Good Morning Opportunity, In what ever form or person you cross my path today May I have the strength and clarity To recognise, appreciate, take, keep and use you, I pray. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Poetry
AT THE BEGINNING
Pay attention to the beginning In the beginning Because the beginning Is the beginning of the ending. Every seed planted in the beginning Will become a fruit or a flower or weed And, before the end, manifest as a deed. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
SOLITUDE AND YOU
A part of me still wants to show you Every little flower that crosses my lane Share with you every story and review That get’s thrown up by my algorithm Tell you all the things that cross my mind Numberless times all through the day Reveal my plans and ask you if you also find Them as interesting as they seem to me Ask you how you are, where you are, Who you’re with, what you’re doing there Where it is, if it’s near or if it’s far How long you’ve been and will be there… But then another part of me reminds me That you are gone and gone for good And I lock my conversations back inside me Because I’m getting used to this solitude. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
FIGHTING AS YOURSELF
You fight by being yourself You lose by losing yourself You win by remaining yourself Improving yourself, perfecting yourself As yourself Your deepest and highest and purest self. When you‘re not good enough for someone Don’t respond by becoming someone else Stay quietly yourself, your authentic self - When you’re too good to be true in someone’s view Don’t adjust and lower yourself to their comfort level Stay proudly yourself, your honest self - Just strive to be the best version of yourself. You can only attract those in tune with yourself When you show yourself - And if they are few and far between It’s still worth is. The loneliness is mean Crushing and worse when you’re not yourself. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
WALKING AND TALKING
Walking myself Through the corridors of dull greyness Talking to myself Until I become free of all my bitterness For it doesn’t matter who has hurt me I am nothing special I have hurt many too, irreparably, deeply, With this my heart must wrestle. Walking and whistling Talking and thinking Of what I’m receiving Whenever I’m grieving Spiritual resetting Not ever forgetting Destiny re-weaving Deep inner perceiving. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
PASSING RIFFS
Little moments of life In the corners of strife Little stripes of light Hidden out of sight Hope is a melody, a song Where we all belong Sing along, old and young. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
A QUIET LIFE
A quiet life You come and you go And barely anyone noticed You or your halo. This distant planet The Earth she’s called You visited and then were Quietly recalled. Some people don’t talk much You don’t even know they’re there But their hearts are deep And full of care. But their hearts are deep And full of care Treasure the quiet ones While they’re still here. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
GREETINGS ALONG THE WAY
Every flight is a flight of fantasy Every journey is a journey of discovery Every departure is a departure from routine Every arrival is an arrival somewhere in between Every stranger is of a stranger kind Every meeting is a meeting of minds Every parting is a parting of the Red Sea Every greeting is… Wait! Greetings. The greetings Are the closest we’ll come to most humans. Put into them the earnestness of meetings - They are often our sole communions. With eyes, with words, with gestures, With a handshake or an embrace - Greetings in all their textures Help us to feel our human race. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
READY OR NOT
By the time you’re ready for me I’ll be ready for me too I’ll no longer need you to Complete me and hold steady for me. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
CHALLENGE OF THE PRESENT
When they were living It was for them not the past; Now that we are living It is for us also not the past. It is always the present - And it always feels the same; For some it feels like the end, For others like the start, of the game. The future will one day look back And call our present their past - But their present too will hold them back With the same challenges of the past. It always demands bravery Without the benefit of hindsight; To act without knowing if posterity Will prove you wrong or right. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
