My only Crime was loving you And loving you too much too But If this is a crime I’ve done my time Release me Ease me Out Tell me what it’s all about An outer whisper, an inner shout Free me from insecurity and doubt. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
English
NICENESS
Don‘t slip on the ice,
Be careful when being nice
To strangers on the way,
For the way will waylay
The unwary and open heart
For whom niceness is the chart.
Temper your eagerness
With a measure of carefulness,
Protect your friendliness
With the practice of watchfulness.
Niceness has a reputation
For being an open invitation
To those who take to take again
Not caring if it causes pain.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
PEOPLE’S SIGNALS
Pay attention to the signals That people give you; Take them seriously - The signals won’t deceive you. No one says everything; They leave it to you To figure it out if you’re smart And paying attention too. And above and beneath it all Your own inner voice Will analyse the signals and more And make its own choice. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
I FEEL DEEPLY
I feel things very deeply If only people knew I climb or fall very steeply Intuition is my cue A trigger is enough for a crash A crash is enough for a lifetime A lifetime is not enough, it’s just a flash Among many flashes on a timeline Of deeper inner feelings And deeper inner healings. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
BRIGHTNESS UP AHEAD
There’s brightness up ahead Curiousity and hope instead Of shuddering tears we shed Instead of feet that walking bled And never a word said. But now there’s brightness up Ahead and an overflowing cup And a loaf of laughter for my sup. If you look deeply you’ll see it on my face That my heart was caught by His grace. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
SMILING STILL
A heart of gold And you will walk many miles In the biting cold Warmed by memories of smiles May your heart be bold And wise to wade through the wiles And guiles and keep smiling still As you trudge on up Hurting Hill. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
RIGHT THINGS
Do the right things And do the things right Spread your light wings And make your wings light Whatever the flight brings Inner buoyancy brings flight Up into the bright rings Where happiness rings bright. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
ACHING
Deep inner feelings of love are possible The love that causes the heart to ache is possible The love you cannot forget is possible The love that is stronger than you is possible The love that changes you is possible You just have to meet the right person To experience the incredible aching With or without Heartbreaking. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
RE-CODING MANHOOD
I never again want to be that man, the one that a woman is lying to another man in order to come and spend time with me. Because I will always think of that other man and know the excruciating pain he will feel if he ever suspects something he cannot prove. And if he doesn’t suspect anything and thinks he is with a loyal partner, then I will be the one to feel the excruciating pain on his behalf. I never want to be that man, the one that encourages or condones a woman lying to another man in order to come and spend time with me. For humanity to grow, the code of manhood has to change and become noble and knightly, boldly honest and full of dignity. I want to be the man who speaks the truth and to whom the truth is spoken. Any woman who deceives someone else in order to come and give herself to you, is not a good woman. She has given you a poisoned chalice. Be a man whose most intimate communication is truth, who speaks truth and to whom truth is spoken. Re-code the manhood within you, so we can lift up this world again.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Undulating Plains
