DAWN BEFORE DAWN

The light that comes
Comes from within –
Sun, moon and stars
Are stars in your own inner film
Morning comes with distant murmurings
Trains and cars and birdsongs gurgling
Silence broken by the rain
And swallowed up in silence again.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

DAWN

I chanced to look near dawn
Out of my sorrow
And indigo was the wall
Outside my window

Surprised, I looked away
From night, my widow
Then stole another glance again
At my tomorrow

Tomorrow was in mute concert
Briefly I am my cello
Confused at my own melody
My poem, my strange bedfellow

But night is sheared now finally
Soft day echoes my hello
And as I rise, my waking thought
Sinks away into my pillow.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

PRAYER AT DAWN

A slice of moon for breakfast
A dotted star and tea
A blue-grey sky that will not last
For soon the sun will be

The slice of moon is smiling
And as it smiles it fades
The words are dilly-dallying
And my pen hesitates

By what premise did I now
Presume myself a man
And yet I promise, nay I vow
To serve the Son of Man

The slice of moon has disappeared
Did I just say a prayer?
I long to touch lives, that be shared
The music in my ear.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.

QUIETNESS NAY SILENCE

Quietness nay silence
Like a virginal victim of violence
Was broken by a passing train in the night
Lonely and out of sight.

I won’t go near the window
Why reopen sorrow?
Let it pass by like a train in the distance
Heralding a second chance.

Night breathes, asleep
Silence sinks into ethereal deep
None shall stir until the dawn doth break
Only I – why am I still awake?

If I were clairvoyant, I would swear
There is somebody with me here
In that quiet hour when night is day
Spirits come out to play.

– CHE CHIDI CHUKWUMERIJE.