The last shall think they’re the First And the first shall think they’re the Last This is the nature of human vanity You are not the First but the last, many there are that came before you. Life has an incredible age. You are not the Last but the first, many they are that will come after you. Make way and leave the stage. We are each just a part of the whole, Space-wise, time-wise, content-wise; Humility alone will perfect our human unity. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
2025
GIESSET DIE BLUMEN
Alle diese Gedanken, die wir denken, in die Welt setzen, was geschieht mit ihnen? Die die ätzen, vernichten, verletzen. Wir kommen und gehen aber unsere Gedanken bleiben wie unsichtbare Wolken die verdichtend nicht weiter treiben. Gedanken der Habsucht, der Ichsucht und der Selbstsucht, Gedanken der Eigensucht und weniger der Lichtsehnsucht. Ab und zu in der Wüste hier und da ersprießt unerklärlich eine einsame tapfere Blume. Halte durch, Du bist unentbehrlich. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung
COME CLOSER
I don’t like to get too near to people Because it pushes me far away from them; When you get really close to the moon, You see a gloomy rock, not a glowing gem. Yet, courage!, wanderer, be bold of heart! One who will find must seek everywhere, Must brave the ugly to discover deep beauty At the core of the things we love and fear. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
ÜBER DICH
Wie kann ich Dir helfen? Sag es mir ruhig. Wenn Du mir weh tun willst, ja, auch das tu ich. Wärst Du dann glücklich? Erkläre es mir bitte Was gibt Dir meine Stärke gegenüber Deine Tritte? Denn schwach bin ich nicht. Du darfst mich verletzen wenn Du das brauchst um mich einzuschätzen. Was Du aber mit mir machst wenn Du über mir bist, sagt mir wiederum alles, was über Dich zu wissen ist. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung
BEFORE YOU
You always think you’re the first When you are young, How startling it is when you grow up To realise you were wrong. So many people before you Have these same heights traversed - Some recorded, many unrecorded, Their stories long dispersed. Tread the earth with humility, O modern day human; Stonehenge and Egypt’s pyramids Transcend our acumen. And when you are still young, Be thankful as you add new value, For you’re building on the foundation Of all that came before you. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
GRENZLICH
Grenzen machen Menschen Menschen machen Grenzen Grenzen machen Menschen. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung
THE END NEVER ENDS
The character of the end One month passes one year passes 10 years pass Still no sight no word no message No communication That’s when it sinks in That was really the end He is gone Gone for good. The disappearance of friends Ends are Not Trends The heart never mends The end never ends. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
PROGRESSION
Abstand ist besser als unechte Nähe. Was ich weiß, ist anders als was ich sehe. Jedes Mal, wenn ich mich umdrehe, sieht die Vergangenheit anders aus. Zu denken, das war mal mein Zuhaus, sonderbar. Gut, daß uns die Gegenwart fern und immer ferner wegzieht vom Gestern. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung
CHANGE CHANGES CHANGE
There is something about change Once it starts, it is irreversible The inexorable march is strange Like a Divine verdict incontestable You see it happening yet you cannot stop it When you try to stop it you only develop it Even faster and make yourself expendable. There is something about change It is is surreal. Unreal. It is strange. Change changes the parameters of change And never changes in the same way. Change changes change But never changes it in the same way. And never stops changing. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
TIME DOES NOT CHANGE THINGS
Time doesn’t change things, they stay as they are. Events change things. Experiences change things. Things change things. Not time. Time only changes the outer appearance of the form of things.
Sometimes a thing that seems like it will last forever only lasts a short time and then changes, because the thing or event that will change it met it early.
While sometimes an other thing that seems flimsy and ephemeral stays unchanged for eternities, because the thing or experience that will change it has not yet met it.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 