Poems

ROW YOUR BOAT

~ Che ~ 9 Comments

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Do you see
Those two boats
On the river?
Two brothers
Will row, side by side
Into the sunset.

One will dock
On the golden banks
While the other
Will row on
And they will wave
Goodbye to each other.

This is the way
Of the world
Of love and loss
Of meeting and parting
Of friendship and memory
Of life and death.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

Picture:
My brother Kwame and I
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
1995

A few weeks later, he passed on in a car accident.
This was our last picture together.

Kwame & Che
Kwame and Che

 

GRACE

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

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If you are poor
Gracefully
Wear your poverty

If you are rich
Gracefully
Bear your prosperity

If you have nothing
But this small thing
– Grace –
You will never lose face.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

SHARE

~ Che ~ 3 Comments

imageHow many go ahead
Who yet remember to erect road signs?
How many who break bread
Remember to leave a trail of crumbs behind?
I did not when I was ahead
But realised it not until I too fell behind.
Your hole yeast bread
Won’t rise to your comfort in lonely times.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

AT NIGHT…

~ Che ~ 4 Comments

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Truth undresses
Conscience pricks
Contemplation caresses
What conversation can’t fix.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

THE MIDNIGHT CANDLE

~ Che ~ 4 Comments

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Spirit flame in the world of it-doesn’t-matter
Radiant star never-the-less in the darkness
Night is a blessing for lost dreamers
It is the world-wanderer’s permanent address

Night makes the seeing blind
And the insight sharp as blade
The fire within will warm the cold
Feet of dew

Young mind, never mind
The world well and shiny made
It is for the old
You were born to bring the new.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

IMAGINATION

~ Che ~ 1 Comment

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They were not decorations on our wall
We were shadows on theirs
Flickering like candle thoughts
Gathering, falling and dispersing
Like broods of clouds
When we stand across the divide
Looking at each other, it’s hard to tell
Who is real
And who is the figment of whose imagination.

Writer, did you write your book
Or did your book write you?
Artist, did you paint that look
In the eye of the portrait watching you
Or are you just a thought in its mind?
If you look, sometimes you will find
That the musician is the instrument
And the song is the conductor of his movement.

And when an architect erects a building
He is only doing so to house therein his restless feelings.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

NATURE SHAPES AND NATURE FORMS

~ Che ~ 3 Comments

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Nature shapes and nature forms
Humans, mountains, seasons, worms
Nature cools and nature warms
Hearts and loves, volcanoes and storms

But stretch out your hand to touch nature
And all you’ll touch are her dorms and norms
For nature herself is hidden from capture
And all we see are her shapes and forms.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

MADIBA

~ Che ~ 2 Comments

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Kindness was his rod
With it he parted the red sea
Kindness was his road
Wide enough for all of humanity

Step forth, step forth, step forth
West, East, South, North.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

IT WAS AUTUMN WHEN WE MET

~ Che ~ 5 Comments

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It was autumn when we met
Trees were reddening
Leaves were falling
Hearts were aching to spill the truth

Autumn, autumn
Cooler nights
Autumn, autumn
Mistier heights

It was autumn when we met
Days were shortening
Eyes were focusing more sharply
On every strange new thing –
To discern the whole truth
Before the snow-blanket
Stored any promises
About to be made –
Diamonds and promises are forever.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

LOUD

~ Che ~ Leave a comment

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Blessed are the silent
For they shall hear it first…

Blessed are the silent
For they shall hear it first.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.