Who could have known
Dreams would lie shattered
Human life no longer mattered –
Last breath sighed on their own.
Insulated, disconnected or isolated
Behind thin masks and stone walls
Or hollow, emptied shopping malls
Meanwhile we’re all being mutated
To a future that is unprecedented
No firing of cannons
No twenty one gun salute
No swearing in an oath of office
These are but trivial things
In the presence of such as you
Who affirmed the noble dignity
The priceless humanity of one and all
No pomp and ceremony
No fighter jets and planes
No lines of uniformed parades
For a foot soldier who marched
In rhythm with the heartbeat of his soul
Hearing the cries of those he served–
To turn limestone into a better world
No pursuit of golden trinkets
No excesses of material things
No labels and ornate insignia
Instead you built a library
Replete with threaded qualities
That turned mice to men and women
With humility and kindness shared
Yes, it is your brand of leadership
Yes, it is your unwavering selflessness
Yes, it is in all of us to search and find
That which offers gifts to all mankind
Rest in Peace Ahmed Kathrada 21/8/29 – 28/3/17
Beyond beauty spas–
stepping out of silhouette,
at last her time has come–
To lead and nurture,
heal the war-torn damage
of our wounded past.
A world asunder
through outrageous blunder,
now calling for Peace.
Hear me when I say
now, at last her time has come.
Listen to her voice!
Even-tempered–
bringing calm to tame the winds
and turbulent seas.
A toss of coins–
gambling carelessly with lives,
has won her a place,
To sit among men
and hoist freedom’s fresh flag.
Her time has come!
Who will cast a stone
or seek splinters in her eye
without solution?
With eyes wide open–
cast your vote for Peace,
for her time has come!
Chevvy's diary 