IT’S A HUMAN HEART

It’s winter
You’ll have warmer days
And you’ll have colder days
But they’ll all be cold.

It’s a human heart
You’ll have clearer days
And you’ll have uncertain moments
But still, be bold.

It’s an Earth life
You came to cry
And you came to laugh
And maybe grow old.

The people you love the most
Will cause you the most pain
And yet they’re the only ones
Your heart will want to hold.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

ABENDSTILL

Der Abend ist so still
Fast könnte ich Deine Gedanken hören
Sie wollen, was ich will
Den Sturm beruhigen, die Ruhe stören
Alles anders machen als erwartet
Und neue Sachen erleben
Außen ausführen, was innen startet
Neues geben und altes vergeben.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

SOMEONE THAT LOVES YOU

To have someone that loves you,
Really loves you, is the most beautiful thing,
The most special thing, that can happen to you -
Nothing can describe it, not even a ring.

It is a special gift from God reaching you
Through the agency of another human’s devotion -
Devotion to you, surrender to you,
Service to you, support of you,
Love for you, care towards you,
Honesty with you, dedication to you,
Joyful natural voluntary sacrifice to and for you,
Giving you dignity and protection
And bringing you elevation and elation.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

HERZ STEHT KOPF

Herz steht Kopf
Kopf steht Herz
Abwärts aufwärts
Einwärts auswärts
Wer ist da? Klopf Klopf
Ich weiß oft nicht
Wer da in mir ist
Bewusst seiner Pflicht
und deren innerer Frist.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

THE VAST DISTANCE

The deepest form of intimacy
is the sharing of truth.
Sex is not the highest form of intimacy -
Honesty is. No sleuth
can penetrate a false heart of lies.
No compass can navigate
the vast distance opened up by lies
that keeps hearts separate.

This distance cannot be closed by vicinity -
This distance can only be closed by veracity.


Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

NOCH DA

Nie sind die Menschen noch da,
wo sie einst waren, wenn Du wiederkehrst -
Komme keinem Menschen zu nah,
sonst fühlst Du Dich als ob Du nie da wärst.

Ich will nicht mehr traurig sein
aber glücklich sein macht mich traurig
und traurig sein macht mich glücklich
und unter Menschen fühle ich mich allein.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

THROUGH HONESTY

Don’t be ashamed
Pour it all out
The heart is tamed
and freed from doubt
by the bravery of honesty.

Let those that hurt you
continue to mock you
It still cannot stop you
from healing through honesty
and growing through adversity.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river

MAL HELL

Du warst mal hell
leuchtend wie ein Stern
Was ist passiert?
Jetzt bist Du kalt und fern
und dunkel und verlogen
und verheimlichst gern
Deine Gedanken.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Im Jahrzehnt der deutschen Dichtung

PARTS OF STORIES

The person you think is in your story is also in someone else’s story. Never think a person is exclusively yours, even if they tell you so. It only depends on the form and context, on the depth and scope, and on the intensity and exact nature, of their role in your story and their roles in other people’s stories as well. Just like you are in many people’s stories, so is even the person closest to you maybe even closer still to someone else in that other person’s story. People are interconnected in ways nobody can fathom.

And you can only see your story, but lack complete access into the world of the other person’s story. You only know the character a person plays in your story, but you would be surprised if you ever saw the character that same person plays in another person’s story. Never will you know all the parts of a story, only some – if you are lucky, maybe the relevant ones. Never will you know all the people in a person’s story. And never ever will you know all the stories in which a person features – not even the person closest and dearest to you. Just like only God knows all the stories that you too are a part of.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Undulating Plains

MAY YOU

May you grow
Like the flowers you love so much

May you sow
Seeds of fruits that nourish as such

May you glow
Under the purity of a true lover’s touch

May you know
Honesty to which you can safely clutch.

Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river