Okeโ€™s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: blogging

  • No Competition In Life: A Cheetah’s Lesson

    No Competition In Life: A Cheetah’s Lesson

    Cheetahs are the fastest land animals

  • Break The Silence by Njabulo N.

    Police Brutality Police brutality is a disaster. It’s quite unbearable to watch the ones we entrust with our lives and protection evolve into civil nightmares and agents of dismay. Sometimes it seems that people do not have rights anymore. While there are global protests against police brutality, little is done by government institutions to address…

  • Lullaby: Down By The Riverside

    {Shepherd lore…} Down by the riverside, I wait for my flock to graze, I listen to lovely young lambs call out to their mothers, I wait for the sun to set and for the breezy evening to arrive, Thoughts of a warm bed, stacked with hay return to me, Of the night sky, which is…

  • Moonlight

    I behold the nightfall across the dark blue clouds I watch evening carry desires of men waiting to unfold I enjoy the sensation of the imminent weekend Drums of merrymaking sound miles off, Cackling, singing, every bit of mirthful noise However, the shepherd sits to enjoy his time alone I hear deep-voiced frogs calling out…

  • Speak Up

    Silence is not always golden When it comes to caution and discipline, silence may be an adversary. Take, for example, seeing a kid who rides bicycles on the busy road and deciding not to warn him of the hazard. Also, consider not calling the police instead preferring to record or watch gang violence across the…

  • Humanity First

    The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life Birds up the trees There, up the trees, I saw several nests. I knew more were there because I could hear a multitude of birds chirping. Most of the nests were…

  • 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…

  • Dear Starry Night

    Dear starry night, This quiet and lonely friend of mine Here comes once more my fable Passed to me by a surge of the wind And the waves of the breezy ocean The stars whisper; Dream one more time, dear shepherd Consider the lilies that grow by the roadside For they care only for the…

  • Muse: Splendour

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

  • Loving You

    Loving you feels like the touch of the calm night breeze,Blowing on the open green fields where roses growLoving you feels like a voyage through the blue sea,Where dolphins, drift with the wind and whistle their songsLoving you will be a blissful dream come trueSuch that we journey together, through our imaginations

  • Earth Day: Doing What Is Right

    Every day should be designated as Earth’s Day Indeed, I acknowledge that today and every other day should be proclaimed as Earth’s Day. Not just as the planet which harbours life, but as a reminder to treat it with more respect. There are so many ways to treat the earth right. But one thing is…

  • Muse: Night Memories

    A silent evening The sun is asleep And the night awake With it, every creature of the dark Burrowing rats, squeaky insects, and birds Country, radio music, dark mists Sweet breeze, lightning, wilderness, Fading fire, lonely happy moment, Where all memories flock There’s a brewing rainstorm, Right from rumbling clouds, Shrieking crickets and night flies…

  • When A Poet Loves

    Poets are unique creatures Living in their playful minds They are facets of adventure Hewn to investigate life & why When poets fall in love They soar in their craft They prevail in fantasies Then lets life pace on art They travel to & fro the moon In their art, there is joy & pain…

  • African Proverb: On The Rat and The Lizard

    Igbo: Oke soro ngwere ma mmiri, mmiri guoro ngwere agagi ako oke English: When a rat swims with a lizard, his hairs wonโ€™t dry as the lizards. Origin: This proverb is widely used in Igbo land. The aged use this to instruct young people and children, mostly in folktales. Reptiles are good swimmers and can…

  • It’s Easter 2021

    May this season bring us all love, peace, and happiness. May we find joy through these turbulent times and in all we do and to show compassion to those who need help. May this season bring us hope and remind us how being godly can help man conquer all his troublesโ€”a happy Easter celebration to…

  • ‘Sunny’ April: The Good, Bad and Ugly

    Ah, sunny April, you remind me of many things. You remind me of love, awful weather, happy moments, and good food! The Good ๐Ÿ™‚ It’s usually an all-weather month; the sun rises, but the next minute it’s raining heavily. With the coming rains and the dust left behind by the receding harmattan, there’s enough soil…

  • African Wonders 5: River Nile

    Egypt’s Nile river, life-giver. One fascinating thing about the African continent is its landscape. From the mountains of North Africa through the Sahara dunes, down to the forests and savannah of West, Central and Southern Africa, there are wonderful things to behold. The sunny climate and the glittering water bodies in Africa add extra flavour…

  • African Proverb: On ‘Disguising’ Lizards

    Igbo: Ngwere nile makpu ร fแป nโ€™ala, mana onweghแป‹ onye ma nke ร fแป nโ€™asa. English: When lizards lay on the ground, no one knows those who have a runny stomach. Origin: This is an Eastern Nigerian proverb. Some fraction of the Igbo nation uses it. The agama lizard just like their reptilian brethren are quadruplets and…

  • Muse: A Tree House Dream

    I hope that someday humanity fully understands that trees are our life. Trees are beautiful. Tree shades are my favorite hiding places. The hot noon sun makes me seek these shades, where I find extreme relaxation and comfort. It’s pretty delightful to sit under a group of trees on a sunny day, writing, reading, or…

  • Quotes on Resilience

    Fail big! That’s right! – Denzel Washington Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits – Robert Brault I never lose! I either win or learn! – Nelson Mandela When a man sticks to his dreams he will eventually meet with great success.…

  • Woman

    Dear woman, I smile when I recall what you depict, who you are and the peace you represent. Woman, life-giver A grand masterpiece of nature, Life bespoke of elegance, Of glamour, a living golden statue Fear what it could be When life has no she When we assume maybe Woman, lover She brings peace to…

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    It’s Mother’s Day in my local church, Methodist Church Nigeria. I had published this piece a year ago and here is a revised one. My words alone can’t express my warm feelings for mothers. I had been raised by amazing women who taught and still teach me in one way or another. This amazing gift…

  • The Taxi Driver

    Dear Friends, Good to see you again. I trust you are doing well. I’ve got a story that was sent to me by a friend on Whatsapp. Sadly, the story portrays reality, people measure progress and success with that of their friends, classmates, and relatives even with the limited information they have about them. I…

  • Night Poem: The Messenger and His Gong

    Kokookoroko kokorokoro A greeting calls from afar, Children ran out excited As if the message was for them But then, who knows? Heads up, let’s listen Kumkum korookom Another beat rings out Pushing the mild hit Into the ears of the heaviest village sleeper ‘Oh how cute, it is the King’s messenger’ ‘A tall and…

  • Happy International Women’s Day

    Women are the real architects in the society I’m pleased with the roles women play in bringing worlds together and for the peace and love they represent. I’m happy that the world is waking to the reality that women are significant and must be treated with care, respect, and affection. I’m optimistic to see more…

  • African Proverb: On the Child Strapped Behind The Mother

    Igbo: Nwata akwรด na azรบ amaghฤซ na รนzรณ di anya English: A child strapped to the back of the mother does not know the journey is far. Origin: The Igbo people of Southern Nigeria use this adage. In many societies, it’s prevalent to see mothers, young and old, strap their babies behind them, especially when…

  • Africa Changed Me By Nikki Lockwood

    The open-air safari vehicle rattled along the golden dirt S-28 road, in Kruger National Park. As the wind whistled through the golden grass, I reached out my arm, letting the grass brush against my palm as I passed it by. Even though I was shaded by the canvas roof from the bright African sun, small…

  • 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…

  • Cranky Old Man: Anonymous Poet

    A brief intro When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later when nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies…

  • Tale of Wild Woods: Summer Arrives

    ๏ฟผ 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…

  • Self Confidence

    When you believe in yourself anything is possible. Why not? If you are lucky enough to find your passion, then how could giving up be an option? Giving up means accepting a lifetime of wondering what could have happened if you just believed in yourself enough to follow through. It doesnโ€™t matter how fast or…

  • Let that dream soar – Poem

    Take charge today, be confident Let the morning shine on your talent But don’t just dream, bring life to it Start working on your beautiful gift, So it can soar and to other lives lift It may be reasons why the world wait But how will we know If first you won’t believe in you?…

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Self Reflection 29: Perseverance

    Fall seven times and stand up eight. –Japanese Proverb

  • Self Reflection 25: Diligence

    If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. _Martin…

  • Self Reflection 8: Success

    Success is contentment, achieving little or much and leaving a legacy.

  • Memories

    You remind me of home, far away, Fine memories I cherish each day

  • Remember

    Remember the setting sun will rise, Tomorrow will become yesterday And life must definitely find a way

  • First rain

    First rain, Strong wind, We celebrate The long wait, And sniff the scent Off the wet earth

  • Thank you

    I feel better today. I think the malaria and stress is gone. I’m ready to start work again. Can anyone recommend a good editor and publisher? I’ve a drama and some short stories I’m considering to publish. Thank you for your likes and support. ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’šโค

  • Muse: Even Though…

    Let me hold your hands, look into your eyes & sing, For even though I fail sometimes, I love you still

  • Happy New Month

    Here’s to wish you all a fruitful month! Let’s march on to greater fruitfulness, open doors, good health and blessings. โค๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™

  • A Farmer’s Love song

    I picked a pretty fruit Which reminds me of you Grey eyes and elegant There are many fruits But you are just exotic A fine and pretty sight You are an amazing fruit Like the seed of Sunflower Sweet to keep my days light You have become my fruit The sunshine after darkness My best…

  • Images from John Okereke

    I met John at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. I wasn’t sure what his talent was then. I’m now. Follow him at @putinpicturesJohn is a jolly good fellow…

  • African Folklore

    Folklore are tales, legends, superstitions of a particular ethnic population. In Igbo culture and other African societies, story telling is unique, such that it is a passage to transmit the tradition of a place from one generation to another. These tales convey the history, ancient messages and old knowledge. They teach morals and virtues to…

  • Muse: Thoughts of You

    Nights may fall, crickets may call, I sit alone, thinking of you

  • Muse: Promise

    I’ll be far away, Promise you wait for me

  • The Rainmaker’s Tales: Beginning

    When I am not making the rain fall To flood the village and farms And to make the river banks overflow Then I will be watching the glittering stars And talking to her, the night and moon Well, the night is never complete without a tale And this is for the sleepy little ones, I…

  • Take a Break

    Do you feel overwhelmed by life’s stress? Then it’s time to take a break. Here are some recommended tips to stay relaxed: 1. Take a nap: It’s obvious that our body system is designed for rest. So enjoying some sleep is a good way to let off steam. 2. Water, Water and more Water :…