O Madiba

O Madiba! Madiba your ship has finally come to rest
Rest now, now rest, for peace was your bequest.
Humiliated, disgraced, yet in captivity you chose
By embracing your enemy, you learnt and rose.
     Insulted, assaulted, assaulting, at fault,
     Lover, Soldier, for Justice, for God’s sake!
     Stop work, break bread, water and salt
     And follow in his wake. 

O Madiba! Tata Madiba you who have overcome
A true mandala spun, a Nelson who has won
Overcoming loneliness, cowardice and fear.
Bravery but a blindness brought on by all held dear.
     Shame, defeated, blame, defeated, fame -
     Let all come, let all shake,
     Same blood, same, all the same,
     And follow in his wake.