When I first came to Germany, I died, slowly and gradually. And - this is the worst part - I died alone, inside my heart. Some might say it is a death Akin to the planted seed That dissolves inside the earth En route to being freed; Freed from the past and the old - The path to growth into the new. But death is empty, dark, cold. And lonely. I never knew. There is a path that leads back to life; Beware - it is more painful than death And it too with loneliness is rife From which will emerge your second breath. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Poetry
JUST KEEP MOVING
The shadows were short
But not for long –
Rest a little, but don’t abort,
And then move along –
The sunrays that once hurt
Will soften into bird song.
You can be sometimes weak
You can be sometimes wrong
You can be sometimes meek
When you’re strong.
Whether you’re old or young
Whether you’re normal or a freak,
Just be strong
And keep on moving on
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
SELF-MADE
At the end I‘ll be happy with myself For healing myself by denying myself. This is the mystery of the Self That liberates itself by controlling itself And binds itself by indulging itself, Because whatever becomes of yourself You did it to yourself. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
A HEART FULL OF MEMORIES
We came we went And the time spent Was like a drop of memory In a few people’s story Who themselves are gone too And, if not yet gone, are going too. If you have a heart Now is when to start Keeping record in there Of what you’re doing here On this planet distant and blue - Your memories are for you. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
THE MIRROR RIVER
A mirror is a river.
Think not that what you see
Is your image reflected.
What you see is your mirage projected
To what you want or no longer want to be.
To get there or to come back
You have to follow the river
From your source to your sea.
To get here or to go back
You have to cross your river
Of pain, vanity and complacency.
Your mirror is your prophecy.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
THE RIVER OF REFLECTION
If one day you see yourself
On the other side of the river
And yourself tells himself
To move on and forgive her
And yourself turns around
And walks into the distance
And you’re left with the sound
Of the inner river’s dance
Will you follow your inner self
Across the river of reflection?
Or will you follow your inner self
In the opposite direction?
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
UNCOMMITTING
There is always a moment
That one moment
When a connection can take place
That moment was silent
We spent it masking face
In a superficial space
And it came and went.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
UNMISSING
You stole my heart But when you gave it back It was no longer a part Of the things that I lack. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
JUST ONE TEAR
A tear will travel longer distances
Than a river
A tear will dig deeper holes
Than a sea
A tear will rise higher
That clouds and mountains
A tear will break the strongest heart
Irreparably.
Just one tear
Will drown the whole earth
Just one tear
Will water the garden in your heart.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Poems from the inner river
ANCIENT SPIRITS
Give me ten minutes And I‘ll give you a million years of reincarnation Locked within my heart. No limits. Everybody I meet is my next destination. Don’t think I am just this person you see, Born a few decades ago - just recently. I, like you, am ancient, like the sand and the sea. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 