Of Inner States

RIDE OUT

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

The way is “how”
Even more than “what”
Even more than “where”

“What” without “how”
Is religion, is dogma
Will chain the spirit

“Where” instead of “how”
Will never lead to
The answer of “why”

For it is the doing
By oneself that yields alone
The personal Understanding of “How”

Just do to me that thing
That makes my spirit light
And, deep in me, I’ll understand
The way

Who needs teachers
When we’ve got horses?
Just teach me how to ride
Or I’ll learn it myself

Then we’ll ride out together
And see for ourselves
What the world has to offer to
Seekers and lovers.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

UNQUIET STORM

~ Che ~ 1 Comment

Often, upon many an unquiet storm
Seeking calm exits through rough unfriendly seas
I have longed for death, and then
Quickly corrected myself, for even then,
Deep within, I sensed
That death would be no end.

And I have given kindness, even though
I knew that kindness would be a signal
To those who sail the dark waters
To come in and take advantage of me.
And I have kept many a dark secret silently inside
Just to protect some people, that they be not exposed.

And I have kept my peace
So that others may have their piece
And when they did not turn around
To say thank you, I have continued
To be that way still
For I know no other way to be.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

THE DREAMER

~ Che ~ 2 Comments

Sometimes it seems
As though the valley were the
Mountain-peak,
The mountain-peak the valley

Sometimes it seems
That to arrive at the valley
I must first arrive at the mountain-peak
And, sometimes, to arrive
At the mountain-peak, I must
Arrive at the valley

Which is the valley
Which the mountain and
Which the peak? –

Sometimes, Baby, it seems
As though to find you I must leave you…
And sometimes it seems as though
When I want to leave you
I’ll only end up again by your side

Sometimes, when I am Dreaming
I think I am awake –
But I have never once thought myself a dreamer,
Not even while I dreamt.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

BLOW ON

~ Che ~ 8 Comments

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.

INSPIRATIONS

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

The things that inspired me yesterday
Still inspire me today
And will still inspire me tomorrow –
And yet
My poems,
Though they be of one mind,
Will continue to change and to grow
Because Inspiration
Does not change,
But I,
The poet, do.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

HAPPINESS

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

The touch was much more than touch
Happiness, when it speaks, doesn’t say much

A passing thought almost crosses your mind
It leaves a warming ache behind

To share is to increase your share
Especially when there is nothing there

Happiness is a quiet guest
Peace in a castle, bird in a nest.

– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.

DROWSY

~ Che ~ 4 Comments

My eyelids are falling
Like felled trees in the forest
My words are milky like drunken clouds
My breathing is slow and heavy like
A market woman’s feet in the evening

I am sleepy, drowsy, swimming and
I am about to fall awake –
Do you think I’m dreaming right now?
I can’t tell the difference
Do I write poems in my dreams

And forget when I awake?
The dream is the poem, a poem is a dream
I must leave you behind in the dream now, my love
Where my words will live on while
I wake asleep in the morning, in the morning.

– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.

WEB OF TOO MANY WORDS

~ Che ~ 2 Comments

Left Simpli City
Travelled to Dupli City
Influenced by someone from Compli city.
So what’s the name of the whole country?

The Queen of Compli City
Was bored. She disguised as a lost maiden
And went to the King of Simpli City
Who fell in love with her.

She sweet-talked and brainwashed him
And he rode into Dupli City
To challenge the King of Dupli City
To a conflict of interests.

So, looks like Compli city
Was trying to use Simpli City
To defeat Dupli City
After having first compromised Simpli City.

How smart.
But of course the King of Dupli City
Saw through all this
And decided to play along.

Pretending to ride into battle
Against the army of Simpli City
In the full view of Compli City
Secretly he sends messages to Simpli City

Poor Simpli City, as it falls
Lost in the web of too many words
Not knowing whom to believe now
Compli City or Dupli City.

But underneath the ruins of Simpli city
Lies the ancient foundation of Tena City
Where a Child is born who says my name
Is different, my name is Clarity.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

SHADOWY PEACE

~ Che ~ 3 Comments

You cannot bring peace
To strangers
Friend, stop running
From your shadow
It is you

You, you
It is you

Bring peace to yourself
Let there be peace
Upon you, within you

The strangers that pass by
Will be grateful to you
And never forget you
Peaceful you.

– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.