Invictus, A Haiku Set For Nelson Mandela Poem by Chen-ou Liu

'Madiba's gone'...
a young Mandela raised
his right fist

embers glowing...
Mandela's stories color
children's faces


Notes:

1 Nelson Mandela met with the captain of the Springboks rugby team, François Pienaar, implying that a Springboks victory in the 1995 World Cup would unite and inspire the nation. Mandela also shared with him, a British poem, titled 'Invictus' ('undefeated' or 'unconquered') that had inspired him during his time in prison.

2 In South Africa, Nelson Mandela is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ('Father') , and viewed as 'the father of the nation.'