Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: folklore

  • A Shepherds Song

    I see the golden sun rise far away, Waking the countryside, painting the day The clouds glitter, no amount of gold can define this: The smell of dew on dry clay and the life all around me The Earth is awake and alive, and we must keep her so It is time to march the…

  • Ina murna (I’m excited) 

    The snaky road twisted, here and there Passing pockets of forests tucked away, And when it ended at the foot of Ugwu Uwaoma I saw the palm trees lead a welcome song At the foot of the hill a banner hung Bearing Mama’s poster and details… *** Now I stand before thee, oh great hill…

  • Folktale: The Animal King

    Gather now; come closer Warm your hands, sit near the fire It is a cold evening. I have a folktale for you, And I hope it prepares everyone for a good sleep. Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once upon a time In a land far away Across seven rivers And seven hills Lived a clan of animals Then…

  • Three musings:  Evening, wet Earth and Love

    One: The evening tide Fast falls the evening tide So gather around the fireside, Let us savor this taste of Nature;  Her soft songs, breezes and lecture Two: The wet Earth The sun set before our eyes The wet earth is left to dry For the days heavy rain has left And with her, all…

  • Once upon a time… 

    Once upon a time you preferred the silence to my love Then trees leaves fell, they fall quietly and so you went Once I held your hands in deep love and we walked the paths,  And you told of our future but now you will not see me anymore We played together, you were my…

  • The Messenger, part 2

    The dark evening is serene and calm Though the vampire bats hover up the skies And the little crickets quiz all around… Many sat for dinner for it was a long day The farms, the ponds and the big market The smell of dried cod soup pass thru the air, It was a favorite among…

  • Folk: One night, one story

    It has been long I left my village And they must have felt my absence For the moon still shone always But then no one to tell the childrens tales I missed seeing the grey bearded moon I missed the serenity of the countryside I missed seeing the birds circle the sky And the calls…

  • Rainmakers’ tales: 2 tales of Oke- Iroegbu

    When I am not making the rain fall And flood the villagers huts and farms And to make the river banks overflow So that the forests pathway is swampy And the great crocodiles are washed ashore; Then I will be watching the glittering stars And talking about the stars, the night and moon Well, the…

  • Another Tale of a Shepherd

    Nothing compares to the sweet sleep Of all good and hardworking shepherds He retires with a fine and adorable smile And to his bed of wool, he lays Tuning into the local radio station To listen to some old folk songs Nodding almost silently to the rhythm Smiling to the memories of the stressful day…

  • A farmers smile

    The days work is done The farmer return with smiles The mother hold the little one And welcome him who labor The infant grips the fathers arm Afraid not to let go A lullaby from this voice he waits for “All is well” A tale of farmlore The strength of the farmer Gone beyond the…