Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Pastoral

  • Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors

    It is breezy here and I have a tale for the evening. Gather around, sit with me under this mango tree, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy this poetale… Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once in the animal kingdom There lived a Hen and a Cock and Their neighbors, the Rat and the Lizard One day the…

  • Iyi Okoroafor

    As I mentioned earlier, Nigeria is blessed with many water bodies. Chief among them is Niger and Benue rivers. There are small rivers like Cross and Argungu. Kainji Lake and Nigeria’s part of Lake Chad provide electric power and fish tourism respectively. In Igboland iyi is the name given to streams or rivers. Rivers are…

  • Lullaby

    Evening breezes are swift lullaby From the distance Burning grasses sigh Bats, owls hover above Tiny insects welcome a starry night Crickets quiz themselves While the mantis scavenge for a bite Still this airy night is very young

  • My Soul Longs for Thee

    My soul longs for thee, dear motherland To run the patched dusty red muds And to swim in the rivers crisscrossing all over you Let me climb the trees of your forests And drink from the shallow streams My soul longs to nibble the tender pumpkin seeds Freshly cut from hilly farms To dance with…

  • Family is Energy

    For more than a week, the waters of our creek Oko’pia have been chalky. Villagers say each time this happened, an animal (Atah – Alligator) is digging away at the source. I don’t know where the source is and honestly if I knew I wouldn’t go. 😐 Our farm lies further away from the village,…

  • Egypt: Land of the Mummies

    Here is Egypt’s iconic pyramids taken by a friend who went there last month. Welcome to Pharaoh’s land! There’s a lot to see and do in Egypt and the African continent. Visit Africa today.

  • Palm Trees

    Like a tropical masquerade she stood With hands as long and spiky fronds And breasts as red fruits, ripe and Fresh snacks for all who come to her feast Long are her strong and tiny roots For she stands as firm sentry and greets All that journey through the quiet hamlet She hides behind hills…

  • Reflection

    Fast falls the evening tide in Ovim. At this time of the day thick fog descend from hills surrounding our village. Tens of thousand incessant voices converse in low tones. I’m confused on which to listen to. Evenings must be a time of reflection for every creature. It’s even more exciting to sit among them…

  • Little Feather

    Dreams are not for you little feather For you must fly and soar above all, Above those who may delay your sails And across thick forests and arid lands Which are nobody’s foe or friend I am jealous of you but wish you well So wave me a bye, spread your wings, And let the…

  • Morning sun

    Shine forth morning sun Make dew drop and disappear Paint the world gold And take all gloom away, From fields let farmers behold, From forgeries let smiths smile And from hamlets let our joy flow With every fine memory you bring

  • Morning view of Uwaoma Hill

    Exotic view of Ugwu Uwaoma! The pathway leads to Umukwu, my granny’s place. This morning I was privileged to pass through this ancient hill. Around the hill are ponds and streams. There are Catfish and other species in them. I will visit the farm later to collect some wood. I heard there’s a stream before…

  • Haiku of the Harmattan

    Green things are brown Harmattan made them so Even trees turn mad dancers

  • Dust of Locust with Steven M Ross

    Okechukwu Iroegbu: A dark patch I saw from afar On a day the doors were left ajar A falling mist upon earth Greysome; a sight I loath The sun had seen much For I, never seen such Steven M Ross: Sunlight still prevail Every emotion that you feel Like poetry is a bust So does…

  • Christmas!

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

  • Merry Christmas Eve

    As we progress to the year’s end, remember to enjoy the people God has put in your life. Drop all forms of disagreements and grudges, be humble to serve others, let things you can’t control be and try to help people. Forgive and see things from different angles. Never forget to spend quality time with…

  • Christmas Stories 2

    “Tonight the stars will guide us to the baby Take your cloaks, it will be a long journey” One magi summoned his excited companions It was dark but they prepare their camel train Cold airs spread the late evening mist As they marched through sand and dust Winds soared, it was darker up the clouds…

  • Masoyina (My Love)

    Love is when you stare into my eyes To smile when we got no reason to It gives me pleasure to love you, masoyina* And I cherish that I do every sunset **** Masoyina*: Hausa language for my love.

  • Image: Two African girls

    Here is an image of two beautiful African girls. In Africa life is simple. This two girls posed for a picture, one smiling and the other hands on her head. What do you make of this image?

  • Welcome to Akara

    When I was growing up I was fascinated each time we traveled to the countryside. It was fun as I could query the roads with my eyes and count palm trees as we went. Welcome to Akara, the biggest town in Isuikwuato. The name may sound familiar to Nigerians as it shares same pronunciation with…

  • Friendship

    Listen and ride through nostalgia Friendship may restore old memories Of joyful love and companionship

  • Candlelight

    Dear candlelight Dance for me, throw your light Upon the darkness in this box Make these great shadows a hoax Fire your joyful flames up So you may read words my pen drop Gather your heat and strength Waltz with the wind, feel the warmth Dance again when you lick the air Mock me when…

  • How I see trees

    It’s grandeur how trees culture mushrooms, Gathering all little termites to themselves And providing their needs of shelter and food Their branches are playground for monkeys and flies, They shed leaves which serve as bed for worms below Birds nest and sing from the farthest of leaves, Squirrels hide and seek, throwing nuts at strangers…

  • Folklore: King Grisly Beard from Project Gutenberg

    A great king of a land far away in the East had a daughter who was very beautiful, but so proud, and haughty, and conceited, that none of the princes who came to ask her in marriage was good enough for her, and she only made sport of them. Once upon a time the king…

  • In Ovim 2

    Good morning. I promised to take some shots during my morning walk. I’m not a good photographer though.There’s a thick fog this morning. These kind of buildings are common in the village. It hasn’t been long since the mud house went out of fashion. With high rate of poverty, it’s hard to afford good housing…

  • A haiku of the night 2

    Soft wool, fluffy pillow, starry night Three fellows bidding a shepherd sleep Crickets sing from cracks in the wall

  • The Animal King

    Do you know why there is no king in the animal kingdom? Here is a story narrating why. I wrote this poetale a longtime ago. Have fun. Once upon a time In a land far away, Across seven rivers And seven hills Lived a clan of animals They knew no strife No envy, no rivalry…

  • Haiku: Tropical Fantasies

    Sun rays, sea breezes; gold and blue fantasies, Twilight muse from clouds when evenings approach Noisy monkeys play beside the raffia palm forest

  • Sound of Water

    My poems are like sounds of flowing water, It tells of no serious things in particular; But little of people that wash others’ feet And the wild that call green forests home It talks of fauns that hide in crevices And dreamy waterfalls, happy to fall with currents, Rushing, flowing in streams and rivers, Out…

  • Legend of Wawadomea: First Wave of sails

    There are dreams I like to forget. These dreams came, went and when I wake I find myself still wallowing in my own reverie. These dreams gave me illusions and changed the way I perceived the pirates. After the quick fight with the cannibals of Juren, a small island off the coast of the bigger…

  • A poem for Ovim, Isuikwuato

    Morning wakes with the sun Windy clouds, happy yawns Quiet town, down the hill Misty paths, birds sing With the forest’s inhabitantsTall palm trees stand guard From their branches, birds tweet Squirrels look down in fright or excitement Dropping oily snacks on trespassers Forest pathways are hijacked by monkeys Protesting when a group of boys…

  • Shepherd’s poem

    From bed of wool, sound of settling sheep bemused him Far up the night sky, stars want and rain was on her way These three things blessed the Shepherd’s thoughts and rest

  • Haiku: Tides

    Sunshine, blue skies and approaching tide Brown crabs crawl away, walking sideways Amused egrets follow, escorting their trail

  • Self-Control: The Fox and the Crow

    How is everybody today? What are you guys reading for the weekend? I’m compiling a new reading list, anyone willing to share or suggest a book? It’s almost bedtime here, but sleep can wait. I’m trying to study my guide to scholarship application. I have this bedtime tale to drop before I retire for the…

  • Haiku: Searching the Flames

    The unhappy hawk search the burning bush Folk say she was scouting for her old granny, But an escaping rabbit caught her attention instead

  • 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…

  • Haiku: A Summer Walk

    Take a summer stroll down the green bush Find three squirrels play by fallen tree logs Splash! A frightened frog jumps into the quiet pond

  • The Goose that laid the Golden Egg

    You may agree with me that evenings are best for story telling. In Africa, evenings are valuable family time. Dinner or sitouts allow time to reflect on the days work: achievements and disappointments, and to tell tales. Tales don’t just act as lullabies but convey moral virtues (and vices) as well. Now when a story…

  • A poem for Sailors

    See the sailors ships dance on the wave To the rising sun they prepare to sail Waiting to greet birds and smooth tides, And to dream when the evening rides See the sailors gather their sails With rum as their better companion They sing and tell tales from happy mouths, While the ready ship waltzed…

  • The Shepherd King

    If you are conversant with David’s story in the bible, then you can recall that he was a lad who led his father’s sheep to pasture in the forest. He learned to fight, for he fought off Bears and the Lion that came to steal the sheep. He learned to play the guitar which came…

  • The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”

    This is one of Aesop’s most famous fable. It’s old but not rusty. As you read through note that the fastest way to lose what we call our good character is to lose our honesty. There was once a shepherd boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village. Once he thought…

  • Happy Autumn song

    Autumn plays a game of colors Warm is her painted trees and land Sweet are the songs from her birds With the two, she gave benevolently *** Image by Yaran Qadr

  • Drums of Nature

    These are drums, of joy and fulfilment, Listen, Heaven sings her melodious hit Her clap of thunder startles me, Yet the raindrops act as my lullaby ** With Elabh

  • African Folktale: the Crows and the Cuckoo

    It is evening here and I feel like telling you a story. Bring your mat, come sit with me outside, by the fireside and let us enjoy the night breeze. Once upon a time there lived a set of Crows which plundered farms. Each day the farmers try to catch the Crows to no avail,…

  • Thoughts on Family

    Sometimes things change, but we begin and end with the family. Family is everything. It’s the final bus stop for every one. Please think of the prodigal son who returned to his father when he lost everything. Here are some notes on what to do to keep positive relationships with your family members. Don’t let…

  • Dreaming of Summer

    Summer is a dreamers tale, told in advance In this dream; grasses are green and squirrels dance Summer is the song of comfort in the hearts of many It refreshes, renews and brings solace to the wary Summer is the wild flower growing by the roadside An adorable fragrance from shrubs, sweet and mild Summer…

  • Muse: Lullaby

    What is the sound of lullaby to you? Is it the touch of raindrops on rooftops Or the mild, soothing voice of love? Will it be a swift palm upon a light drum Or the Sparrow singing her heart away? To me, lullaby is a touch to the soul What the body is too heavy…

  • A Shepherd’s Song

    Evening airs are comfort to a tired soul, Which all morning was submerged in wool, Cuddled by cute lamb, fresh and beautiful. Up in the skies, glittering stars play their role Stories of the giraffe and the moon they tell, How the giraffe ate the sickly moon half! As the Shepherd lay down on the…

  • Reintroducing the Legend of Wawadomea

    1 Now I write you a piece of my heart, tonight In the growing Harmattan and her temperament I am cut in two- halved in your Providence One for your happiness, another for Your happiness 2 This piece of heart tells a tale of the sea folk a story of survival, a war of loneliness…

  • Amuse: Little flower

    Dear Little Flower sitting, On the wooden plate I can’t help but wonder Why you glow, so red, Will it be, the squirrel Asked you out And now, you’re red with blush?

  • 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…