Dusty green leaves Harmattan leaves you husky With the haze of dawn and dusk West Africa will Chest Saharan breath Lovingly for three months Until it springs into the Atlantic Like a restless traveller into his lover. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Of Ruralness
BEFORE I SLEEP
The tropical warmth With teeth as strong as roots Beating on lion skin drums Evening voiced on bamboo flutes Fleeting memory That happened too long ago To be remembered properly Before I sleep more miles to go. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
FOREST WALK
A stroll through the curious trees Respectfully quiet to put you at ease What you hear is the noonday breeze Tell us your thoughts, human, if you please. But you hear neither the watching trees Nor the quietly questioning noonday breeze All you know - correct me, if you please - Is that in your heart you simply feel at ease. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
FORGET ME NOT
That deep moment When the grass is calm The gale is spent Nature is bent On being your heart’s balm A busy butterfly Like a restless thought Flutters by Waving hi and goodbye Forget me not Forget me not. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 