INNERLICH WEITER LEBEN

~ Che ~ 4 Comments

Erst kamen die Blumen
Lächelnde Glocken, spielende Kinder
Mädchen blühen auf
Jungen gehen die Augen auf
Das hier, ist das das Leben?

Dann kam eine stürmische Nacht
Wild tobte es hinter Fenstern
Träumend schwebte es in auftauenden Herzen
Ein gebrochenes Herz sinnt vor sich hin
Das hier, ist das das Lieben?

Dann thronte sich die Sonne, krönte sich der Verstand
Stählerne Augen
Stein entwachsen keine Blumen
Ruhiger Erwachsene, sicher, verschlossen
Das hier, das Leiden!

Enttäuschung – Verstand trifft Empfindung
Nachdenken – Langsam, wie der Abend
Fallen die Nachwirkungen der Schicksalsschläge
Irgendwann fällt mal Wahrheit auf
Das da, das war das Lernen…

Zuletzt nimmt zu der Mond, nicht ab…
Ferne Fragen funkeln wie rufende Geheimnisse, schwache Erinnerungen
Vorstufe einer Rückkehr, sehnende Wiederkehr zu Dir
Nimmt jetzt die Runde wieder ab?
Wie geht es weiter? Immer weiter.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

CONSTANT CRY

~ Che ~ 7 Comments

He lived with us very briefly
When I was still a child
My father’s elder brother

When we prayed before our meals
And made the sign of the cross
He teased us, Protestants, about having gone Catholic

When he shaved in the morning
He explained to us the mysterious science
Of shaving stick, cream and blade

Other than that he didn’t talk much
A quiet quiet quiet man
Hurt no-one, thoughtfully kept to himself

Very different from the others
Never preached, never argued, never moralised
Never scolded, just silently observed

Three decades have passed
Rarely our paths ever crossed again
A short Hello each time, nothing more

I’m still trying to understand
The pain I’ve felt all morning today
Since I heard of Uncle Joe’s death

It doesn’t make sense
Someone I hardly knew
Just a few childhood memories

Just a few memories
That remind me of a time
Rich in memories and childlike insight

And a few memories
Of a quiet adult who never found a voice
In a culture of big egos, loud voices and aggression

His silence was louder, calmer, more lasting
So deep that only his death
Would open the deep wound of memory in my heart

His middle name was Ahamefula
Meaning “May my name not get lost” –
No, dear Uncle, it will not.

In loving memory of
Joseph Ahamefula Chukwumerije
1935 – 2013

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

~ Che

What was strange to others, was ordinary to us. When other kids went for children’s parties, we went for training and competition in martial arts and swimming. That was our father’s way – and it was the only way we knew; and looking back now, God bless that man. He was just unapologetically himself. He gave us a different world in which to live because it was the only world he was convinced of. A world of discipline, simplicity, hardwork, scholarship, modesty, frugality, brotherhood and fraternity. This is the root of our bond today – my siblings and I.

The most horrible thing that can happen to any person, to any family, to any society, is to think that there is something wrong in being different. For, then, there will neither be change nor progress. Just be yourself, even if it is different – nay, especially if it is different. Earth thrives on diversity. And diversity is only guaranteed when each person has the courage to be himself/herself. Thus, courage is the protector of our future as a human species. People, BE BRAVE.

Our father wanted to strengthen bravery in us, so he threw us into the martial arts, where you are alone in the ring and only your own fearlessness will see you through – and, win or lose, will cement your character and your legend. Just fight fearlessly. That was his message: Let fearlessness be your blood; that is all I ask of you. Win or lose, please my child just fight to the end.

When we turned it against him, though, it caught him unawares. Maybe he unconsciously hoped everybody was burning to be a public servant, or a socialist, and things like that, like himself. But I just wanted to be myself, to answer the call of life in another context – and he had taught me the courage to do so. But myself, at least in that period, was everything different from what he wanted for and from me. The irony and riddle of doing what is expected of you and thereby going against what is expected of you. The split was unpreventable, unavoidable and – for many decades it seemed – unhealable.

But Time, that great Mender, was Merciful. And Love pushed its stubborn head through and I will forever be grateful for the three beautiful years we had until he died.

Well, what on earth is this life all about? Who really knows? Is it politics? – Not everyone can be a politician. Is it the professions? – Not everyone can pursue one. Is it family? – Not everyone will make one. Is it ideology? – Not everyone will feel inclined to one. So what on earth is this earthlife all about?

In the end, it is simply whatever is in you that has to come out of you. And all you need to do, to make that happen, is simply to BE BRAVE. Brave enough to follow your innermost voice, no matter what!

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

MAN-MADE MOONS

~ Che ~ 2 Comments

They will build a city
And congest it with laws and dreams
Then they will reduce themselves to the size of the city
And fish their thoughts out of its streams.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

INTERNET: MAP OF THE WORLD

~ Che

A place where minds meet
Don’t expect kid gloves pulling punches
They make minced meat of unminced words

Minds clash harder than bodies
Thoughts don’t need the nuclear code
To damage love in every heart they poison

Where the like-minded find themselves
And divide into real homogeneous Groups
They need no Constitution to know their Aim

No visas to guard their borders
And when you cross the boundary into the darknet
You are at home

Finally we have an inner Picture of the world
That is accurate – It is the Internet
Where the Soul undresses itself without mercy.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

DEKO

~ Che ~ 3 Comments

Der Fluß
Der anspruchsvolle Baum
Erinnerung oder Ahnung
Gefangen im Büro, ein Aussteiger
Das Fenster. Autos wie Ameisen
Hinter einander vorbei kriechend
Wo ist der Schmetterling?
1000 Emails, Inhalt ohne Inhalt, die innere Stimme schweigt
Corporate-Tier, Meister des Dschungels
Des Sich Verstellens
Nimm hin Deinen Lohn
Im Club heute Nacht,1000 Watt Dunkel, im Bett
Wird gelacht und geweint und ein Stück tiefer
Und oberflächlicher geworden
Wo ist der Schmetterling?

Ich mag es
Wenn Du mich in Deine Arme nimmst
Und mir alles gibst – ich taue auf
Ein weiches Buch, Du liest in meiner Seele
Meine inhaltsreichen Empfindungen
Dort, tief in meiner Seele
Blüht ein Garten… Licht grün bunt
Lächelnd spielend ein Schmetterling
War das ein Traum?
Heute gestalte ich mein Büro um
Neben dem Monitor, ganz klein, für Euch nur Deko
Ein Schmetterling
Mir Verankerungspunkt äußerlich
Meines Innengartens. Besinne Dich
Deines Schmetterlings –

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

THE SEASON OF THE SECOND ME

~ Che ~ 2 Comments

In order to survive
I birthed another me
Long long ago

When the first feels disoriented
I pull him back
And let out the second

The second is uncontrolled
Full of propensities
And hungry to do it all

But he’s all I’ve got
Suicide is not an option
The journey’s not over yet.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

NO LAWS CAN SAVE A NATION

~ Che

The simplicity of reality
Drag me down to earth
Some mistakes can be corrected
Only through death and rebirth

But it takes even more strength
To live with your unrectified error
And if you can no longer change your path
Then go it with virtue and valour

The outer Change is not as important
As the inner Transformation
If individuals stay inwardly corrupt
No laws can save a Nation

And when you lose your fear
Of mockery and condescension
You’ll see that most People are simply Followers
For fear of ostracization.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

NACHT

~ Che ~ 5 Comments

Es fing mit der Dichtung an
In der Nacht
Zu waren Augen nicht
Im Gegenteil
Doch geblendet vom ewigen Lichte
Der Liebe

Wir sahen keine Wiese
Keinen Hang, keinen dunklen Wald
Sahen keine Tiere, keinen schwarzen Vogel
Gegen den blauen Himmel
Wir sahen nichts in der Welt
Wir sahen nur uns.

Wir sahen keine Wiese
Keinen Hang, keinen dunklen Wald im Hintergrund
Sahen keine Tiere, keinen schwarzen Vogel
Im langsamen Kreis gegen den blauen Himmel
Doch war es, als sähen wir das alles
Und mehr
Als wir uns sahen…

Und, als wir uns sahen
Und alles andere ahnten
Alles Gute
Hatten wir für den Augenblick
Den Frieden.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

PANTOMIME

~ Che ~ 1 Comment

Je länger ich dem Winde lausche,
desto deutlicher höre ich die Innere Stimme.
Rätselhafte Austausche
Ego-Pantomime.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.