Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: Poetry

  • The Winds Asunder

    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

  • Muse: Nature’s Circus

    1 When you call, your sound rent through the wind Whispers, songs of the wild, emissary of mother Nature You send birds, they ‘caw-caw‘, they fly the blue clouds Making the skies their tuft, and you: their leisure 2 Green trees, red flowers, purple feathers, all in perfect unison You call to your own, you…

  • Shadows – Poetry

    When shadows are seen around It shows gathering or dispersing, Dancing or wrestling, singing or talking. Shadows clone for good or evil As a hefty hoe till the soft soil Her shadow strikes things dead Under the moon’s watchful eyes on this land, Shadows of branches on the ground Were green trees during the noon…

  • August Poem

    August is a beautiful month and my month of birth. In seven days time I’ll be a year older. Have a beautiful month!

  • Poets Corner: What is Love?

    Love As a growing Sunday School kid I learned a lot about love. Love can be defined when we explore it’s qualities or characteristics. Yet love is complex in every angle you chose to view it from. It is a mix of emotions, behaviours, and beliefs associated with strong feelings of affection, protectiveness, warmth, and…

  • Flight to Summer – Poetry

    There’s a symphony of joy, See it roar up bright skies! Emissaries of the aging day Graceful flights over Africa! * It float above the countryside Leaving to fresh, green fields, Above those endless forests Where hope still lived ahead * Each journey is to an unknown promise, Somewhere between joy and pain But fly…

  • Courage

    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…

  • Sunset in Ovim

    I stand by these rocks and hills, ancient To enjoy again a beautiful moment of sunset I’ve a new song to sing each time I behold the sun set A song sang by my father and his father’s father A song that echo through the hills, Like smoke dispersing from mills, Ancient like mud where…

  • Muse: Let good paths…

    Memories become tales untold Hope are dreams in soft shield If all passes into a sort of legend Then let good paths never fade

  • Reflection: Power in Unity

    Grandma’s Cooking Stove Grandma was a good cook. I always enjoyed her meals when I was a little boy. School holidays were fun for me because I had to travel home to her. She contributed immensely to those happy times. (God rest her soul.) Whenever she made her delicious soup, I usually sat by her…

  • Stars – Poetry

    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…

  • Another Tale from the Wild Woods

    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…

  • To my childhood…

    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…

  • Poetale: The Nomad

    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…

  • Before Moonshine

    Just before moonshine Three little mice ran, Up the hills they went Six pairs of legs fast, Working tirelessly Towards safe solitary, Away from barn owls And every lurking evil This poem was inspired by A. D.

  • Hope a poem by Ashok Gupta

    If winter comes can spring be far behind? Without hope, patience is not worth a dime! All that seems wise has already been said A hundred times. Let it stand alone Without the need of a guise. Evaluate it then within the recesses of your own mind. All thoughts need some context to be meaningful…

  • Divine Grace by Rajan Varghese

    Embracing beauty and power Musical melodies of divine excellence Grace and smile composed By the finest artist in brilliance Destiny follows you like God’s will Man often ordained as master of his own work and destiny to receive honour And power! As the divine grace granting new life with a new name and blessings! Like…

  • Love Poem: Let’s Dream Away

    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…

  • Art of Divine Poetry By Bhagirath Choudhary (Translated to Italian, Filipino, Albanian, French, Romanian, Spanish, Serbian)

    Art of Divine Poetry Poetic imagination Praises beauty of creation Giving words and voice To every human nation Poet feels the pulse By his poetic impulse Bard’s heart resonates With loving sonnets. Loving poetic spell When rises well The ordinary mortal Becomes divine poetry portal. With sacred passions Poets dress up naked nations Bards like…

  • Cranky Old Man: Anonymous Poet

    A brief intro When an old man passed away in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian rural town, it was thought that he had nothing of value left. Later, as nurses sorted through his modest belongings, they discovered this poem. Its depth and message so moved the staff that they made…

  • Poets Corner: What have you gained writing Poetry?

    Poetry Poetry is a composition in verse or language, exhibiting conscious attention to patterns. The bolded are crucial to understanding the true nature of poems. Poetry has been in existence for centuries. As an art that survived centuries, I was curious to find out why lyrics are written for so long. And to those who…

  • Tale of Wild Woods: Summer Arrives

     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…

  • July Wishes

    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…

  • Haiku: Home

    Night fall dreams A ride through moonshine Home may tell tales

  • Writing a Poem by David Thane Cornell

    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…

  • Path to Harvest – Poem

    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…

  • And So I Fly by Robin Bliss

    When I am Downtrodden. Trampled into the mud. Deserted by all. Misunderstood. Left for dead. Despised. Forgotten. You! My beloved, Are there for me. Your love, Lifts me up. Rising above, The mud and mire. Your love is, Unending, And I fly. Soaring on Gossamer Wings so high. You never let me down, And I…

  • I am Poetry

    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…

  • Poets Corner: Why is Poetry Less Popular?

    HOW I CAME TO LOVE POETRY As an introverted teen, I found solace in writing. All my thought was written in the form of poetry. I also wrote poetry for my faculty and student magazines. Fast forward to many years, and I submitted my first story and poetry to two different competitions. I didn’t make…

  • 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…

  • Palm Tree

    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…

  • 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

  • Haiku: I touch the sky

    Clouds mock me Yet I touch the sky, I have no wings

  • 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…

  • When Waterfalls sing

    I told trees of your songs and they are jealous, When you drop, birds and the wild stop to listen, To hear you sing a melody from the long fall And watch you wash your garment on the rush below

  • Quote: Compassion & Confidence

  • Traveler

    The traveler is like the sun Which traverse the length of Earth, Seen her people, food and cultures He is like a blast of the wind Blowing cold and hot at times And fine dust is his companion The traveler is like a compass Searching for North pole Seeking gladly new lands The traveler is…

  • The Day May End But Not Our Love

    Look into my eyes And see how special you are Feel my heart jump with joy That is because you are here Let’s watch the setting sun Let’s admire her jealous laughter, With a kiss she says a goodbye The day may end but not our love For everyone who loves genuinely. Love your neighbor…

  • 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

  • Little Frog

    Oh little looking weebly-woobly Frog Jumping about on a quiet blue lake ‘Dob-wob, Dob-wob‘, it croaked into evening Calling to all nature’s big and small, For some short but lively weebly-woobly dance Start your blog today. Image provided by Mary Grace M. Salomes, MGMS. I decided to write a short piece for children. My friend,…

  • 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…

  • Night rain

    Now it rains heavily with thunder, And with cold, her breezy messenger, I watch the rain fall from my window, Fast, soft drops crash into glass panes This heavy rain ploughed, and sow, Her lullabic seeds across my land, Soft, sweet breezes reign with her Battling a stranger for his umbrella, In pitch darkness cover,…

  • 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.

  • Forgiveness: The Interview

    Dear Friends, Here goes a beautiful story that teaches forgiveness and compassion. I hope you enjoy it. Have a beautiful June 2020. Love ❤ Oke Six years ago a guy looked at me face to face, and boldly told me; “I don’t like you!” I immediately fired a response, I asked him that day; “Thank…

  • Amuse: African Ostrich

    1. To you my feathery friend I write In greying fields your fur I sight Dangling by your sides are wings, A tall neck, from which you may sing 2. Caw caw, caw caw are your favourite words The wind is your friend, the soil your playground, The shrub is home, to it you rest…