Every tree eventually
Bears its fruit
Look not for reason
Wait just for its season
Long is the wait when
Deep is the root
You don’t know your friend
Until the end.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
English
THE WAIF, THE WIDOW AND THE WOLF – Part 4
***
PART FOUR
Somayinozo was again on her way to see Chagonu.
Was this dusk descending? So early? Or had she simply not known how far behind noon had already lain by the time she set forth? She had in a nylon bag with her a few pieces of meat. It was very little, she knew, but she really did not like visiting Chagonu empty-handed. No matter how little or not-to-his-taste whatever it was that she brought along was, Chagonu was always grateful.
As her eyes and a sensitive, impressionable part of her consciousness took in the beauty of sunset –
Suddenly she sensed the presence of the strange wolf she had seen upon the morning of the day before. She paused…
Her eyes scanned.
The air was cold. With sunset came mist and delicate dew. All around her rose and tumbled the beautiful green hills of Nsukka. And peace.
But though she looked with yes so keen, and though her heart longed to encounter again the Wolf-soul, all she saw were the hills, sunset and the gentle softening of dusky nature.
She descended the hill and entered into the little woods. Nobody else knew that the wolves were still around… and she was going to make sure that no one ever came to know. Her carelessness had already almost cost them their lives once. It would not happen again.
They heard her footsteps and knew it was her. There was a howl. It shivered, gently, in the leaves, and she was at home.
… to be continued.
– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.
WHEN WE’RE WEAK
When we’re down, that’s when
We should cheer each other up
Silence is gold when happiness is upon us
In sorrow, speech will hold us together
Hold me when you crave to be held
You didn’t know you were lonely until I hugged you
When we’re weak, we become stronger
This is the illogical magic in the heart of friendship.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
NIGHT RUSH
The light of the moon uncovers the night
Sends a shiver across the fur of grass
A sleeping tree awakens, turns
Reaches out with its strong, slow branches
Bristling with leaves
The wind suddenly holds its breath, in the hush
The night beats faster
The earth yearns harder, as clouds quickly gather
And the rain softens the dark.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO
If a true friend is gold, are they poor that have no friends? Or rich by default, for peace of mind is also the lot of the lonely who is spared the irony of the laughter and companionship of false friends? How often have we met with a friend and parted from a stranger a short while later? In these days of sad revolutions and mixed allegations, of spying and cyber double lives, of migration without integration, of religious justice without religious love, of racial reawakening and regrouping, gender re-evaluation, of social re-engineering and hardening, there are some you will meet who will tell you that what they need is not a friend, what they need is honesty and clarity.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
DAWN
I chanced to look near dawn
Out of my sorrow
And indigo was the wall
Outside my window
Surprised, I looked away
From night, my widow
Then stole another glance again
At my tomorrow
Tomorrow was in mute concert
Briefly I am my cello
Confused at my own melody
My poem, my strange bedfellow
But night is sheared now finally
Soft day echoes my hello
And as I rise, my waking thought
Sinks away into my pillow.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
BLOW ON
There is something
I want to write
– this has happened to me before –
That is:
It is the poet who wants to write it
While I, the pen,
Am yet in the dark
I only feel the heat of inspiration
The dark ink, flowing
The red blood, going
Somewhere
The wind, blowing…
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
SONNE HEUTE
Du mein Herz schlägst
Ungewöhnlich stark heute
Tausend Vögel klirren und
Schirren im Wald
Ich komme bald.
Du mein Herz atmest
Mit ungewöhnlicher Schnelle
Wohin heute?
Zu aufgeregt, ich kann nicht essen
Zu aufgeregt und unterdessen
Dein Schlagen, Schlagen
Tausend Vögel klirren
Schirren im Wald
Kommst auch du bald?
Die Sonne ist nicht hell genug
Heller musst Du strahlen,
Und wenn du da oben bist
Dann warte, warte,
Ich komme bald.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije .
WHAT REALLY MATTERS
Have you ever wondered if all the great deeds of nation builders also secured them a mansion in God’s House? Have you ever wondered if all the brave deeds of freedom fighters also helped them in the battle against the darkness in the Beyond? Have you ever wondered if all the profound thoughts of thinkers also showed them the way upwards once they crossed over into the other side? You see, I am one of those people who DO believe in life after death. The question is: Of everything we do while here on earth, which of them really make any difference to what happens on the other side? And then my thoughts go to the little acts of kindness and love that soften the harsh human day and brighten the dark night of inner loneliness. And something tells me that this alone will show the way when one day your feet are lost in another world.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
IT KEEPS MOVING FORWARD
Light, Light, yon distant star
Ever and on you move
Forward, forward, always so far
Away in the distant grove
You call, I come, and then you are gone
You beckon, I follow, all on my own
Love, Love, yon burning star
Ever and on you go
Forward, forward, near and yet far
And forevermore we follow
Who is in my heart? Who are you?
All I know is that I love you.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 