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DISHARMONY

~ Che

There came a time in my life when I prayed to die. Not because I had no food to eat, but because I had no gratitude with which to eat the food. Not because I had no bed on which to rest, but because I had no rest to place upon the bed. Not because I had no one to talk to, but because I had no friendliness to offer. Not because I loved death, but because I hated life.

Then I met a journeyman inside my soul, full of humility, laughter and ordinariness. And of the boisterous acceptance of the reality of things.

I am still trying to fathom this journeyman, to understand who he is; to come to grips with the simple realities of everyday life, like everyone else also does, none of whom is less weary of the toil than I am.

To become a man, Nigerians say, is not the job of one day. It requires time. Think I not that only I long for Home – every other Wanderer does so as well. Every.

Mayhaps if we made the Earth a better place, the journey would not be so unbearable afterall. Or what sayest thou?

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

DIE ANGST

~ Che

Wenn du zu schnell gehst
dann stürzest du…
Wenn du zu langsam gehst
dann kommst du zu spät an…
Wenn du zu froh bist
dann denkst du nicht klar…
Wenn du zu ernst bist
dann bekommst du keine Freunde…
Wenn du alleine bist
dann denkt man, daß du komisch bist…
Wenn du mit der Menge gehst
dann verlierst du deine Eigenpersönlichkeit …
Vorsicht… Vorsicht…
Du willst doch nur das Richtige tun…,
Lacht die Angst.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

PAIN LIKE A STREAM

~ Che

Like a stream runs this ancient heart of mine. I write truest and best when I am in pain and all alone; this is when I write down tomorrow’s pieces. Not when I am happy and relaxed; lazy, immature me.

When I have comfort, I forget, I become complacent. When there is peace, I laugh, which is good, but I also fall asleep, which is dangerous and wrong.

Maybe two thousand years from now I will be mature enough to be happy and be inwardly mobile simultaneously –

Pending this day, however, pain will be the helper of the Poet and of the wanderer. Pain and love and longing. To Keep me awake, to drive me onwards…

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

DAS KOMISCHE

~ Che

Das Komische
ist, daß ich es nie erkenne
bis es vollbracht ist
immer

sondern glaube stete
noch beim Letzten zu sein
das allerdings schon längst vorbei ist
lautlos

Mich traf kurz vorher ein Blitz
Eine Erkenntnis –
Ich wollte aber als erstes mir den Titel besinnen
Aber bis mir der eindämmerte
war wieder weggeflogen bereits das Gedicht.

Das Komische
ist, daß ich es nie erkenne
bis es vollbracht ist… und heim geflogen –
Immer.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije

RUNNING WATERS

~ Che

The story you told in the west is not identical with the laughter you laughed in the north, nor with the song you sang in the south, nor the thoughts you expressed in the east…

The language you spoke on the mountain is very different from the tongue you adopted in the valley, and from the violins you played through the woods, and the ballad you composed upon the blue-green meadows…

The roar you let out as you charged past us has a different content from the groan the desert drew out of you; and the whisper which ye sighed in this grateful heart is not the same cry with which ye flow into the sea.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije

VOICES NEAR

~ Che

Has Music jarred you through and through before? I don’t mean the base, coarse Music of now. I’m talking about the High Trumpets of the Immortal Realms. Have you heard them before?

Have you heard your heart beat before? I mean not the muscle. I’m talking about the leap of the flame in you when Heaven gave you a Name. What’s your Name?

Show me your friends, man, and I’ll tell you who you are – your real friends. Show me your Palms and I’ll teach you your destiny.

Have you ever before been blinded by dazzling Sunlight? Not the sun in the sky, but the Sun Above All Skies. – Show me your face, sister, and I’ll read a Million things thereupon.

Yesterday gave birth to today. Today yields tomorrow, the known unknown.

When I am alone, alone, sometimes, I remember my brother faraway… Not he who died recently, but he who has never once died. The Immortal Spirit whom I knew – before we were born as brothers on earth – in a blue Kingdom far so far away. A Kingdom whose Name, if I ever knew it, I have long forgotten.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

AUF STEIGT DIE SONNE NICHT

~ Che

Auf steigt die Sonne nicht
die Erde dreht sich

Ich falle nicht, ich ziehe die Erde und
die Erde zieht mich auch

Gleichartige stoßen sich nicht
ab, doch Getrennte rufen zu einander

Das Leben gab uns nichts mehre
Außer Dir mich und mir Dich.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

SCHWER DEFINIERBAR

~ Che

Erdkund, stolperrund
Blatt Vormund
Migration im Hintergrund
Integration im Vordergrund
Doch diese Stelle … bleibt wund.
Der Bund ist der innere Bund
Unsichtbar und …

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

THERE’LL BE HELP ALONG THE WAY (VIDEO)

Video ~ ~ Che ~ 2 Comments

I did not blog at all in 2014/2015 about the illness and death of my father. It was, still is, too deep. But I wrote a song with his words of advice – “There’ll Be Help Along The Way” – which captures everything he gave, and means, to me.

One of the most imprtant things his death did to me was to remind me that life is short. Do the most important things first. So I started making and recording Music again. And I ended up with my first Album in many years, called FIRST NATURE.

YouTube: Che – There’ll Be Help Along The Way

(V.1):
I remember
When the news hit me back in September
Daddy’s going home
Father father
Tell us will this be our last December?
Speak a word of hope

(CHORUS 1):
There’ll be storm and there’ll be rain
There’ll be tears and there’ll be pain
Keep on striving night and day
There’ll be help along the way
Those who have no fear to fail
Are the ones who never fail
Though they fall they’ll rise again
There’ll be help along the way
… way way way along the way

(V.2):
Have a vision
Live you life with purpose and a mission
Never never give up
Stick together
Be your brothers’ and your sister’s keeper
And keep your faith in God

(CHORUS 2):
When old friends have gone away – (way)
And new friends don’t feel the same – (same)
Yet stay on your lonely lane – (lane)
There’ll be help along the way –
Heaven helps who help themselves – (selves)
Don’t keep doubtig your success – (cess)
Just be faithful to your fate
There’ll be help along the way
… way way way along the way

(SAX SOLO)

(CHORUS 3):
Sometimes at the very start
The road you have to go looks hard
Just set off and just be brave
There’ll be help along the way
It’s no shame to be afraid
But don’t let it make you brake
’Cause in unexpected ways
Oh, there’ll be help along the way…

(FINAL AD-LIBS):
Oooh.. along the way
Children Children (there’ll be help along the way)
There’ll be help along the way…. (there’ll be help along the way)
Help along the way
There’ll be help along, there’ll be help along the Way…

_ _ _ _

(Words/Music: Che Chidi Chukwumerije)

HUMILITY

~ Che

The mystery of the Grail
The higher you go, the less worthy you feel
And when you get to the Top
You drop.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.