Ndị na-ahụ ụzọ chọtara gị,
Ha chọtara gị bịa,
Ma ha ahụhụ gị –
Ngwa, gwa m ugbu a: olee ebe ị gara?
Ọkwọ a şi gị nọrọ n’ụlọ chere ha,
Hawa bụ ndi ji echi na-aka?
Ị jụ! Ị pụọ…!
Ngwa, lee nụ. Echi a chọrọla gị bịa,
Ma echi ahụhụ gị –
Nyiahụ a kpọchiela gị n’ime ụlọ ya.
Ndo.
Ndo.
Nke gị a gafeela…
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Fluttering somewhere, unseen
Fluttering softly, fluttering quick,
Fluttering, fluttering, an invisible being
Floats over quietly with a candlestick
And a flaming crown around a little wick,
Slightly seen, partly unseen…
They float, candle, being, and candleflame
Over the heads of a thousand men and more…
And alight gently upon a budding dame
Who, touched by an angel, bears a look never seen before
And poets and musicians and men
Draw from her look inspiration again
And again.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Why we sorrow, what we know
No tomorrow, yet we sow
Because this night, because this night
Because this night
Will crack
Light, light, I see tomorrow
Through a crack so slight and mellow
There’s a tiny track
The pain, though great
Will end.
The rain, though late
The rain, though late
The rain, though late
Shall bend
Our way again, this I know
Though we sorrow, yet we know
We’ll smile again.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Like water, going…
Like air, there, everywhere…
Gentle strength
Will slowly overcome
And overtake
You
Just when you think that
You have conquered…
Like love, forever…
Like trust, silently growing…
Gentle strength
Will finally become a part
Of you
Your greatest asset
Just when you think that
You have been conquered…
Though they hit you
And hit you again and again
Yet they lose always
Because love is the strongest force of all.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
I have to be
The father of the child in me
Protect him
Encourage him
Allow him to dare to be
The child that should once have been me.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Who knows
Better than the nose
How a thing really smells?
Who spies
Clearer than the eyes
Where a thing really dwells?
If your heart
Is your most tender part
Then I am a compass
And you are a chart.
I will always find you
Lovely lass
And encompass you.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Ja, ich weiß es gut,
Ich bin immer sonderbar und fremd…
Unter meinem Volk
Und unter fremdartigen Menschen auch…
Denn ich bin wieder nur ich, wie immer –
Der Abend dauert und dauert und bleibt,
Der Wanderer wandert weiter fort –
Hier oder dort, vieles ist mir egal…
Fremder bin ich nie, hier in meinem Geist.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Your disgrace
Reflected on my bottom
Wiped with tears across your lost face
Mirrored in anguish ambushed –
Be of good cheer –
The dew
Washes the exposed leaf clean each time
The cock crows again.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije
“No war, no peace,” says the warrior, wielder of the sword.
“No justice, no peace,” says the philosopher, wielder of the pen.
“No forgiveness, no peace,” says the lover, wielder of the heart.
“No negotiation, no peace,” says the politician, wielder of diplomacy.
“No prayer, no peace,” says the priest, wielder of religion.
“No forgiveness, no peace,” says the lover, wielder of the heart.
“No invention, no peace,” says the scientist, wielder of formulae.
“No knowledge, no peace,” says the scholar, wielder of intellect.
“No forgiveness, no peace,” says the lover, wielder of the heart.
“No amnesia, no peace,” says the coward, wielder of excuses.
“No memory, no peace,” says the historian, wielder of records.
“No forgiveness, no peace,” says the lover, wielder of the heart.
“No pretence, no peace,” says the actor, wielder of theatrics.
“No harmony, no peace,” says the musician, wielder of song.
“No reflection, no peace,” says the artist, wielder of images.
“No forgiveness, no peace,” says the lover, wielder of the heart.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije
Nein, nicht kristallgrün
Nachts ist mir schön
Nicht und nimmer feuerrot
Nein, denn Aussehen ist tot
Mich interessiert nicht
Was du hast in Aussicht
Einsicht allein ist mein Sehen
Das sollst du einsehen
Berühre mich nicht
Flüstere nicht. Das Licht
Ist sichtbar mit geschlossenen Augen
Und hörbar im Schweigen.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
