Tribute to Nelson Mandela on His Passing

By Kwesi Atta Sakyi 6th December, 2013

Madiba went into exile,
Was hunted down like an elusive fox,
He pulled all the stops
And became a modern black Robin Hood
On account of his stance
On freedom fight
He suffered torture behind bars
Yet it raised his spirit a bar

He became the butt of apartheid jokes
Freedom’s acolyte matured into a buff
As he rebuffed Freedom’s murderers,
Not with lethal weapons
But with intrepid obstinacy of spirit
And a legendary fortitude
Based on his cherished principle
Of forgiveness and non-violence

27 years’ incarceration
Did not shake his unassailable beliefs a wee bit,
He delivered an uppercut to apartheid
At the dramatic Rivonia Trials in the 50s,
He emerged an icon to all freedom fighters,
Champion among champions
Reign, Saint Mandela reign,
Rein in all the accolades,
And at your passing,
Let the champagne flow,
You deserve all the praises bestowed,
In death, your life aglow
Let’s give toast to all peace-loving humanity,
To the eternal memory of our luminous star
Who passed on at 95 years

In a world teetering on the brink of insanity,
Madiba’s reign gave stability
His regal presence bestowed equanimity,
Reign, Madiba reign,
Even in death, Mandela reigns,
Let the showers of heaven unrestrained,
Rain down on all who cherish your dream-
Humankind freed holistically from
Mindless prejudices, hatred and inhumanity of man to man.

Author: Kwesi Atta Sakyi ©2013 Lusaka