Tell Me, Were You A Man Poem by Khethiwe Ramathuthu

Mandela wa Nsondo were you man?

Were you man that you loved and forgave just like the son of God who forgave His oppressors?

Were you man or was it your destiny to remind us that we are gods like David called us, we are the Royal priesthood like Jesus called us, we have the capacity to love, to forgive, to change, to create and when we have done it all in our glory to know that were are just man for Gods glory?

Nelson Mandela were you man when you accepted all races, and were found at the feat of children.

Were you man when in your strength you did not shy aware from war yet you did not go knocking at its door?

Tell me, were you a man when you choose to serve your people over your family and eat bread from the plate of your oppressor.

I look in your eyes when you smile and I am haunted by the understanding that I see, the compassion that is looking back at me, tell me! Were you a man?

You remind me so much of my grandfather, your stories bring back so much of my people’s history, stories of kindness, stories of courage, stories and gestures of what the world calls uBuntu and yet it is how we used to live in the days of old.

Tell me, were you man and if yes, if yes then God lived in you and you were truly His temple.