Tribute to Nelson Mandela poem by Habeeb

Nelson Mandela

Uniting us at death

Living the dream of freedom

Many times behind bars sacrificing his for ours

So South Africans et al may be freed from every apartheid

Growing up on this icon like Marley and Che

How can we not love Madibha?

He stood up to the Pharoahs of Soweto 

Living in isolation on Robben Island with no inmates' privileges 

 

One hour visit per year by Winnie, his protege in struggle

Twenty seven edited letters in twenty seven years

Not a chaplain nor escorted visitations

He laughed boldly at his enemies

Reconciling from 'by any means possible' to negotiating peace

The perpetrators apologizing to the victims

Forgiveness and not forgetting like Jesus did

At death world leaders and spiritual heads

Freedom fighters and underdogs, wow!

Bowed in prayers together

That a century of beautiful heroism

Is laid like the monuments of King, Mahatma and Al Hajj Malcolm X

Resting in the lofty meadow of peacefulness

As in the words of Prophet Muhammad bidding farewell

You are tired and have tired so many

Realizing your goal in the fight of injustice and poverty

No one deserves to be less than human- brown, black or white!

And now we know that there is life after prison

A great life, like Joseph and Moses

Go into the winds softly Madiba

May your meadow be green

And the snowflakes of laughter overshadow you still!