REBIRTH

Good morning
Bird singing outside my window
My neck I crane, yet
I see neither thee nor thy shadow
My ears I strain, for soft
Is thy voice of joy and sorrow
My heart shifts shape, ’tis now
A bird I must eternally follow.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

BE YOU

All I can do
Is just sing my songs
Between currents of dawn

I am a tree
The Iroko said to the ground
I cannot be grass too

Nor wind that comes and goes
And sings with birds and scents
And distant tales.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND YOU?

Music made me
A bird saved me
A smile undid me
A woman slew me
A friend betrayed me
And I dug myself out of the Grave.

A wound bled me
A sword healed me
A dream baffled me
A heart became me… became I…
A Call reached me
Here, there and everywhere –

Now, tell me
If you understand humanity yet?

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

ANOTHER BLACKBIRD

I am another blackbird
I want to fly high up in the sky
Shy and bold
Freed and loved
Here and there and
Everywhere.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

BROODING

There is a bird
Crying outside my window
In the woods
An echo of loneliness within me…
Every few seconds
A lonesome wail
Haunting, detached, a hall of sorrows
An abandoned lover
A brother alone
A wanderer in the woods of life
Between the trees and the dark leaves
Beneath the reach of the sun…
I hear your call
Partner
I feel you, I feel you well.

The glass is dark
The mirror within is a bird outside
I never see but always hear
For I carry the sorrow within.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
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THE STRANGE BIRD

I am the one who left the herd
Who defied the labels outcast and nerd
Who made roses out of turd
Who broke his word to keep his word
Who seeks the unknown, victory assured
Who sang the strange song your spirit heard
I am the one, he, the strange bird.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

POWER OF BIRDSONG

This singing bird
Were she a bard
Would be a millionaire untold
For everyone who heard
Would find it hard
Not to shower her with silver and gold.

For singing she
Convinced the heartbroken
That pain is the pleasure of the soul
Dance me your worry
‘Tis but a small token
To pay for a broken heart sang whole.

– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.