christopher veremu - Nelson Mandela's shadow

Approaching light early morning lone star
Must give way to fiery hot bronze gold laced
Sun undresses dark cloth covering mount Table
Mandela's shadow falls over Atlantic waters green
Mountain stirs to life as waves down below sing
Hastening dawn sweet birth new for mother Africa

As hurrying sun rises as it must your shadow long
Breaks hard open dark cloud hovering over continent
Leaping high on new heels new life filled with hope
Land bristles joyfully with labor's blessed promise
Sow shall reap from wizened Egypt to states new born
More for cities from jewelled Addis to Kinshasa gold

As sun battles set unwilling in hungered sad west
Mandela's silvery shadow over indigo much great rests
Indian sea captures prize swallowed in mystic depths
They too come alive it has been a wearisome long wait
Cheery loud song appears to have one common refrain
Humility yours mountains were born rivers into seas wept

You fought lifelong so others would taste freedom sweet
Was prepared die shed all for scripture crafted ideal
Man created in image of God has but one one master king
Toiling with sweated brow asking of simple reward little
Humbled so took bow praise worthy of kinfolk much keen
Watching thrice overawed see Africa's children play free

christopher veremu

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/nelson-mandela-s-shadow/