67 Seconds With Mandela
A Poetic Tribute this International Nelson Mandela Day
We Mandela Day today, for a man who embodied faith, gave hope and--most importantly--made change for 67 years in public service.
Prologue
Some names don't need understanding, but belief and faith.
They sit with us quietly,
Long after the fact,
In the warmth of a photograph,
Or a smile.
You don't need to know it--
Only that something changed
When he walked free
And our space became--wider.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
The screech of chalk
My head snapped
He visited--a photo.
Still clear.
A child said his name--Mandela.
It couldn’t fall.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
Like the children
I wasn’t born
On his land
But my body lifted
When he walked into new air.
☀️☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞✨🤝🌱🌞
He planted peace
Behind the bars--
Red against rust
Colouring iron.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
His name was not taught
But came--
Carved into memory
Wearing hope
Like a medal.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
67 seconds--
Not long enough to learn,
But enough to embrace
And remember.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
Today.
☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞☀️✨🤝🌱🌞
Original poem by Michelle Liew. AI tags are coincidental.
For Mikeydred's July Prompt:
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (8)
Lovely work Michelle! ☺️
"Some names don't need understanding, but belief and faith." This line is my favorite, Michelle! 🥰
Wonderful tribute, well done 😁
Amandla! Ngawethu!" Wonderful tribute
Well written and worthy!
He was and still is one of this world's most courageous human beings: thank you for reminding us with your very fine poem.
Thank you for this excellent tribute and another entry to the challenge too
Such a wonderful tribute to Mandela, beautifully done.