Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Pastoral

  • Self Reflection 14: Courage

    Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. –Lao Tzu

  • Muse: Think of us

    Think of a future together, Let it go if you can’t see one

  • Wait on the Stars

    Night is falling, I wait on the stars To tell a tale or two

  • The Magic in a Smile

    A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear. Let me tell you a story of how my experience got me an intern position in a leading Nigerian bank. In 2010, I was privileged to sit for a recruitment test in my school. The test was supervised by representatives of Diamond Bank Nigeria PLC, now…

  • Thoughts: Friends Vs Foes 2

    After watching this funny video, I concluded that people are not always what they seem. Friends, colleagues and even family members may sabotage someone’s effort, thereby becoming a hindrance to that person’s progress. Keep in mind that we can achieve progress when everyone in our boat is rowing with and not against us. ***

  • Self Reflection 13: Happiness

    Fill yourself with joy. Let your inner self radiate true happiness.

  • Homeland

    I love you homeland

  • Another visit to Ovim’s Hills

    If you encounter tablelands and rocks, hills and valleys, waterfalls and streams, abundant trees and virgin forests, all set in one quiet countryside, you will agree that Ovim is really blessed. Ovim is situated on ancient hills, a beautiful place for camping and outdoor fun. Each time I visit I get healed by her beautiful…

  • Self Reflection 12: Patience

    The law of sowing and reaping may take time to manifest sometimes, but it will surely come to pass.

  • Music in me

    They say you are the reason why they sing, I say you are the song in my heart.

  • Muse: Family

    Things may change but we begin and end with the family.

  • Cling to Hope

    I cling to hope She woke slowly But I must wait

  • Reflection

    I wonder why we, sophisticated humans find it hard to love. If we all can take a lesson or two from ants, the world may just be as peaceful as the anthill. I saw on Facebook a video of people being tormented and executed somewhere in Asia and Christians in Northern Nigeria and a human…

  • Self Reflection 11: Feed your Faith

    Feed your faith, starve your doubts.

  • Happy birds

    Take flight happy birds See where the world ends Take no note of your stress Just live for another fine day

  • Lullaby: Breezy Night

    Breezy nights are fun, Soft air descend, Caressing the happy curtains, Flirting with the candle light And casting a strange shadow From the pool, the frog choir began Preparing for their procession Yet this night is very young So I wait for the coming rain And her wonderful lullabic songs

  • Self Reflection 10: Don’t worry

    Worry gives a small thing a bigger shadow. Feed your faith and don’t be anxious!

  • Muse: Meet me

    Meet me at the tunnels end, there I’ll wait…

  • International Women’s Day

    I wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day! Remember, education is still the best empowerment.

  • Two Poems: True Happiness & Sun Ride

    1. True happiness come from the inside By accepting and treating yourself right, Teach people love by loving yourself And seeds of peace and joy will grow 2. I drift away towards the sun ride Watching pretty clouds ride fast, My hills slowly sink – farther off Back at town, I smell gutted tomatoes

  • Self Reflection 9: Loyalty

    Be faithful in small things. Because, it’s in them that your strength lies. Mother Theresa.

  • Muse: I choose you

    I’ll choose you any day; today and tomorrow

  • Dealing with Anger and Frustration

    I compiled what worked for me in dealing with anger and frustration, I hope they work for others too. The first thing I do when I’m angry is to walk away. I hold back the urge to argue, reply or fight back even when I’m clearly right. When I’m angry I ignore the offender and…

  • Self Reflection 7: Plan

    Plans not executed are as good as failure.

  • Memories

    You remind me of home, far away, Fine memories I cherish each day

  • Self Reflection 6: Watch and Pray

    Never relax your guard: watch and pray.

  • Homecoming

    Mama is waiting The hills too! The road is slow I hear her call… I’m coming mother, I’m coming home!

  • Self Reflection 5: Be contented

    There’s nothing wrong in helping, giving away roses, gifts and love. People may take these for granted, be contented to being the good person you are.

  • Self Reflection 4: Gratitude

    Gratitude is an attitude that creates doors in walls and hearts.

  • Muse: My friend

    You my friend is wild, Yet your acquaintance is mild

  • Remember

    Remember the setting sun will rise, Tomorrow will become yesterday And life must definitely find a way

  • First rain

    First rain, Strong wind, We celebrate The long wait, And sniff the scent Off the wet earth

  • Always be mine

    Always be mine.

  • Self-Reflection 3: Focus

    Focus and reflect. 📷@sabine_stols

  • Self Reflection 2: Love yourself

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

  • Self Reflection 1: Walk alone

    Sometimes it’s good to walk alone to allow your mind find its purpose.

  • Thank you

    I feel better today. I think the malaria and stress is gone. I’m ready to start work again. Can anyone recommend a good editor and publisher? I’ve a drama and some short stories I’m considering to publish. Thank you for your likes and support. 💛💙💜💚❤

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 6 (Another Attack)

    That night I had another attack. It was midnight and everybody was settled for some sleep. The moon was white, there were no stars and the evening brought mild breezes. Wild dogs and wolves howled from the hilly distance and the night was deafened in their terrifying noise. Night was nobody’s friend those days. Travelers…

  • Muse: Even Though…

    Let me hold your hands, look into your eyes & sing, For even though I fail sometimes, I love you still

  • Introducing The Rainmaker

    In Africa, some people are known to conjure rain. This piece is not occultic. I will explain more on rainmakers later. PROLOGUE Give me rain, Let the wind rage again Give me rain, dear Heaven! (1.) Let it flood the browned farmlands, Let it refresh the waters of the ponds, And the hards rocks upon…

  • A Farmer’s Love song

    I picked a pretty fruit Which reminds me of you Grey eyes and elegant There are many fruits But you are just exotic A fine and pretty sight You are an amazing fruit Like the seed of Sunflower Sweet to keep my days light You have become my fruit The sunshine after darkness My best…

  • Images from John Okereke

    I met John at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. I wasn’t sure what his talent was then. I’m now. Follow him at @putinpicturesJohn is a jolly good fellow…

  • African Folklore

    Folklore are tales, legends, superstitions of a particular ethnic population. In Igbo culture and other African societies, story telling is unique, such that it is a passage to transmit the tradition of a place from one generation to another. These tales convey the history, ancient messages and old knowledge. They teach morals and virtues to…

  • Muse: Thoughts of You

    Nights may fall, crickets may call, I sit alone, thinking of you

  • 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…

  • Haiku*: Two snails

    Two snails approach rail tracks Skies are grey Train horns afar

  • Anger Vs Love

    A friend sent this to me on WhatsApp and I thought of sharing with you. While a man was polishing his new car, his 6 year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times; not…

  • Building Bridges

    What is better than bringing two worlds together, Bringing life and earth over a body of water? What is better than true friendship When it blesses all with companionship? What is better than the scent of the rain When it brings the reign of droughts to an end? What is better than the smiles of…

  • Muse: Life

    Life is strings of memories, Little moments and turning points, Love and forgiveness, Flowers and breezy nights, Happiness and bird watching… Life is living experience, Horse riding and beaches, Hiking and sunset, Coconut juice and warm soups, So life is found most in simple things… *** Want a WordPress site like this one? Then click…

  • View from my Backyard

    Beware! There’s a furry ninja lurking in the shadows of this tree! Like when you see him in this slow-mo vid. The trees here are home to many squirrels and birds and it’s just at my backyard! I have known these squirrels since I was a kid. This morning I patiently waited to watch them…