as Abraham entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a very…

  • Self Confidence

    When you believe in yourself anything is possible. Why not? If you are lucky enough to find your passion, then how could giving up be an option? Giving up means accepting a lifetime of wondering what could have happened if you just believed in yourself enough to follow through. It doesn’t matter how fast or…

  • Love knows no colour

    Love knows no pink, no blue, no colour; it knows no creed, no silence, no mumblings, no religion or association. It will learn nothing that brings shame or pain or hurt to others and one’s environment. Love preys on no one, it knows no greed and no self. Like fresh leaves falling quietly away from…

  • Since I met you

    Many times I told myself that love is but a lie It comes into a life and leaves without a trace But since I met you, I feel more ambience; The way you make me do things I do, The way you smile and cherish life so Start a blog here.

  • Humility Vs Pride

    Humility and pride are two brothers that see the world from different perspectives. In this blog post, I’ll compare them to see how they differ. Humility apologizes first even when he is not wrong but pride is the longest distance between two people. Pride is concerned with who is right, humility is concerned with what…

  • African childhood Memories

    I long for my childhood days in rural Africa, To fill my lungs with morning air descending from hills And to till farmland that stretch into sunset Golden sunrise always kept everyone speechless And when birds welcome the day with choruses Sweet breezes gather to battle the sun warmth Infants may resume their wailing culture…

  • Ever Searching

    Ever searching for the wor(l)d… Start a stunning WordPress blog here.

  • Self Reflection 22: Get Knowledge 2

    A lack of knowledge creates fear, seeking knowledge creates courage. NB: To reject something you know nothing about is ignorance.

  • Self Reflection 2: Love yourself

    Love yourself enough to take the actions required for your happiness.

  • The Rainmaker’s Tales: Beginning

    When I am not making the rain fall To flood the village and farms And to make the river banks overflow Then I will be watching the glittering stars And talking to her, the night and moon Well, the night is never complete without a tale And this is for the sleepy little ones, I…

  • The Rainmaker’s Tales 2

    Now it was tradition that young men Cut wood in the neighboring forest Before they are allowed to chose a maiden There was no axe in the town and nearby hamlets So young men did desperate things, Mirtle was a young man, deformed in one hand, Humbly dull, but very courageous Youth of the hamlet,…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Umukwu’s Masquerades

    I never knew today was Ekpo (masquerade) day in Umukwu, Ovim. I was having a little nap when the noisy drummers arrived with the masquerades. When I was growing up I witnessed many masquerade carnivals and took particular interest in Ebulu–ogu – the biggest and stout masquerade. They are known to be merciless and stubborn.…

  • Christmas!

    Celebrate with love and gift hope to all that may need it. 🌲❤

  • Dear Diary: State of Affairs

    Dear Diary, This is no poetry either is it political, but a personal note, a soliloquy and thoughts that bother me. I perceive corruption every day, and it seems people are too timid to stand against it. Most are afraid of something. And I’m aware of this something. Maybe I’m a little scared again, but…

  • Gratitude

    Gratitude reigns over might or gold, It is greater than reputation, profits sold It gives reverence to all, young and old And makes every thankful person bold

  • Thoughts on Friendship and Honesty, from an Introvert’s view

    Friends are family we chose for ourselves. Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many types of such bonds. Such characteristics include affection; kindness, love, virtue, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, mutual understanding and compassion, enjoyment of each other’s…

  • 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…

  • Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up

    Ututu oma, ach, that’s good morning in English. It’s a bright and sunny morning and I wish I was in Kenya, watching wildlife. World Teacher’s Day. Today is Teacher’s Day! I celebrate all who share their knowledge with others, cheers and thanks for being a teacher. To parents, guardians, school tutors, clergymen, imams and everyone…

  • Smile for me

    Smile for me beautiful one, Draw your joy, let it infect everyone Be happy when it goes well And when all seem uncertain But pay no heed to illusions, To thoughts that groom pain For when heavy storms gather, It takes a smile to break the fear Now consider the colorful rainbow, 🌈 How noiseless…

  • Positive Attitude to Life: Gratitude

    Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happened- John Miller. Be thankful for all the gifts of life. We can hear birds sing and…

  • Thoughts on Teaching Math

    Consider the first time you taught someone how to ride a bicycle or did any form of teaching. It wasn’t easy, was it? Teaching is a stressful job. Teaching math is much more stressful. Math is in everything you do! Before trying to explain this, I make the students relax. Many students fear the subject,…

  • Why it is important to have a plan in life with Piere Ingrams.

    Piere Ingrams says replace bad habits with good ones. From Ohio, USA, Piere takes us on why it is important to have a plan. Good morning from Africa!

  • Positive Attitude to Life

    Life is in minutes and seconds. There is no such thing as a bitter end, because an end is the beginning of something new. Learn from mistakes and keep moving. BTW only the living can make mistakes. So be thankful for life. Life is like a building that can be renovated and rebuilt from scratch.…

  • Celebrating Talent: Damilola Ajayi

    I thought about celebrating good and talented people. Here we go, the first person in the series! Permit me to introduce this pretty, humble, enterprising young lady. She is Damilola Ajayi, from Ekiti state in Nigeria. When I first met Dami in 2017, I wasn’t so sure of what to expect from her. As I…

  • Why I decided to let go

    The title should have read “why it is necessary to let go“. I decided to use the title above because I’ve been betrayed, played and taken for granted by people I trusted and gave full loyalty to. So I’m a practical example and if you can relate, tag along. Unfortunately, some people are good in…

  • Thoughts on Loneliness 4

     It is hard for introverts to explain situations, especially those naturally taciturn. They have the loudest minds, act little, and prefer to be left alone. I know a friend back in school who talks very little. It seemed he counted his words, and one day, a classmate lied against him. He was punished for…

  • Thoughts: Look Within

    Africa is scarred by pangs of unemployment. Things drift from bad to worse. Things like good education, health care, clean water and equal opportunity, seem to run from our grasp. These things may have fallen apart. What is the remedy to fix this trend? While African universities produce more graduates, the economy won’t be able…

  • Thoughts on Africa 3: Education

    Research is a diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, etc.; a laborious or continued search after truth. Interestingly, the definition ended with the search for truth. Apart from expanding the thinking horizons of man, the research seeks to discover the why’s and why not. The study offers sound recommendations…

  • Thoughts: Keep your circle small

    He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 Your company can support or hinder you. The people you surround yourself with can either ruin your dreams or help you fulfill them. Think about the story of Joseph and his brothers. The brothers planned to…

  • Thoughts on Love

    Love is an intense feeling of affection and cares towards another person. The English dictionary defines it as a deep or abiding liking for something—a profound and caring attraction towards someone. Note the appearance of care and affection in all the definitions. Let’s read from the Bible to get a clearer picture of what love…

  • Choosing a school

    Choosing a school can be hectic and stressful. Most times, selections are made wrongly by prospective candidates. Some make choices based on family influences or peer pressure, the fact is your the one who is going to school, not your parents or friends. It is important to make proper investigation on a school you would…