Farewell Nelson Mandela (Madiba) Poem by Rajesh Thankappan

In the dreary deserts of apartheid
You were an oasis, a towering beacon, an inspirational light
Where marooned hope chirped and flocked
And got rejuvenated when to you it docked.
You embody the essence of the human spirit
And all its nobleness that humanity cherish,
For twenty seven long years you were unfairly put in prison
Yet that only fortified your grit and determination.
Tata, after playing your part you might have left the worldly stage
But your memory shall remain in human consciousness deeply engraved;
You paved the way for the emergence of an enlightened dawn
So, how can your presence not be felt in every hearth and home?

R.I.P



N.B. The word ‘Tata’ means ‘Father’ in the language of Mandela’s
Xhosa tribe. ‘Madiba’ is the name of the clan that Mandela
belonged to.