Thursday, July 18, 2013

MADIBA


Madiba,
Great Soul,
like a clear wind
you blew through
the hallways
of tyranny and oppression,
disarming the despots
with your dignity,
peacefulness and irreproachable 
insistence upon justice
that would no longer 
be denied.

The bondage of apartheid fell.
One of the most joyous moments of my life
was watching you dance your victory
before the cameras of the world -
from Robbins Island
to the Presidency,
never once stumbling
off-course.

It seems in every generation
there emerges a hero. 
In my lifetime,
you were mine,
along with Gandhi, 
Martin Luther King,
Robert Kennedy Jr.,
all of you
peaceful warriors 
for social justice.

You were my inspiration
for personal freedom.
Even while captive,
your spirit transcended
and saw far beyond
the bars you looked through.
Even when treated brutally,
you did not forsake your dignity,
or turn away from 
your personal mandate.

You held a vision
for your beloved country
that you lived to see come to pass.
As you danced in celebration
of the first truly free election, 
the sweetness in your smile
touched my heart.
Such a long road
you had traveled
to reach that moment.

Madiba,
take the rest and the peace
you have earned,
and consider your job well done.

May we all take up
the banner of social justice
in your honor,
until the message of your life
covers the entire planet,
a planet, not of black and white,
but of Great Souls.

Happy Birthday,
as you rest  
after 95 years
of being honorable.
To the entire world,
you are, and will 
forever remain,
our hero.

9 comments:

  1. 'May we all take up
    the banner of social justice
    in your honor,
    until the message of your life
    covers the entire planet,
    a planet, not of black and white,
    but of Great Souls.'
    Ameen to that! A great leader in the history of mankind.
    A very beautiful dedication :)

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  2. What a beautiful tribute, Sherry. Loved the way you concluded the poem. Great.
    RIP Sir.

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  3. def an inspiration and was glad to read this morning he was improving..a great birthday present that is eh> smiles...he has def been a great leader of humanity as well...

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  4. A wonderful tribute to a brave and peace loving man ~ Happy special day to him ~

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  5. Thank you for this moving tribute to a man who is very close to my heart right now. I do wish that those with authority to do so would let him go now he has reached the milestone of 95. Let him have the dignity in death that he had in life.

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  6. Thank you Sherry for writing so beautifully what many of us feel. May he enjoy true peace

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  7. He definitely is a man of honor and a man to be honored. Your poem does both.

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  8. So nice of you to have remembered one of the living icons of todays' world, the unbreakable sort that serves as role model and a shining star ..

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