People never come back They move on to the new you Or to their new perception of you With or without you And you move on to the new them Or to your new perception of them With or without them But the old will never come back. Tomorrow will come. Those who try to cling on to the past Lose their way and orientation very fast Because Time never goes back. Those who meet again do so in the future As different people with a different Nature Because only going forward takes you back Home. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Of challenges
SELF-RESTRAINT
Just because it’s available Doesn’t mean you should take it; Just because it’s achievable Doesn’t mean you should make it; Just because it’s vulnerable Doesn’t mean you should break it; Just because it’s uncomfortable Doesn’t mean you should fake it; Just because it’s unshakeable Doesn’t mean you should shake it; Just because it’s accessible Doesn’t mean you should wake it; Just because it’s expendable Doesn’t mean you should stake it; Just because it’s edible Doesn’t mean you should bake it. Some things you just leave as they are. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
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
WOUNDED TERRAIN
I‘m riding on the train And riding through my pain When I’m done if I’m still sane I won’t come this way again. The experience is a strain On my heart and on my brain Riding through wounded terrain Where my trust was slain. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
LOVE IS A PRISON
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
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
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
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
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 