Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: University of New Mexico

  • A Gratitude Note: Lessons from the Journey So Far

    Gratitude, I am learning, is not only for moments of triumph. It is also for the quiet disappointments, the delays, the rejections, the seasons when clarity feels distant and progress feels slow. This reflection is my attempt to honor all of it—the successes and the failures, the doors that opened and those that closed for reasons I…

  • My UCLA Study Space

    You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like? This is a reply to the prompt above. I adore vibrant, lively spaces that ignite the energy of the world around us and set the perfect mood for reflection and studying. I pay special attention to lighting, preferring bright white bulbs…

  • Thank You, New Mexico!

    Thank You, New Mexico! In Igbo culture, there’s a saying: ekele onye akịdị, ọ gwọta ọzọ, which translates to “If you thank the one who cooks beans, they will be happy to cook more.” But, I’m not talking about beans. I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on my recent experiences. The end of…

  • Greater Roadrunners

    I followed this Roadrunner around campus for a steady portrait, and it couldn’t wait. What an impatient gentlebird! I remember the first time I saw the Greater Roadrunner; I was amused. The next time I encountered it in a picture, I thought it was having a bad hair day because of its natural mohawk hairstyle.…