Why is the storm angry?I heard tiny fireflies askThis evening of barrage,Of tempest and darkness The rain bothers me tooShe flirts with my vision Hurls my soft curtains upAnd annoys the candlelight Even the gloom is ephemeralBut window panes growl and shakeEach time the clouds rumble outside
Indeed, whenever I see images of sleeping lions, Mariam Makeba’s song starts playing in my mind. But don’t let those cute and innocent looking sleeping cats fool you! They would be awake at the slightest noise. Now hush! It’s a good night for me and the lions! 😴🦁
A herd of African Elephants
Tut, tsi, tsii, tuut, tsiiWill you think I was talking to myself?Haha, not in any way! I call to my sheep that waySo we bond, we use a special codeAnd when they spread over the grasslandI sit to play my guitar- singing HallelujahQuivering fingers, dry in the noon sun,Taste of dew on my lips, a […]
Smiles bring back what belongs to the cheerful shepherd, The evening is her favourite moment when daylight fade
A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener […]
Silence is not the melody of night Lingering moon, dawdling owls & crickets Emerge to begin the circus called dusk
Igbo: Mmanù arîótara arîóta anaghî ezu ofe English: Borrowed palm oil can never be enough for soup Origin: This proverb originated from Southern Nigeria. It is an Igbo proverb. Palm oil (mmanù akwú in Igbo) is a standard cooking oil used in West Africa. In Nigeria’s Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Bini, and Ibibio land, it’s vital […]
Global Warming Is Real If you are in West Africa, you will notice that the harmattan winds didn’t blow this past year. Growing up, it was the norm to witness dry and intense storms that blow morning, noon and evening. Then exposed body parts will turn white unless you used a particular type of oil […]
Shiny stars, still evening, Smooth, breezy companion, A shepherd’s lonely hymn
A Crow was sitting on a tree Doing nothing all day. A small Rabbit saw the Crow, And asked him, ‘Can I also sit like you And do nothing all day long?’ The Crow answered: ‘Sure, why not.’ So, the Rabbit sat on the ground Below the Crow, and rested. All of a sudden a […]
Hi everyone! How was your day? I have a story to share. So bring your seats and mats to the fireplace, listen attentively and may the nightingales sing us a lullaby when we retire to bed. Once upon a time there lived a wise man by the name of Mamad. He never lied. All the […]
I’m memories away from you Yet you live just in my heart I look up the skies to see your face, And each star glitter with your smile I’m left with memories of us, so blessed It’s been 15 years already and I continue to miss your love and care. For DSc Nduka Iroegbu, my […]
Sun set slowly above the wood Shadows appear, shepherd dreams; Soft breeze upon evening tide, 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 countryside, Scent […]
Sometimes it’s hard to stop a rolling stone, but whenever it may roll, it always seems to find its way back home. Brett Boyett Home Forever Dear motherland, I’m proud to call you my home. I’m reminded of sunset; it tells that it ends where it began. From tree branches on the hilly countryside, I […]
I heard the Wind tell this story Storyteller: Ifochakpii! Audience: Waa!!! Storyteller: Gather my friends. It’s time to tell a story. It’s time also to hear a tale. Gather by the fireside, warm yourselves. Bring the little ones to the center. Keep them more hospitable for the night, and her cold hands are nigh. Sit […]
Beginning and end Light after dark Dark before light Darkened skies With dancing fireflies Breezy evening Joyful moonlight And glittering stars A shepherd’s lore Down the country Sheep and goats, Green and gold, Patches of life, Water and fire, Dust and wind, Heaven and earth All in fine contrast But happy unison Shallow roots shoot […]
An old man once told me the story of how as a young man, his mother used to ask him: “What is the most important part of your body?” Through the years, he would take a guess at what he thought was the correct answer. First time, his answer was: “The ears.” The mother replied: […]
Dark clouds slowly grow and gather, The fast wind starts her grim asunder, Along her path, she flung away things; rooftops and paper So that unhappy owners may come looking for them later
August is a beautiful month and my month of birth. In seven days time I’ll be a year older. Have a beautiful month!
The breadth of earth lay wet But the sun rise from the east, From vague sights and mists The dark jungles, hot and serene Yet lions stride through the green Fearing neither man or faun A shriek up the skies… Eagles soar high; many miles Hopes high, they seeth thru’ times The wind surfs wild […]
New landlords Okay guys, I traveled to my country home or just say my village. I was welcomed by squirrels racing on the rooftop. I thought it was a cat at first but cats don’t fly on tree branches. I finally saw one skinny squirrel holding his chin. It wouldn’t wait for me to get […]
When I wait under the old mango tree I count the glittering stars far away And laying on soft sandy soil I get a better glimpse of the dark skies The wind is my guest, She rent her cold self to me, She whispers tunes of nature And drag tree leaves to fan me, It’s […]
There’s a land behind those ancient hills Hidden in the thick greened forest, One of mighty foliage, brushes & roots Dark green shrubs gather by the riverside Ripe fruits plunge into the quiet waters And fish schools scatter in excitement Brown and black crabs meet to get drunk Squirrels watch them, amused from treetops The […]
I like to watch the sun rise, to wait while she cast her beauty on earth, So I wake early to fly my kite, to gather the stray bugs, worms and locust, The fields are my playground, a partner to hides and seek, I watch the sun, her golden smile, and light it brought to […]
When twilight came I took a walk, for some air And down the roadside I went. There a young man stood Bearded heavily unlike myself Throwing corn seeds into his mouth And grinding them with such relish That his brown teeth showed off He stood a little close to my fence And I decided to […]
Gather around the fire and read this story with me. It’s a long bedtime tale. An honest farmer had once a donkey that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work. His master therefore was tired of keeping […]
An extraordinary land Africa is a land of diversity and extreme beauty. From the rising golden sun to swift flowing rivers and peaceful, grazing black wildebeest spread across the brown and green savannah, one can always have a glimpse of nature’s beautiful paradise. And nature has a way of healing everything… If you ever had […]
Your voice wakes the wild nature in me When you sing the lyrics gladden my soul I adore those moments you look over your shoulder To catch my happy stare; as you dance away, laughing *** You dress like tulips that grow on the farmyard Fresh, delicate pink, lively as green bean pods Scenting the […]
A brief intro When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later when nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies […]
When summer finally came, a lot had changed The last snow melted and the sad land woke Grasses started growing, covering the outer earth So those who burrow scrambled out from the dust Soft airs and tidings surround the mountainside Sending sweet emissaries around the valley below Vines, myrrh, mistletoes and pines sprout happily In […]
Dear Friends, I’m grateful that we made it to July 2020. You’ll agree that the year has been a stressful one. I hope you’re well and keeping safe. Don’t be anxious, things will make sense soon and we’ll live to testify. Few hours before new year, I made a wish that I wanted to see […]
Writing a poem is like picking flowers in a minefield. Lay down your life spread-eagled, so that the grass, sharp as syllables, won’t cut you. Let your fingers test the soil. Don’t tug at the roots. Seize adjectives for hostages, negotiable at the border between war and peace, leading you all the way back to […]
Joy is fruit blossomed in the heart of farmers Their smiles are meshed with toil and sweat, Patch of earth print upon their faces And on shoulders they carry huge baskets Marching towards the fields, when it is harvest… Fields are ripe, and trees are heavy with fruit Birds sing from tree tops, monkeys dance […]
I am needle, needless of pain, driving through fabric, to create a happy stitch, I am dance, sometimes something sane, twists and turns, breaking within or without, I am fury, memories may wane, trust on mere ink and paper, pale but yet transparent I am innocence, a cry too soon, living for the weak, suns […]
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, crisp smell, Moist dew, sun rise, beautiful land Take it all in and live in it, Inhale deeply before it’s gone
** 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 […]
Beautiful ornament, guardian of my land I salute you gladiator, My great warrior! Your strong fronds are high To shade the village from heat, You stand on those ancients hills A pillar rooted deep into earth, Little forests grow, here and there, You tower over all, trees and fauna, But yet a citadel for great […]
Oke Iroegbu's Musings