Leisure walking is a pastime
It may take time
Do walk daily
It is a pastime
Rarzack Olaegbe
rarzackolaegbe
Rarzack Olaegbe. He is a journalist with about three decades of practice. He has been a reporter and editor of different magazines and newspapers. He has covered Politics. Health. Entertainment. Information Technology. Brands and Products. Telecommunication. Financial Technology. He is an active ghostwriter. He is working on many published book projects. He is a regular radio guest. He is a Fintech enthusiast. He is the pioneer managing editor of FinancialTechnology magazine, devoted to Fintech for over 10 years. The magazine circulated in 14 countries. He is a newspaper columnist. He is the co-host of the annual Lagos Fintech Week, Nigerian Fintech Awards since 2012, and Financial Inclusion events. He is a TEDxIkeja volunteer. As a Communications Advisor, he consults for many of the leading Fintech firms in Nigeria including Interswitch, SystemSpecs, Remita, Precise Financial Systems, Digital Jewels etc. Buzz him @RarzackO
A Cloud of Witness
Her storefront was pregnant with army
Of buyers
Of suicide bombers
On alert, her heart beat faster
Her fear spread quicker
Like a needle, it pierced her soul
Bombers would kill
Thieves would steal
And a cloud of witness?
Hang your hangover at Home
(Dedicated to Beth Fleisher who withdrew because of an illness)
After a hectic day on the farm or with the goats
I long for home
After a long and maddening traffic
I long for home
After a long debate about what story board to adapt
I long for home
At home
no stormy session with goats
no traffic jam
no story board
Home is where you hang your hangover, one of my friends said
At home
I walk bare foot
At home
I work naked
At home
I sleep on the bare floor
At home
I am at home
*farm and * goats – are used figuratively
Flavours of Cheese
G.K. Chesterton once wrote “Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.”
Dad introduced me to the delightful taste of cheese.
In our home, Dad made different flavours of cheese
An omelette got cheese
Rice puddle had cheese
Stuffed bread had cheese
Everything you touched had cheese
Then I didn’t know cheese makes things better everyday
As a kid I have enjoyed the taste
Dad knew that a little cheese can instantly make food tastier
If I had known, I would have ate it every day and put it on everything.
Dad is a seasoned veteran but I am not
Will experiment with my children and cheese and see
You cannot sleep now
the publisher’s team visits tomorrow
the agent meets with you ahead of the team tomorrow
you cannot close your eyes now
wake up right now
defer your nap
put on your cap
this is a dream come true
you have to be prepared through
Ode to Smith
You are the reason seasons of my life move sans treason. Had we not met; if you had not met me, and shared knowledge of God and the Bible, week-in, week-out for aeon, would make a different story. Wouldn’t have replicated the knowledge. Talk about you always, every time, when I mentor some Christian brothers and sisters. Some know you. Haven’t met you. It delights me daily when I remember the time we shared, the stories we shared, the moments we shared, the friends we shared, and the vision we shared. You have made me what I am in Christ. Your positive influence is written in blood. Didn’t know. Know now. You are not given to frills. You like substance. Look at me now. Exact replica of Smith. Take a deep look, Smith. Can you see me now? You cannot? Remove your glasses. Oh sorry. Remember you are photophobic. Clean your glasses. You will se me now. My ready smile. My calm exterior. Smile more. You whispered. How can I forget? How can I forget you? How can I forget our times together? How? Why? It is just not possible, Smith.
Walking under the stars
Walking under the midnight stars
Invisible paths and many scars
Rope-like creatures lurk around
Crickets and flies all abound
Moonlight watches overhead
Stars peep under the ocean
Eyes on the road ahead
Soon we will be in bed
Self Portrait
Leisure walking is a pastime. It pleasures me. Clears my mind. Frees my spirit. Lets me roam free without hinderance. Hate encumbrances. Not on talking terms with copywriting. Talk on national radio. Write syndicated column for decades. Like indoors like outdoors. Do not mix the two. Can live in a house and not see the sunlight for a week or two. Travel with wife. Always. She’s not available? Travelling impossible. Like to drive. See the countryside. Attend funerals. Report my mortality. Read books. Touch countries I haven’t visited. Check places to visit. People to meet. Things to do. Things to abstain. Alcohol. Ditto smoking. Ditto drugs. Ditto a night stand. Happy in church. Spiritual exercise calms my spirit. Calls me to Him. Guides me to Him. If caught in any place, that is it. Quiet music inspires. Loud music distracts. Needs are few. Clean room. Fruits and food. Books. Movies. Plan to change the world. One mentee a day. Writing non-fictions. To publish will be my day. Young. Would increase. Acquire more knowledge. One day, will share that knowledge with thousand mentees in a day.
Listen
“Just be still, and listen”
You will hear the voice inside of you
You will be led
You will be fed
You will never be in want, if you just listen
Neil Gaiman
“Books were safer than other people anyway.”
I can open a book and peer inside
I can read its meaning
See its dark side
Know what’s in its belly
People are not so anyway