by Nwokike Chukwuemeka

On the day Madiba died

A vacuum filled his space

For men who live for selflessness

Can rarely be replaced

On the day Madiba died

I recall time stood still

My whole life flashed before my eyes

Almost against my will

I sought for that which would remain

After my time on earth

When I proceed to yonder realms

What will my name be worth?

 

On the day Madiba died

The entire world took note

Tribes, nations, colors of skin

Vanished with death’s one stroke

One departed, all united

With one voice we spoke

Yet all eulogies combined

His size, could not evoke

 

On the day Madiba died

A vacuum filled his space

For men who live for selflessness

Can rarely be replaced

However when a great tree falls

Another takes its place

And there is a ‘Madiba’ still

Same spirit… different face

 

On the day Madiba died

No one saw his mistakes

What filled our minds was the impact

One man left in his wake

And every single one of us

Have our own mark to make

Our flaws aside, heroes arise

When love replaces hate

 

Now the Great Madiba’s dead

I wonder where he went

Don’t get me wrong… I know he’s ‘gone’

That much is common sense

But where’s his final resting place

As he leaves his carnal tent

For hereafter will really prove

If it was life well spent.

Having said that, I doff my hat

To a man I never knew

Whose life’s example changed this world

In ways I can’t construe

Despite where he may be right now

One thing for sure is true

He proved one man can make a change

So let’s all take a cue.

 

———————————————

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.