Tata Madiba!

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918 - 2013

Tata Madiba!

How can I call you, my father, a terrorist,

even though you chose terror to first show our enemies

the error of their ways?

You chose peace, when their eyes had been opened.

I am of the time of apartheid,

a time when I walked always with one eye open,

even when I slept,

a time when it was an aggression for a person

to look up,

a time when coming from school, I was told

if I saw a policeman –a protector–

I should straight away run to the first door I see

and run into that house, and straight to the bedroom

and there to put on any dress I could find

and go, and start to wash the dishes.

I am of that time

when all that would have been mine

was a job in white man’s house

where I could clean his house and his dogs,

and travel home each night

so his children and skinny wife could remain clean.

Mandela came!

He is my Daddy!

It is he who set me free

so now I walk this earth with my head held high

and am able to look all of you in the eye.

Mandela the terrorist fought for my freedom.

Mandela the prisoner remained caged when I grew.

Mandela. Free. Brought peace to this land.

Do not ask me to condemn my deliverance,

and certainly do not ask me to make the decision

when is it best to be a terrorist,

and when is it best to hold out the hand of peace?

I am but a simple person

and leave such decisions to the great and the brave.

©Niall OConnor 2013