“The Privilege Was Ours” poetry honouring Madiba

Last Friday was International Mandela Day, easily evident from the Google search engine’s doodle of a portrait of Madiba. Attending the Poetry event held in the memory of Nelson Mandela held at Pawa 254, with his painted depiction on the rooftop, it was apparent that this was more than a tribute, it was a show of gratitude. It would be an understatement to describe the hero’s demise as tragic and at this poetry session, the essence of the icon came alive.

The world stops to pay respect

Respect to your name; that is the best answer yet;

For a man who taught us:

That for every pain there is a gain

That for every scoundrel there is a hero

That for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…

Because when Mandela is spoken of to many of the generations that will follow;

They will hear of a Mandela who was about politics, race, freedom, forgiveness

But above all, they will hear of a Mandela who was not a god

You who float elegantly above us and saving us

Perhaps the greatest tragedy wasn’t your 30 years imprisonment

But the mere sad fact that there weren’t or aren’t nearly enough people like Madiba

So Tata

As you rest in progress out there

Among the stars

Please remember that

THE PRIVILEGE WAS OURS…

 

By Vincent Libosso