Okechukwu’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Category: writing

  • Progress

    Do you set personal goals for yourself? I set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. One good thing about this approach is that it breaks work down into smaller, more manageable pieces. I have enough work to do, but also enough time to rest. I also set bigger goals when I surpass my current ones.…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 16 (Big Cat on the Prowl 2)

    The land wasn’t exactly everyone’s friend, as the folktales told. Just as one of the grannies taught us, the land was sacred, and every living thing owed its existence to Ala, the land. I knew that anyway. I always wondered why our stories started with a particular place—land and time. It now made sense to…

  • Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 14 (Tales by Moonlight 4)

    Before asking everyone to leave, the messenger made sure the little children were gathered first to prevent any commotion. The evening wind rolled out, like a sudden whiff, embracing the entire village. The suddenness added drama to the already vulnerable situation. I saw the younger men whisper into each other’s ears, with some frightful, calming…

  • Live and let live

    What’s a quote that perfectly describes your outlook on life? A popular Igbo saying goes: Egbe bere, ugo bere nke si ibe ya ebela nku kwaa ya—”Let the hawk perch, let the eagle perch, may the one that refuses to let the other perch lose its wings.” This in English literally means live and let live.

  • A Soul’s Garden

    What’s a common misconception people have about happiness? They said happiness was somewhere out there—waiting in the distance,hidden behind achievements,recognition,and the things we hoped to one day possess. But I discovered a different truth: Happiness was a seedalready planted within me. A garden of the soul,watered by gratitude,nourished by love,and growing through purpose and faith.…

  • Notes on Leisure

    What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time? This is a response to the prompt above. Leisure, for me, isn’t the opposite of work; it’s where I reconnect with myself. I enjoy unclaimed time—time that doesn’t require me to produce, justify, or perform. During these moments, thinking slows and becomes less goal-focused. I…

  • Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 13 (Tales by Moonlight 3)

    I ignored the onlookers and went to sit with Fata. The evening was still young, and more children arrived as time went on. The moon shone differently than before; the white underside looked like it was cloaked in a light gray hue. The evening wind was busy doing its thing, and the little commotion of…

  • Roses

    One bright Sunday, I came across a beautiful rose blooming unexpectedly in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho. It was a simple moment, but the charm of that surprise flower made it truly unforgettable. The striking beauty of the desert landscape shows that a single event or element can transform the…

  • Random Thoughts 1

    Here are some random thoughts I’ve been jotting down over the past week. Bring some salt from home whenever you travel; it will remind you of home, even though most salt tastes the same. Feel and listen to the heartbeat of loved ones in a hug; it creates a special sensation. Wrinkles are signs that…

  • So… It Actually Rained in LA

    It’s Friday evening, and I have some free time to write a few lines—I’m not sure if that’s a thing. No matter. A few days ago, I saw my first heavy rain in Los Angeles and got drenched trying to escape it! I’d heard the rumors — that rain in Los Angeles is rare, dramatic,…

  • Writing Between the Lines of Life

  • Let there be Light

    Let there be light—Genesis 1.3

  • Updated: Tale of The Wildwoods: When Summer Arrived!

    oiroegbu.com/2025/02/23/tale-of-the-wildwoods-when-summer-arrived/

  • Morning Rain: A Welcome Relief for Albuquerque

    Summer night rain has its charm, but morning rain brings a different vibe. I think everyone can relate to the refreshing coolness it offers and the extra time it gives to those with plans. Often, it is a perfect excuse not to do anything. Morning rain, dark clouds, chilly weather, and gloomy skies make me…

  • Exercise: Imagine

    While this isn’t poetry, let’s consider it a small exercise. Imagine you have the power to choose your feelings every day. What options would you select? Happiness or sadness Flowers or weedsPossibilities or adversitiesPlenty or scarcityLove or hateGreen or grayPeace or conflictBeginning or end Your choices shape your reality. If you’re having a tough day,…

  • Maybe 5

    Maybe prints left by crawling wormsare Earth’s remarkable autographs.Maybe trails left by snails and serpentstell anecdotes of curiosity in the dirt.Maybe we discover the beauty of letting things grow by cultivating gardens.

  • Diary of A Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 12 (Tales by Moonlight 2)

    I stood up and tried to follow the figure. The wind began to blow, and I felt it was calling to me for some reason. Navigating through the crowd was difficult. Some kids were bothering me by tugging at my feet, while teenagers watched me with disdain nearby because I was blocking their view. The…

  • Patterns 4

    It’s the weekend and the last day of February 2025! What better way to start than by appreciating the beauty around us? This morning, I captured white-lined patterns in the dreamy blue skies. I also noticed shapes that resemble fingers on the tree branches. The blue clouds today seem so surreal that I can’t help…

  • Beauty in Nature

    Welcome to February 2025 Happy New Month, friends! Let’s talk about writing about nature and how it can be a pleasurable experience. Writing is a remarkable and deeply personal experience. I am amazed by our ability to craft beautiful expressions with words. This month, let’s focus on writing about our preferences and sharing our thoughts…

  • Albuquerque’s Blue Clouds

    Floating blue clouds basking in self-esteem, clear skies demonstrating their power of invisibility, and a chilly mountain climate are the norms for me here. Why not enjoy this captivating view while it lasts? I may print these beautiful New Mexico images and sign them as postcards. Like the aircraft passing above, the permanence of my…

  • Providence

    As the outdoor bulb lights softly illuminate the landscape, I can’t help but notice the wild grass gently swaying in the calm winds. The fresh scent of evening dew fills the air, creating a serene atmosphere on this beautiful desert night. Patches of brush are scattered around, and familiar shadows of the bushes dance across…

  • Quote: Kings and Kingmakers

    When you become a King or Queen, do not forget those who helped you to the crown — Oke Iroegbu

  • Maybe 3

    Maybe shadows tell stories too

  • Don’t Forget To Dance

    Dance because you can. Dance because you are alive and happy—put your hands up, shout for joy, and move your body, because you can.

  • Muse: Inner Beauty

    We all have some inner beauty—be it light, goodness, or gold dust; shine, sprinkle yours wherever you go. It will be said that such a person walked here once upon a time.

  • Muse: Smiling Stories

    Your smiles tell a lot of beautiful stories. Please never lose it, keep smiling for the world—for me.

  • Books

    If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell? If I opened a shop,What would I be selling?Hmmm, let’s see…Books, oh well, New books, old books,I could sell cough drops,Tumblers, pretty rings,Or things that are shiny, But books I can read and sellTo add to my wit and bank

  • Writing

    Which activities make you lose track of time? Writing is a useful ancient craftThat aroused my passion and museBy teaching me more about myselfIt had reminded me of my cleverness

  • Writing

    What experiences in life helped you grow the most? One thing that has helped me grow is creative and imaginative writing. I always enjoy expressing my thoughts on paper. One thing led to the other and I started this blog to share my poetry with the world. But it metamorphosed into something bigger. I have…

  • Fun Things

    List five things you do for fun. I like journaling, reading, watching NatGeoWild and Discovery, playing online games like UNO and traveling.

  • Dream Jobs

    What’s your dream job? I would love to be a writer and am working toward that. My writing started back in high school. Then I liked playing with words and wrote love poems. I’m also interested in becoming a travel blogger. It is a dream to travel around the world, particularly in Africa, to document…

  • Nuts

    What snack would you eat right now? I love nuts. They are crunchy, healthy, and tasty—not all are tasty. Except for kola nuts and bitter cola, which are chewy and bitter, all others are sweet or buttery. I like cashews, groundnuts, macadamia, and almonds!

  • Leader’s Frontline

    Come up with a crazy business idea. I had an idea some time ago. It wasn’t business anyway, just a random idea. Can we agree to let each warring nation have their presidents fight first before sending in the soldiers? Doing so will save many souls from unnecessary deaths because no leader will want to…

  • My Father’s Book Collections

    Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it? I was fond of my father’s book collections. Most of them I have read several times. The books were kept in the countryside, and each time I went home, I had something to read. The collection included Shakespeare and Oscar…

  • Travel the World

    What is your mission? It has been my dream to travel around the world—to see the sunset in different climes and nations, go up the peaks, sniff the pure air, watch the wildlife, swim with mild stream currents, dance with natives, smile at strangers, write stories of good places and people, dream, fall in love…

  • Live and Let Live

  • Overthinking

  • Sunset—Nostalgia

    What makes you feel nostalgic? There’s that feeling of nostalgia when the sun drifts away from the hamlets, sinking, sailing through the clouds like a golden phantom, spherical like a child’s playball. Sometimes when it’s hot we wish away the sun and when it’s cold we wish the sun’s heat could warm our land. It’s…

  • Character

    Are you a good judge of character? Attitude is everything I don’t think anybody can judge a character perfectly. However, I’m convinced that character is a function of people’s relationships with others and their environment. For instance, a well-raised child knows how to respect others and to be kind to people and their environment. Such…

  • Writing

    What skills or lessons have you learned recently? I could summarize this prompt with a short poem: Writing is a useful ancient craftThat aroused my passion and museBy teaching me more about myselfIt had reminded me of my cleverness

  • Hopeful

    Tell us one thing you hope people say about you. How times fly! Flowers still grow on the dirt by the roadside. That reminds me of hope. Tree leaves fall, and new ones replace them. Now, that’s greater hope! So, I would love to smell the flowers by the roadside and experience love again. I…

  • Long Distance Traveling

    Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc. My first time traveling to America was long and tiring. I will repost a slightly edited first post after I arrive from Frankfurt: Forgive me; I arrived at UC Berkeley from Frankfurt yesterday after sitting on a plane for 13…

  • Teaching

    Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech? I haven’t performed on stage or given a speech in a big setting, but I have presented papers in classrooms, conferences, and seminars. Also, I count teaching as an art and form of performance. There’s an audience and then the teacher who performs the art…

  • Worrying

    What could you do less of? One thing I have learned in life is to stop worrying about things I can’t control or change. These things tend to rob us of happiness and living in the moment. When you worry, you make the problem double We can’t change things like rainfall (the weather) or attitudes…

  • Letting Go

    What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why? I have learned to let go of events, situations, people, actions, and things that don’t serve me. Letting go involves forgiving myself and those who hurt me. However, it doesn’t mean I forget the wrongs or want to deal with them anymore. Forgiveness brings me…

  • Learning

    If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time? I would study with the extra time. I’ll also spend some time exercising. Learning—reading and writing will improve my mental and academic health while exercising will support my physical and spiritual health. The aim is to have a wholesome experience.

  • Mothers

  • Blogging

    What are you most proud of in your life? This prompt is a tough one. There are many things I can be proud of. Well, I’ll talk about my blog which has not only changed my life but has impacted the world. Initially, oiroegbu.com started as a poetry blog but was adjusted to accommodate my…

  • Principles

    What principles define how you live? Principles are fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. In this prompt, I’ll highlight the basic principles I live with. First, I believe that hard work is crucial to success. That hard work works. There’s no…

  • Publishing

    What have you been putting off doing? Why? One thing I have been lazy about is publishing. It’s been on my mind and to-do list for a long time. However, it requires some financial commitment, which may have been my major discouragement. I have manuscripts of drama, poetry, and short stories. I also have many…