Mandela

The poem today is about the world of South Africa, before and after Mandela. Heaven and hell in the poem, is of course, irony. It was indeed a heaven for the white rulers. But a heaven built on injustice.

Mandela

Born in world chained, a different life
A country split apart, heaven and hell
And torn apart with fears and strife
And so many locked in a prison cell

He was locked away for speaking out:
Truth to power; twenty-seven years
To know thyself, confront the doubt
Songs and laments, peace and tears

And when let free, not bitter hate
But peace and justice on his mind
A leader now, if the hour was late
Reconciliation his vision signed

A long walk to freedom, he did say
One we must all walk, on every day