Ignorance is bliss
Yet I choose torture
Nature left a space
For growth via Nurture
Pain is the price I gladly pay
To be at home in my own Skin
The sadness is without
The Lion is within.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
KNOWING
THE ESSENCE
In seeking Contact with people
Seek that within them
Which is the core of their
Human essence.
There is a moment
Like an electric shock,
When humanity meets humanity
Your cores touch
And so do always your chores –
A kickstart into the Quick
Hearts run like rivers
Seeking the sea. Let it be.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
KNOWLEDGE
Conscience = con science = with knowledge
In your conscience
You know
The difference between
Right and wrong.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
SHARED SILENCE, SHARED DISTANCE
Your silence deafens music
The songs don’t move me anymore
But to tears
Your absence ‘tis so loud
Woke me up with a jolt last night
And your emptiness shivered
And I recalled your poems by name
The rain, cheeky, in your hair
The palm wine melody line of dancing pain
It is our way
To do the things that cause us pain
And then share the pain with each other.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
KNOWING ME
Someone stood by my side
In that hour when
Self-confidence is asleep
And self-belief has lost its way
In that dark hour when
All you do is question yourself
Because phantoms and demons and ghosts
Are whispering in your head
It is the hour when thieves are about
Stealing your last bit of self-worth
Under the cover of darkness
Thieves are faceless and this they know
And she was my sun when there was no sun
And she was my strength when I fell
And in my hour of deepest doubt
She kept our faith.
But one more thing she did
She took a walk through my dark side
And left signposts along the way
And told me: This is also you.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
FORGIVENESS
That blossom
That let go of the tree
And fell to earth
Is forgiveness
That recognition
That pain was the unavoidable teacher
Is forgiveness
That cleansing tear
Is forgiveness.
But I never want to see you again.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
WEB OF TOO MANY WORDS
Left Simpli City
Travelled to Dupli City
Influenced by someone from Compli city.
So what’s the name of the whole country?
The Queen of Compli City
Was bored. She disguised as a lost maiden
And went to the King of Simpli City
Who fell in love with her.
She sweet-talked and brainwashed him
And he rode into Dupli City
To challenge the King of Dupli City
To a conflict of interests.
So, looks like Compli city
Was trying to use Simpli City
To defeat Dupli City
After having first compromised Simpli City.
How smart.
But of course the King of Dupli City
Saw through all this
And decided to play along.
Pretending to ride into battle
Against the army of Simpli City
In the full view of Compli City
Secretly he sends messages to Simpli City
Poor Simpli City, as it falls
Lost in the web of too many words
Not knowing whom to believe now
Compli City or Dupli City.
But underneath the ruins of Simpli city
Lies the ancient foundation of Tena City
Where a Child is born who says my name
Is different, my name is Clarity.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 