Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Poetry

  • Night Poem: Silence

    Silence is not the melody of night Lingering moon, dawdling owls & crickets Emerge to begin the circus called dusk

  • Love Poem: Remind Me Again

    Why Not Love? Do I need to be in love with someone to write about love? The answer is no! As mentioned earlier in a blog post, I always write about love because of the natural and phenomenal beauty I observe. I’ve trained my mind to see the beauty in everything and anything. Consequently, I…

  • Rhyme: Pensive

    What shall we say Now at this delicate moment of May That we stand on this wet clay Watching the Sun leave the day? Now the leaves fall and fade In the streams, we quietly wade And to our past, we solemnly bade Welcoming the future which the Creator made The dark clouds grow and…

  • Muse: Splendour

    The swift surge of the evening air Compares not to your amazing smile Your glittering teeth, the splendour of my soul

  • Love Poem: Remember

    Love poems weren’t my thing when I first attempted to write. In high school, my English literature teacher saw my war book manuscript, which I still have today (goodness, I have a way with books), and thought I could better write about love. I wasn’t into love, you know – an introvert, nervous in crowds,…

  • The Virus called Racism

    Indeed no one deserves to be discriminated against based on race, ideologies, beliefs, and personality. Unfortunately, mankind and his civilization had conquered or are in the process of conquering all kinds of viruses except the greatest of them – racism. If love traveled to another land Then I saw it fly on the wings of…

  • Adumaradan by Niyi Osundare

    Your love engulfs me As the harmattan overwhelms the heat I will pledge a thousand favours to the wind To courier my voice to your ears Adumaradan, come close to me So you can behold the honour of my presence Since the day I set eyes on you Since the day I had a glimpse…

  • Stars

    I tell stories of many trees that live far away in forest shelters, Away from harm, that blesses man with delightful airs and nights, That tells of hope in every lovely dream for all that seek tree rights

  • Poem: A Farmer’s Dream

    Night lets the farmer dream on his fields Little crickets hide in cracks on the earth They sing and listen to the wind howl Fairy butter-moths follow candlelight Amazed at the red maiden who was a wild dancer Valleys of ripe corn and golden wheat Are dreams blessed for the diligent farmer, When plates of…

  • Beauty and Stones

    Hills covered in green Towering over valleys, Stories of man’s invention; Iron snakes and rickety wheels Sunshine is colour of ripe wheat Children play in the prairie fields Morning air swing up tall trees Beauty is seen all over the land There is so much beauty around But stones in the hearts of many men

  • Hurricane by Nicole Coventry

    I read this excellent piece, and I fell in love with it. I should share it with you. This is from Nicole Coventry’s poetry book The Chaos of Letting Go. I had mistaken you For the sea For sunshine And soft sand But you ended up Being the hurricane That destroyed me

  • What Is Poem?

    What I Think of Poetry We’ve discussed many issues in the past, but in today’s Poets Corner, we will be talking about poems. Poems are known by other names, namely: verse, ballad, ode, dirge, elegy, passage, lyrics, songs, hymns, stanza, epic, haiku, and more. I will say poetry is a function of mood and situation.…

  • Old Poem

    I like to think that the stars had seen it all—the beginning of life and the present. The stars are always up there, day and night, and they have seen a lot happen on earth. They have witnessed government regimes come and go; kingdoms rise and fall, and all we can ever imagine – known…

  • Two Poems: Fly and Babies by Peniel Gifted

    FLY Fly little bird Through this sky of whites I want to watch The green wings, flapping. Fly high, even higher Like the bar-headed goose Your bod- blithe As I kiss the Jasmine Hugging from the sky. BABIES With them I sit- The people of Rainbow raiment. They tune in Jillion tunes Sketching a heart…

  • Poem – Little Carnival

    Long train of soldier ants Aboard the swerving tree Several spiky leaves float When swarms of bees And flies waltz in sunlight, Beautiful birds tweet This little carnival was about The milk from a leaking coconut

  • Muse: Stars within

    We dream of stars without, while a galaxy glitter within.

  • Night Poem: Call

    Ever heard birds call out To the fast-falling night Across the glossy horizon As the setting sun sink? Ever waited for sunset To bring in pots, Take out warm mats And wait for moonlight? Slowly night falls here So ends the noisy day

  • Night Poem – Starry Night

    One night, two flasks, A room full of mild wind, A grey paw-licking cat, And a naughty parrot A story rising off the kettle As it goes on with its whistle Two tablespoons of sugar, Lettuce, beans, and cucumber, A very confused dinner Bat parade, Early night, coming cold A gust of breezy wind But…

  • Muse: Rendezvous

    I’ll wait, By the stream path Where road parts Gather beneath The baobab Where all life began

  • Hibiscus by Elizabeth Amarachukwu Okafor

    Red petals, green tan Three singing hornets And a happy, happy sun Hovering above the scent Marrying my words with yours is so good a hibiscus. Scenting every phrase with juice

  • I stand beautiful – Poetry

    Memories fade, distanced more Yet apart we wade, off Tears are part of the roles And distrust has become one too Your words still cut through I’m assured that love went wrong I was rock but you made me gold So I offer this little flower token In appreciation to your absentia love I always…

  • Suicide – Poetry

    Failure defeats losers but inspires winners Is it not odd When life turns Blurry, vague, With memories of Disappointments, breakups, Death, and great failures? If pain greets the weary, Life like salt may lose its taste Instincts then question life: Its meaning and reason Daring it to find another In a world away from the…

  • The Crow and The Rabbit

    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…

  • Sohana’s Little Poem

    She hears the sun cry. Only a sky full of pain. Her mind becomes crowded, and she remembers her country. Sohana penned these words for her #Rohingya friends. v/@unicefbd #TeamEurope #EUSolidarity #StrongerTogether https://t.co/ekPp1DBUd3

  • Muse: Town

    I came to town Where nights are cold And stray cats walk it, Where playing street children Kick oval leather around But return hungry to mothers, I see glittering stars Shine from afar Nothing lights night better I see men in huge cars Puff smoke into air Through engines and mouths I detest their folly…

  • Dear Politician

    Dear Politician, I write to you with a sad heart Somewhere in my being I grieve My blue ink run fast on paper Like red from men on the streets I wonder why you look elsewhere Sipping your tea with disgust While this nation fall apart! Trust is a rare commodity We gave all to…

  • Three Colours of Love by Njabulo N

    Good evening. Today I will share with you THREE COLOURS OF L♡VE poem. In one’s lifetime one may experience only three kinds of love: 1. You love at a young age and let everything go down the drain because of stupid things 2. You fall in love and along the journey you get hurt, lied…

  • Thoughts – Poetry

    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…

  • Lumberer’s Faith – Poetry

    Many walk this path, many never return the same Before sunset, the town gets filled-up with tired men Those who found providence in wood Returning hands weak and worn-out, Overtaken by life’s numerous good For faith waits to guide to paths Where hope as lush forests flourish

  • How to Paint like Van Gogh (Poetry) by David Thane Cornell

    Viewers will think it’s only a print when they view it, if you don’t put your whole body and mind into it. The sun in your head, a storm in your heart, is a good start. Now lie down for hours among sunflowers. Then, when the storm passes, don’t cut off your ear, paint this…

  • Morning Sun – Poetry

    Glittering morning sun, Woke to nature’s beauty, Warm scent of caked clay Leftover from night storm, To me life is series of moments; Made up of sounds and sights Cackling peacocks, blue skies, Green fields, huge waterfalls, A female goat calling to her kid, Group of laughing basket weaving girls, Three red headed lizards fighting,…

  • A Shepherd’s Poem

    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…

  • The Lucern Tree by Robin Bliss

    The Lucerne tree in flower White petals floating down Carpeting the pathway, and The front veranda with a sea Of white, white everywhere Coming upon this alba sea As a child; with music in my head Amazed at the ocean of pearl Sitting down in the middle of whiteness Whiteness all around me, whiteness Whiteness…

  • Night Fall In The Countryside

    Night falls behind the village fence Last traces of day, shadows fade Tree lines turn grey and black While the sky host a million stars Quiet evening, sound of water Heard down the waterfalls, by the streamside And from thickets bullfrogs wade Enjoying the fresh and sweet breeze Tree branches play with the wind Soft…

  • Hometown by Peniel Gifted

    That magnificent city Built beautifully Its walls painted in great colours Furnished with happy diamonds Its streets with the unceasing glitters. My hometown The city of the two great hills The city where I feel the cool breeze of nativity Beholding the swaying tulips and smiling sun The love of nature, giving me the mild…

  • Sun rays

    Tall tree canopies, Sun rays filter Morning their phantom

  • Reflection: A Cold World

    An empathetic mindset and love are what we need for a better world. It’s utterly monstrous weather out there. Each time the breeze touches my skin, I shudder and sneeze. I’m cuddled on the bed, clutching a phone in one hand in a dark room, too lazy to read or even find a light. No…

  • Poem: Love Conquers

    If dreams are colourless Then love is a magical dream That teaches and encourages, It trusts from the heart Builds bridges over water To bring worlds together True love shared Fear no colour or creed I lay my head On your shoulders Let’s take this love to moments Where all eyes see its beauty

  • Lullaby: Sing for me a Lullaby

    Sing for me dear nightingale Gather your host of voices Rant through the early night Tweet away joyfully from heart Let my ears quiver from your song Let frogs and crickets listen to it To respond with their baritone Sing for the sweet nectar For red roses and hibiscus And the traveling sunlight Tell the…

  • Some Lucky Men

    Some men are born to good luck All they do or try to do comes right All their geese are swans All their cards are trumps Toss them which way you will They will always like poor puss alight upon their legs And only move so much the faster

  • Poets Corner: Difference between Wisdom, Knowledge and Education.

    My take on this… It’s generally believed that knowledge is power. Yet many find it difficult to differentiate between wisdom and knowledge. For me knowledge is having the stuff while wisdom boils down to application of the stuff. To differentiate both from education is even a thing of further logic. In my opinion education should…

  • This Day, This Year, This Life By Pam Impson

    So much gone, so much wrong So much sorrow in this song Teary in my isolation Weary in my desperation Panting in my desolation Ranting in complete frustration So much yearning to belong So much is gone, so much is wrong This day It rolled me like a cheap cigar Stale inside a crowded bar…

  • Love Poem: Dream Together

    Faint voices speak, Loud in my mind I look in your eyes It tells sweet stories If I look away It is to smile, in my heart We live beautiful moments, Laughter, peace, kindness, Harmony, playful fights And you, a perfect inspiration; Pouting red lips That reminds of cherries, Hair dancing in the breeze That…

  • Breathe Again by Njabulo N.

    Breathe again, Like you have just gained yet another chance to live, Life is not promised but experienced and lived. I have grown to be a different person, Different from normal people who do everything like everyone. My life is not the same anymore, I wonder why everyone is worried about it, I no longer…

  • Poem: Man and Nature

    It is pleasant to sit in the green wood, and to watch the Sun in his chariot of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that hide in the valleys and the heather that blows on the hill. Yet love may…

  • Poem: Sail away

    Evening skies – sparkle of gold, Brewing mills across the clouds, While it may sail to faraway lands

  • Thoughts: I Wonder

    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…

  • Poetry: I’ll Wait

    Love can be crazy Yet I am amused I try to figure the words You pelt me with, When we spoke of love It was zenith of all, everything Days and nights It fell in and out Maybe this was right, I look farther away Towards sunrise A pint of love on my breast And…

  • Night Poem: Stars Glitter

    I watch pretty stars glitter From this fine little window, When night a perfect picture Hung across the wide horizon Fireflies dance around light bulbs Mighty shadows cast upon my paper Distracting a work full of life and art Yet I stare out to behold stars glitter

  • Tender Love by Njabulo N.

    Wasn’t my love enough for you? In my mind I had concluded that you loved only me, I thought you were cut from a different cloth, Like you were not the same like everyone I’ve met. But clearly, I was lying to myself, You loved everybody like a campaigning candidate. I could tell from my…