Madiba went into exile

Was hunted down like an elusive fox,

He pulled all the stops

And became a modern black Robin Hood

On account of his stance

On freedom fight

He suffered torture behind bars

Yet it raised his spirit a bar

He became the butt of apartheid jokes

Freedom’s acolyte matured into a buff

As he rebuffed Freedom’s murderers,

Not with lethal weapons

But with intrepid obstinacy of spirit

And a legendary fortitude

Based on his cherished principle

Of forgiveness and non-violence

27 years’ incarceration

Did not shake his unassailable beliefs a wee bit,

He delivered an uppercut to apartheid

At the dramatic Rivonia Trials in the 50s,

He emerged an icon to all freedom fighters,

Champion among champions

Reign, Saint Mandela reign,

Rein in all the accolades,

And at your passing,

Let the champagne flow,

You deserve all the praises bestowed,

In death, your life aglow

Let’s give toast to all peace-loving humanity,

To the eternal memory of our luminous star

Who passed on at 95 years

In a world teetering on the brink of insanity,

Madiba’s reign gave stability

His regal presence bestowed equanimity,

Reign, Madiba reign,

Even in death, Mandela reigns,

Let the showers of heaven unrestrained,

Rain down on all who cherish your dream-

Humankind freed holistically from

Mindless prejudices, hatred and inhumanity of man to man.