For Madiba
(1918 – 2013)
And Just When I Felt Lost…
,,,again,
when i feared that you were slipping away
i feared more for myself, in truth I say, than for you.
again…
you came back to us
again…
your light shone, ablaze
reaching inside of me with the warmth of your dignity
with your infinite gentleness
with your effortless peace
with all that made you, you
again…
soothing me as you soothed a nation
and a people, and people everywhere
of every hue
and of every creed
and of the human spirit itself
again…
you gave of yourself
again…
you breathed my fears away
you embraced me as you have always done
again…
you made me cry
weeping tears of joy for you
for your light to shine on through
again…
you shined so brightly
as I basked in your warmth of you being you
again…
you cradled my shaken being in your hands, lined with age and with wisdom and with a pureness so bright
that just knowing that you were finally home, smiling that fatherly smile of yours
was enough for me, to slip into the waiting arms of this warm and joyous night
and again…
you came back to me on this night
and just knowing that you are with me
is enough now, for within me, you will reside forever more
just knowing that you are resting, finally
fills me with the biting grief of parting
and with the peace and the joy that has been your gift to me, and to us, one and all
shaking me to my very core
as you have selflessly done
throughout all our lives, and on countless occasions before
He is home!
You are home!
and
i am home with you
as your light of life continues to shine
now and forever
warm and dignified and forever true!
Viva Nelson Rolihlala ‘Madiba’ Mandela Viva!
