BECOMING CIRCUMSPECT

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

A year passed by so quickly, like a whirlwind. The most important lesson I have learned: Value people who tell you the truth, for they are rare. Be sparing with your trust. And know that, unfortunately or fortunately, there is always something more to every story you hear. The exceptions to this rule are rare. So, become circumspect, even as you love harder. Because the harder you love, the deeper you go into the heart of truth and deception. The human heart is on earth to grow, and it grows only by intense and authentic experiencing of itself and of other hearts. So, open your heart to everything, but know this: “Everything” includes both the light and the dark, both the dependable and the treacherous, coming both from strangers as well as, even more so, from the people you trust.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Undulating Plains

RECALIBRATED

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
When you‘ve lost
What you love the most
You have nothing more to lose.

When what gives you strength
Leaves you
Then you have only yourself left to choose.

And your God. And seriousness.
No more half-bonds.
Whatever stays must really be your crew’s.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

APRIL

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

Die Berge sind still
Und dennoch laut –
Du wohnst, April,
Unter meiner Haut –
Alles, was ich will:
Du und ich, vertraut.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

PARALLEL UNIVERSES

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

When a person just doesn’t know how to tell you the truth, they simply stick to the lie. From start to finish. Even if they want to tell you the truth, they don’t know how to, they don’t know where to start because the truth runs on a completely different storyline and separate lifestyle, opposite reality and parallel universe. It will hurt you deeply and completely overturn your view of life and of them. Or so the person thinks. But if only they would try you, to see a new person emerge and a new powerful authentic relationship form.

Starting with a lie is always a slippery slope, a rollercoaster ride. It is nervousness and heart palpitations from start to finish. It can be exciting and exhilarating, until it becomes human and personal. Then it becomes a chore, a nightmare, a heavy load, and a puzzling sphinx, a difficult riddle to solve. Tell the truth and shatter the other person’s reality? Or maintain the lie and allow it to eat you inside and gnaw at the other person’s gut instincts, and prevent both of you from ever forming a true bond? And yet, only the truth liberates.

There will be a humanity one day of honest human spirits who live, share and relate in the light of truth always and in all things. Deeply and simply. Inside and out. Individually and as a society. The most fundamental truth we owe ourselves as human beings is the truth of how we really are as a person. This is the basis of all relationships and of society and of a possibility to one day have a reflection of Paradise on Earth. A home away from Home.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Undulating Plains

QUIETLY

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
Is there any hope for me?
Good Friday not so good.
A deep slumber of mystery,
A soul troubled to darkly brood,
A distracted mind of matter,
But knock knock, knock on wood,
Who’s there to lovingly shatter
My illusions? For truth is food.
Wake me up before you go -
Resurrection will upon crucifixion intrude:
Resist injustice, rediscover my glow,
Because, inside, I’m in a sunny mood.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

ALLES AN DIR

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
Alles schlucke ich runter
Nur Dich nicht
Alles spucke ich raus
Nur Dich nicht

Bist Du draußen, bleibst Du dort
Bist Du drinnen, bleibst Du hier
Fest gewurzelt an Stelle und Ort
In meinem Herzen, in unserm Wir.

Wenn ich Dich ablehne,
bist Du noch da;
Wenn ich Dich annehme,
bist Du nicht da.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

SHOW YOU

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
Show people who you are
So that those who want to go will go
And those who want to stay will stay
And those who want to come will come
And those who want to keep away will keep away.

And when they show you who they are
You will be hurt by some who go
And be pleasantly surprised by some who stay,
You will be amazed by some who come
And you will not even notice those who keep away. 

Show people who you are
And they will show you who they are.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

MISSVERSTÄNDNISSE

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
Das Leben besteht aus Missverständnissen,
Sie sind der Treibstoff tollster Geschichten.
Sie sind die Bausteine unserer höchsten Erkenntnisse -
Wir sind einander halb begreiflich wie Gedichte.

Wer sich noch nie missverstanden haben,
werden sich gegenseitig nie wirklich verstehen.
Je näher wir uns kommen, desto mehr schlagen
unsere Unterschiede aufeinander aus Versehen.

Desto mehr sehen wir die Lücken
und lernen, uns gegenseitig zu beglücken.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

A NEW LIGHT

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
You appear, a new light,
Hesitant yet persistent,
Dimmed and yet bright;
Curiously observant
Because it feels so right.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

NACH DEM STURM

~ Che ~ Leave a comment 
Das Herz ist leer gefegt worden
Eine Straße nach einem Sturm
Abuja riecht nach frischem Regen
Öffnet sich nackt mit stiller Charme
Und erinnert mich an etwas, das nie war,
sich aber so anfühlt, als wäre es gewesen
Und jetzt, wo es vorbei ist, wird mir klar
Alles ernst zu nehmen, was ich einst gelesen.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river