Madiba Was Here! Poem by Danladi Tauhid

The light that shone for
the sake of life
Upon the land that was in darkness
many had wondered at the will to thrive
in the face of huge obstacles
that spanned two decades and more
the burning spirit never blight
boots and bayonets glisten with glee
threatening the will to be free
some fled and continued the fight
singing and talking freedom
never balking in the face of despair
waiting for the day of repair
that the Madiba represents
and Thambo, Luthuli endorsed
and so did Mbeki
and which Mariama sang with delight
and for which Steve Biko died
and was replicated in others
and so for the sake of life they fought
fought with everything they have
to drain the darkness that overwhelmed the land
the price of freedom is death
and Madiba was ready for anything
a burning spear in the darkness
that envelopes the land
the light that shone for the sake of life

the man who fears to die
also fears to fight oppression
true freedom come with thorns of woe
but to some
they are no more than cotton wool
to dab the sweat on the brow of patience
he knew his fight is just
and freedom is a must
the tyrant cannot break the spirit
of one who does not fear
to die
and so was Madiba
today is a new generation
who never knew apartheid
but heard of the icon
who gave up his all
for them to breathe
the fresh air now blowing across South Africa

When beggars die, some great personage once said,
there are no comets seen
and the heavens themselves
blaze forth the death of princes
and so was Madiba
truly a Prince indeed and action
the Prince of freedom loving people
all over the world
and today it can be said of him
He came, he saw and he conquered
Injustice by man against man