Sunday, December 15, 2013

A tribute to Nelson Mandela







Do not stand by my grave & grieve
I'm not here, wrapped in leopard skin
I am where the wind blows cruelest
So my words will scatter like grains  

Ripening land of corn & fruits 
Do not stand by my grave & grieve
I'm not here, draped in flag honors
I am where the night reigns darkest 

Burning candles beacon for peace
After slaughtering the ox, feast
Do not stand by my grave & grieve
I'm not here, blessed in holy water

I am where sky blues grass field 
And sun browns our faces with joy
Sing & dance in celebration
Do not stand by my grave & grieve



Beloved Father of Freedom, 
We bid you Farewell Madiba!

Posted for Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - In Memoriam
Poetry form:   Quartern
Shared with Poets United

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all ~

37 comments:

  1. This is wonderful, Grace. If I did not know better, I would think these words were written by one who lives in Africa. You show an amazing empathy and understanding of the African perspective when it comes to death and the afterlife. This is a moving and fitting tribute.

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    1. I was reading about your country's culture on dying and the afterlife ~ Thank you for the timely tribute to a fine man ~

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  2. yes, Madiba, is a man who cannot and does not lie in one single space but hovers over all spce where his soul touched and touches still in perpetuity.

    As always, you wrote this with the 'grace' expected of you

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  3. so true.. this is perfect... this line especially
    "I am where the wind blows cruelest
    So my words will scatter like grain"
    and may his wisdom be scattered like grain, and may it blossom.

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  4. i like how empowering he is even in death, not to grieve at the grave but to be about the things that he showed....the form works well in this....nicely done grace....

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  5. This is beautiful, Grace! You have given Mandela voice...beautifully. I picture him JUST as you have written him.

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  6. What a beautiful tribute to one of my personal heroes and inspirations. We could all learn so much from the lessons that he taught the world. Beautifully written.

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  7. What a wonderful poem and tribute, Grace! Mandela was/is my hero but strangely I have not written about him since he died so I am glad others have. Especially when the poem is as thoughtful as yours!

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  8. The feel of this is balanced and right, cutting to the essence. You describe how many feel, Grace, with true intuitive insight.

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  9. you have captivated his spirit in your poem....

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  10. Beautiful tribune! Feeling of his figure, spreading all over the world!

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  11. Hopefully what he taught lives on and great tribute too. You also didn't keep the snow, now we have it lol

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  12. i agree with your poetic words, i believe he would want each one of us to continue his great work in whatever niche we find ourselves, but "to stand and greive" no

    much love...

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  13. the spirit forever , remains with all the goodness......where needed.... beautiful

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  14. This is my favourite of all of the poems, Grace, because it reflects joy and peace, which must be his, now, and what his wishes for his people would surely be. Beautifully done.

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  15. You are such a true poet, Grace, touching the heart of the matter, showing the wisdom of the man, the heart of the hero.
    Love, K

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  16. great write Grace.. you always manage to delve into the subject in a beautiful way...

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  17. Wow! You speak true. As Walt Whitman said ... look for me under your boot soles .... This is going in my file of poems I cannot live without. All of the allusions, the repetition, the meter, the directions ... perfect and alive.

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  18. This is so beautiful Grace...he will never truly be gone.

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  19. Just so honorable and beautiful, Grace. Perfection.

    Wishing you a blessed and beautiful holiday season.

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  20. Amen to your words Grace - a wonderful Ode to such a great man

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  21. How true, we shoul follow his footsteps and not let his deeds to flow by crying.

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  22. This is just truly him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this. Just splendid. I tried writing one too, but ain't this good. What a great tribute, perhaps the best you could offer to a man who laid of his life every single day for uplifting not just a society but also the love in their hearts, Like he said in his autobiography, his long walk to freedom shall never end. It shall continue to guide more lives onto salvation.

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  23. This really hit me: "...I am where the wind blows cruelest..." such courage.
    Joyful Holidays to you as well Grace! Nice to be connecting with you. You were my inspiration to connect with d'Verse!

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  24. Wonderful tribute! Merry Christmas to you, too! xo

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  25. A wonderful tribute to a man whose aura spread wide and across all continents. Yes we should not grieve him but appreciate and spread the joy,love,wisdom of his world...don't let him die...he remains with us in thought and his words...

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  26. An absolutely beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. As always, thank you!

    Have a fantastic week!!

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  27. I had a friend who was a Catholic priest in the Natal. He had been picked up and tortured enough times for him to want to quit SA, even the priesthood. His words kept me in Detroit and his faith kept him in SA. He was killed the year Madiba was released. I am certain they both now sleep comfortably away from the rot and ruin of this place.

    I take comfort in your words Grace.

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  28. This is a lovely tribute with great rhythm and wonderful repetition. You use your repeated line like chant - really well done. k.

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  29. graceful and strong, Grace ~

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  30. Merry Christmas to you as well, Grace, hope you're enjoying a warm prefestive weekend

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    Replies
    1. PS where did your second site go missing? :) You used to have a link for it in the sidebar

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    2. Its here: http://a-sweetlust.blogspot.ca/

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