His answer strengthened men and women

Around the world.

 

In the Alamo, in San Antonio, Texas

On the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco,

In Chicago’s Loop

In New Orleans Mardi Gras,

In New York City’s Times Square

 

We watched as the hope of Africa sprang

Through the prison’s doors

 

His stupendous heart intact,

His gargantuan will

Hale and hearty

 

He had not been crippled by brutes

Nor was his passion for the rights

Of human beings

Diminished by twenty-seven years of

imprisonment

 

Even here in America

We felt the cool

Refreshing breeze of freedom.

 

When Nelson Mandela took

The seat of Presidency

In his country

Where formerly he was not even allowed to vote

We were enlarged by tears of pride

As we saw Nelson Mandela’s

Former prison guards

Invited, courteously, by him to watch

From the front rows

His inauguration.

 

We saw him accept

The world’s award in Norway

With the grace and gratitude

Of the Solon in Ancient Roman Courts

And the confidence of African Chiefs

From ancient royal stools.

 

No sun outlasts its sunset

But will rise again

And bring the dawn

 

Yes, Mandela’s day is done,

 

Yet we, his inheritors

Will open the gates wider

For reconciliation and we will respond

Generously to the cries

Of Blacks and Whites,

Asian, Hispanics,

The poor who live piteously

On the floor of our planet

He has offered us understanding

We will not withhold forgiveness

Even from those who do not ask

 

Nelson Mandela’s day is Done

 

We confess it in tearful voices

Yet we lift our own to say

 

Thank you.

Thank you, Our Gideon.

Thank you, Our David.

Our great courageous man

 

We will not forget you

We will not dishonor you

We will remember and be glad

That you lived among us

 

That you taught us

And

That you loved us

All!