Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: California

  • What This Blog Is Turning Toward This Year

    New Year Rigmarole You know, there’s just something about having to witness the New Year in California. We’re always one of the last places on Earth to welcome the new year. I have to celebrate “Happy New Year” with everyone, and even take a nap before I get to mine. Sometimes I tell my friends…

  • The Bee and The Bloom

    A bumblebee buzzed with bumbling grace,Zipping and dipping all over the place.It spotted a flower, so red and sweet,And said, “Well hello there—my sugary treat!” It wiggled and jiggled and landed just right,Its belly fuzzy, with stripes shining bright.Then whispered, “Dear flower, don’t mind if I stay,I’m just here for nectar… and maybe to play.”

  • Writing Between the Lines of Life

    Well, ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, it’s been a while since I’ve looked this way. I was getting ready for school and also traveling recently. So, I’ve been away trying to sort out my things and thoughts. I haven’t even had the time to watch the sunset. Additionally, I’m back in a big city…

  • Quote on Elephants

    How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! – Desmond Tutu

  • Count Your Blessings

    Listen to the beautiful rhythm in your soul I am an avid listener and greatly enjoy the sounds of nature and the world around me. I find joy in the soothing sounds of rainfall, the rumbling of clouds, and the intensity of raging thunderstorms. I appreciate the gentle flow of waterfalls and the melodic symphonies…

  • Patterns 1

    Look at those fascinating cloudsHow they fold, foam, and float awayA glimpse at their majestic patternsReveals the forms these clouds takeMountains poke up to meet the skiesTake a deep breath; the sky, the views are all yours

  • San Francisco, First part

    City by the BayBig heart, big ups,Where imploring sun raysAnd dreams stay View the multitude of automobilesCockcroaching through lengthy tunnels,The shine from their radiant metals ricochet,Bouncing off on glass and seawater Soothing sea breezesWelcoming, flirty winds, With drifting ululating seagullsReach out to the setting sun Big City by the BayMajor hub, big startups,Where desires aboundThe…

  • Nightfall

    NightfallShades sailEvening’s callWind and chill MoonlightChirping cricketsTwilight’s elementsAlive and about

  • Sunrise

    Sunrise here happens in installments, first, it gets to the hills, then the valleys, and everything else Behold the happy sunriseFrom chasms unknownTo the bluish clouds, pureTo heave the gold blanketOver the hills and vales,Over the highs and lows,A moment—solemn, unspoiled

  • Blue Oak Reserve, California

    Welcome to Blue Oak Nature Reserve Blue Oak Reserve, over 3000 acres of beautiful partly wooded wilderness, sprawls across vast pockets of break-taking landscape decorated by canyons, trees, and grassland. There are a lot of open fields with forests dotting specific points. Oak trees are in abundance, and so are other native species. I like…

  • Moonlight

    Purely handsomeImmaculate phantomCircle, one of gentlenessOffering the galaxy,To all, and sundryLight and calmness,And breezy evening tideFor all, and sundry

  • Lake Poem

    The calm lake lies quietSome of its parts greenOr reflects bluish huesIn them, bullfrogs hideFrom murky watersThey commandeer all,With deep, loud bassThe lake may be quietGrumpy bullfrogs aren’t

  • Mountains in Stories

    There are stories about mountains, and there are mountains in stories. It makes perfect sense that places play a crucial role in narratives.

  • Oak Wilderness

    Pockets of green, here and thereSpread across a vast wildernessBlue skies, roaming deer, and harePretty birds in a reptile paradise The night will convey dark cloudsStreams flow into a wonder lakeWith the sound of life piping loudAll for this gentle oak land’s sake

  • Nevadan Snowman

    I stood admiring the shores of the blue and beautiful Lake Tahoe on the Nevadan side. Around the corner was a snow park where mountains stood still carved out of the skies. The noon warmth kept the windy air in check. Hot rays from the sun cut deep through my sunglasses but I sit busy—working…

  • University of California, Berkeley

    What colleges have you attended? Before heading to America for my master’s, I did my diploma and undergraduate education at Abia State Polytechnic and the University of Uyo, both in Nigeria. Currently, I’m completing my graduate education at America’s premier public institution—the University of California Berkeley. Cal, or UC Berkeley as it is called, is…

  • Big Sur; The Streams Rush In Haste

    The sound of the streams happy haste is music to my ears and joy to my soul

  • Fire trail

    What is your favorite place to go in your city? I love hiking through the forest at the University of California, Berkeley. It’s a little distance from campus. A stream ran across the trail, and I could smell the wet clay. There are numerous bird calls and when sunset arrives, it’s something else! The sunset…

  • California

    Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home. California is just what I imagined. The clean streets, diverse people, and rolling hills embody nature, all set in an inspiring school environment lined with cheerful trees. Where there are trees, you can often see birds that add their melodic sounds to the view.…

  • Berkeley

    What do you love about where you live? Berkeley in California is a wonderful place to live. It’s a hilly town with abundance of greens and orderly streets. In this city is the pioneer and famous University of California campus. There are wild turkeys, deer, squirrels and bobcats. The weather is cool because of the…

  • Livermore, California

    Watch the hills rise and fallBeautiful, ancient,Twist and turn,Happy singing birdsHappier sunlight! Blue cloudsAgainst the white,Foraging horsesAnd cowsLook up to see who has arrivedLovely grass paradiseTrees are the guards! Hawks circle the skiesNoon greets everyoneTake notice the cow mooingOr the powerful horse neigh Let’s go dreamingIn a county not far awayA valley unspoiledWhere man and…

  • Golden Sunset

    By degrees, the sun will sink down the horizon,And shadows of grapes and trees lengthenedThe heat will decrease, but be calm, cowboys,The perfect evening we dreamt of had comeOne of chilly but soothing pure countryside airI heard the happy neighing of a horse outsideIt is time to ride off toward the golden sunset

  • Merry Christmas from California

    Merry Christmas dear friends. This will be my first Christmas holiday away from home. It’s been a long holiday so far. The ever-busy streets of UC Berkeley have become a ghost town. The roads are empty and bare of cars. One can confidently stand to take pictures on the roads. The fine houses and magnificent…

  • Bay Area Tide

    Dry airs float off these hillsGloomy weather, sun paradiseThe Bay Area tide refreshes allWindy streets and solemn nights When grey clouds gather aboveTree leaves fall on the roadTwists turns to meet the floorAnd the wind takes them out Lines of streetlights glowThere glow bounce off the tarmacMists draw strange caricaturesThe darkness consuming those

  • Reflection: Evening Walk

    Birds tweeting, squirrel foraging, and Berkeley’s hilly and beautiful landscapes, coupled with the scent of fresh grass – of mints possibly, remind me of home. The roadside is littered with green grass, and up the steps, wild turkeys pick the ground for worms. I saw a tiny bird circling the foot of a tree, which…

  • Sharing the Light, One Candle at a Time

    Here is a short poem I wrote to start today’s post, I call it, This Light. This light of peace I pass to you Pass this to another behind or by your side May the world see the beauty of our love Let my light shine forth in all honesty May your light shine forth…

  • Hilly Berkeley

    Dear friends, The image above is of wood in Berkeley, California. And yes, there are deer and wild cats in the woods. In such an environment, reptiles – snakes and lizards are abundant. There are numerous bird species. Some species are new to me or I have read about them in books or seen them…

  • Bodega Bay (Images and Poetry)

    Images Retreat at Bodega Bay, California Poetry: The Oceans Call Out The oceans call out to meBlue waves smash into rocksAnd whites waves throw up their hands in joy,Jubilating on the harmony between the ocean and the wildThe darkness on the ocean floor is frightening But sea lions swim in its calm currents, birds flap…

  • UC Berkeley (Settling Down)

    California is exactly what I dreamed it would be The clean streets, diversity of people, and hills represent nature, all in an inspirational school setting lined by joy-bringing trees. Where there are trees, be sure to catch a glimpse of birds that add their musical presence to the scenery. From my room, I can hear…