For whom shall I write now? For whom shall I fight now? Who shall shine the light now That illuminates my heart? Lovers don’t turn into friends, They turn into strangers. Life the gardener tends Both safeties and dangers. But when November ends, December births mangers And shines new light to my heart. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Poems from the inner river
november
HERBSTERWEITERUNG
Der Herbst, der Erinnert mich an mich Novemberherbst Novemberernst Warum das Blatt wenden, wenn Ich alle Blätter verlieren kann? Erleichterung Der Herbst, der Prophezeit mich zu mir Dezemberherbst Dezemberherz Nur wer alle Blätter verloren hat Hat das Blatt gewendet. Erweiterung. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der Deutschen Dichtung
NOVEMBERSCHNITT
Er macht es jedes Mal. Er schafft es, auf einmal Mich zu töten und ich bin tot Ohne Übergang. Wirklich tot. Die alte Person, die einst mein Ich war Wird zur Erinnerung, und zwar und zwar Zur kalten fernen Figur Mit mir fremder ungewöhnlichen Natur - War ich je das? Ist das wirklich wahr? November tötet mich, nicht jedes Jahr Aber immer wieder kommt der Schnitt Hart, endgültig beginnt ein neuer Abschnitt. Che Chidi Chukwumerije Im Jahrzehnt der Deutschen Dichtung
MIRACLES
Stories.
Like the one about the sad horse
Who came upon a silver lake
And assuaged her thirst.
Tomorrow she will wake up
To suddenly find that
She has begun to sprout wings…
Yet she will not turn into an eagle
But will remain a horse
Even after her wings have matured
Because sometimes
Horses are permitted to own their own wings
If they will fly up to there
As hoped
And not just fly down to there
As feared…
I believe
In horses with wings…
In fairies that, unobserved, observe us…
In animals than can read the thoughts of humans…
In babies that knew their own names
Even before they were born…
In love that does not die
Stories.
Like the one about
Two children who climbed
An old tree
And, when they came down,
Had already become adults again.
Tomorrow they will
Become children for a second time
The children they were
First meant to be
Stories. Stories. Stories.
I believe in miracles
I believe I can fly
I believe in you, Baby
Love is a miracle of life
Stories.
Like the Oracle
That predicted its own demise
But did not live
To see whether its prediction came true or not…
Stories.
Like the three sisters
Who did not know they were sisters
Until after they had all fallen in love
With the same man…
Stories. Stories.
Like the creation of the world
The adventures of the roving stars
The mysteries in the bowels of the earth –
Like the tired old widow who
Came upon a wishing-well and
After gratefully satiating her thirst
Flipped a coin
And wished the wishing-well well..
Stories.
Like the refugee
Who asked for just a little water and bread
And got it not
Yet could not figure out how to hate…
Stories.
Mysteries.
Oracles.
Miracles.
Everybody
Has a history
But some histories
Are outside everybody
If you were to behold a miracle
Now
Would you recognise it as one?
Probably not.
Miracles
Follow me
From life to life
Place to place
Face to face
There is a Green Hill
Far far away in unsullied fields
Where there be no Death
Once upon a time
Love
There is a miracle called love.
Amen.
Thirty days to Christmas
And here I am
Writing poems
And thinking just of you, my dear.
– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.
Che Chidi Chukwumerije 