Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: lifestyle

  • Poets Corner: What Is Beauty?

    JUST A LITTLE STORY Let me tell you a little story. I remember a picture story of a man that sat close to a girl in a park. The first image portrayed the man as ugly, dressed in unbuttoned black shirt, with all manner of rings, deep scars and tattoos. The pretty girl was dressed…

  • Sunlight – Poetale of Gratitude

    Why am I so happy to see the sunrise and smell her sweet fragrance? I may not explain exactly, but this is why. Before now, I slept like a log, snoring away, unconscious of the world’s drama. Nocturnal creatures crept, and birds hooted. The night is innocently quiet, but it may have consumed many. My…

  • Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Proverbs and Meaning

    Onye aturu ilu kowaa ya, ego eji luo nne ya efuola ohia. Before I start this post permit me to greet Igbo people; those who own the proverbs I’m about to explore; Ndi Igbo kwenu! Ekelem unu o. Ndewonu. •Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Igbo traditional Isi-agu attire INTRODUCTION: PROVERBS There are many definitions for proverbs…

  • Lullaby: Tale of the young Shepherdess

    I will tell you a rhyme of the shepherdess who loved her sheep, She lives in the country and could sing her community to sleep Twinkle went stars nested far up the pregnant black sky, When black clouds float, the gathering rain storm sigh, “It will rain, but it might wait a little,” the young…

  • Morning Wind

    Morning wind, crisp smell, Moist dew, sun rise, beautiful land Take it all in and live in it, Inhale deeply before it’s gone

  • African Dawn

    ** Slope of pointed hills Black against the horizon Threat the sun with its fierce thrust As thin clouds streak across the sky ** Cloud underbellies glow reddish hue Morning warmth fight the heady moon Wide plains stretched, savannah grass paradise Sometimes lonely trees stand with yellow grass Ancient, raw, scattered lights slowly gather The…

  • Orie Market Day

    It’s Orie day here. Orie is a big market day in Isuikwuato. Everybody will be heading to the market to trade. People from different places buy and sell here. I walk through the quiet hills to get some fresh air and pick some flowers. Thankfully I have the quiet road to myself. I also have…

  • Nature’s Kindness

    Bird songs, colourful butterflies and sun rays, Are fruits from Nature’s basket of kindness, To man, his clan she gave tranquility and peace

  • Amuse: Tomato Poem

    Today I met this round twins, sumptuous red fruit By the garden they grew, so I’ll make a muse for it. 1. Hanging down hopelessly as their weight was a clear burden, Close to a busy ant hole, where ants traversed without care, Their redness portray the sun’s ire but they seem quite unperturbed I…

  • Imagining Love

    Imagine riding a horse into sunset Or sitting with kids to hear rare stories Or listening to country late into the night Or picking beautiful flowers & berries, With the one you truly love… Start a blog here.

  • A Tree Poem

    Sitting under a long leafy treeOn a mild and serene noonWith Nature’s finest creatures;A stray buzzing bee,A colony of black ants,A handful of wild mushrooms,And some twittering birdsCool breeze blew at intervalsBringing smell of cattle to meWhile tree leaves tried to seeThose who took refuge under her shadeBlushing at the admiration on our eyes,Falling off…

  • Warm Hugs from Africa

  • What I think of Poverty (Poetry)

    What if I told you a poem of poverty Will you wave it off and call me silly? I will tell you what I think Why communities continue to sink, School children trek miles to get a bus Their worn-out shoes make it worse, Bright girls will deliberately miss school Sanitary pads their excuse, without…

  • Reflection: Respecting our Environment

    Most of my quiet times are for self-reflection. Each time I prepare to reflect, I take nothing along, invite no one and try to keep my brain free of thoughts. I assume that I’ve nothing save from myself and my environment. During my stay in Workers Village, Tudun Amba in Lafia, Nigeria, I take long…

  • Draw the Sun

    Draw the golden sun, let it shine on dreams, Trust little beginnings, hope for the best, Reach for the stars, live this colorful dream Start you blog today.

  • Quotes on Children

    Seeing a child laugh or smile at me gives me exceptional joy. As a math teacher, I am privileged to work with them. I have collected some quotes on children to celebrate my love for them. “Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.” – Wess Stafford “Children are like wet cement: whatever falls on…

  • Letter: Heal today

    Dear Friends, I always talk about forgiveness because someone out there needs to let go. Life is designed in such manner that people may not always have it as they wish or want. So disappointments, heartbreaks, hurt, betrayal and pain are unfortunately part of life. Being good does not guarantee that people will be good…

  • 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…

  • Ramadan Kareem

    Ramadan Kareem my Muslim friends. Remember love is central to human co-existence. Salam W’alaykum. Start blogging today.

  • Successful Vs Unsuccessful people (Images)

    Start a WordPress blog here.

  • You’re my Style

    I know beautiful words are healing to the soul, but I write not because words are beauty but for your beautiful self. So I want you to sit back and enjoy this rhyme, this African style. Everyone has got a style, loving you by beautiful words is my style. Start your blog with WordPress. Click…

  • Five rules to Success (Video)

    Arnold takes us on five basic rules Successful people follow. VIdeo: Goalcast. Start a stunning WordPress blog here.

  • Quote: Pride & Humility

    Pride is the father of shame Humility is the father of fame Start your blog with WordPress.

  • Four Poems: Let’s Take A Walk

    I. OUR TRYST Breezes bring your memory; mild rosy fragrance, The wind sing with you when you sang of the Nightingale And now we wait to tryst, craving beautiful sunset II. HAPPY MEETING We must make haste, for night is a cold stranger, For the great Baobab where our love blossomed, Cold nights steal our…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 8 (Stubborn Nene)

    That morning before the early hunters left their homes for the forest, Dada was already on his way to Ndi-Ikele to welcome the priest, newly arrived from Trinidad and Tobago. It was breezy and cloudy that morning, it seemed it would rain any moment. Trees, especially the palm took to joyful procession when I stepped…

  • Boss Vs Leader (Images)

    Start a blog here.

  • Grateful Christian

    l feel Your warmth Jehovah The peace and comfort You gave Now sunshine through my curtain, Strings of beautiful colours I see Oh Jehovah, You’re Awesome The skies blue cloud stand at ease You stand out, You’re Handsome! The love I feel, undescribable The life I’ve, gracefully blessed You loved me to love others My…

  • Waterfall

    Listen to Nature sing from waterfalls, She thrash her garments upon rocks And wash them with her soft palms She sends soft waters crashing into the pool Watching the blue skies as her fingers work When the water descend they form Fine curtains of white mist As the water touch the pool below It changes…

  • Animal Planet’s Dave Salmoni New Show

    It’s not everyday that you get this close to the fastest land animal on Earth! Don’t miss a new episode of #AnimalBites with Dave Salmoni, Fridays at 12PM ET. Visit Africa. Learn Igbo language and culture. Click here. Start a blog here.

  • Life’s pretty hue

    I speak without many words For all I say is but a fraction of my thoughts I find no perfect name (s) In there, in my mind where all are soft So when I sit without my human friends I watch Nature turn to pretty painting, As I fed stray ants my soft bread And…

  • 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…

  • If I do love you

    If I do love you I would make me a green hut at your gates Drum and call upon your name I would of your virtues write long poems Sing them in the dead of the night So it sounds among the ancient hills With Echo, the talkative spirit of the air Start a stunning…

  • Quotes on Kindness

    ‘Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.’ St Augustine. ‘If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.’ Arabian Proverb. ‘To fold the hands in prayer is well, to open them in charity is…

  • I see you here by Arunav Barua

    Make your presence felt, No you, happiness withheld Complete, with you here… Want a blog like this? Try WordPress. (c) Arunav Barua (I.I.T Guwahati, North Guwahati, Assam)

  • Poetry from Skies

    There was poetry before we learned to write Awesome rhythm rendered as a strong wind might lyrics penned down by clouds, as such And when singing, green vegetation bows There was poetry before we learned to hear Drums that tender soft beats, far but near Brief gaiety across the heavens Heard passion when it stills…

  • Wattle by Robin Bliss

    Wattle blossom, Wattle yellow Makes me feel kinda mellow With your flowers, brilliant bright Fills my soul with much delight Saffron, citron and festive gold Buttercup and colours bold And so I loiter on my way In your presence I would stay Yes your sweet scent laden breeze Sets my soul and mind at ease…

  • Love’s Silhouette

    We have our silhouette against sun rise, When we stand, staring in our grey eyes, Yet the sun may bear witness to this tryst Start a blog.

  • 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…

  • To First Heartbreaks

    I loved you even when you won’t feel the same way. I wasn’t your kind of man, you said. So I felt this heart break slowly and finally swallowed the bitter pill. I tried to mask my feelings but my mind laugh at my effort. So I took a break to think things through. But…

  • Sing with me

    Sing with me Let’s talk lyrics only known to poetry, Dance with me Let’s swirl upon night’s quiet rhythm. Start your blogging here.

  • Let go, completely

    I had many fights as I grew up. Most times, I was the one bullied and had no option but to push back. Then I thought retaliation was the best option. I could match word for word or fist for fist. Thought of forgiveness only came to me when I let it. But each time…

  • Seeker

    I see a golden ray Giving light from afar Up the lonely road Near the cliffs edge Where leaves fall in circles, Caring about nothing As they fall, happily And the skies not seen But a streak of sun light Filing through waving trees Now and then, Rodents of tall trees, Curious about the passerby…

  • Back home

    Well, the morning bus was fast enough. Now, I’m here again, Ovim my beautiful home! I noticed new additions to the garden, date palms, groundnuts, turmeric, plantains, cane sugar, grapes, pawpaw, oranges, guava, coconut, sour sops, tomatoes, mangoes, yams, cocoyams and more. My aunt had turned this small garden to a demonstration farm. My fluffy…

  • Another Evening Storm with the Rainmaker

    … And there’s another rainstorm brewing over this town tonight. Out in the cold street, light bulbs glow here and there, but meshed in grim embrace of darkness itself. I feel the wind lick the skin on my forearm when I hold the curtain to see the rainstorm. There’s a strange but sweet smell, of…

  • Worries on the relaxed Lockdown in Nigeria

    Now that the government relaxed the sit-at-home order, I may travel home to see my loved ones and pick some supplies. My movement is within my state; I’ll go no further than that. Everyone has been worried and could only connect via phone. But I’m worried that this relaxed lockdown may allow for interstate traveling.…

  • Quiet Lakeside

    Once upon a quiet lakeside, Where blue clouds stay, With very thick fog dwell, And tall Figs hide in them Like towers, Over a host of colours, Painting down the valley When the sun rays fall And the forest below So all may turn to gold. Clouds are not left behind They shine in the…

  • Ever Searching

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

  • Muse: Thoughts

    Nothing gives me exceptional hope But thoughts of coming home to you You can start a blog like this one.

  • Persevere & Good Deeds

    Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow may be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine. Jack Ma English dictionary defined perseverance as continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure. It is persistently enduring to the end. Start your blogging experience here. First lesson to pick…