"Rest In PEACE"

[Clutter Buck]

In a world of Communism
and capital gains
His virtues, constant vision,
and stature remained.
South African raised
into the spoils of war
Rolihlahla his name
as the boy was born.
He toyed with law
in the hope he’d become
a royal consort
as most had then done.
But his focus had flung
his urges afar
and opened him up
to the world that’s at large.
Sternly, but calm,
in his public address -
it worked like a charm
in his coupled interests.
He studied immensely,
but became activist
when he & Justice, his friend,
were to have arranged marriages.
The two escaped after this,
fled to Johannesberg,
Where he met a brave Nationalist
which led him to marry her.
His rebellious aperture
complimented her own
being selfless in character
cemented his hold.
The wedding evoked
a radical side in Nelson
but his tested approach
to challenge who vied against him
without anger, inciting tension,
and through positive means
Meant Mandela’s mind was strengthened
to do what he’d achieved.
Revolution offered the peace
he so desperately idolised,
even when the prospect looked bleak,
a young Nelson acclimatised
himself and would try to fight
if he felt the cause was just.
This affected his private life
and upset it more than once.
Yet he was always upbeat,
& to this day he stands as a man
Who chose his people -
The salt of the Earth -
Rather than eating off the fat of the land.



Nelson Mandela
July 18, 1918 - December 5, 2013

Rest in Peace

Quick key, no net at home until next week, wrote this up at work throughout appointments today just to avoid no-showing.

[PancakeBrah]

Pretty cool. I prefer this to Frank's piece in the AOWL on Mandela. Good flow, nice rhymes. There were one or two spots where the multis didn't line up. This isn't usually a complaint of mine but I vaguely recall you being a stickler for such things. I hate centering of verses as well. But everything was on point here and the piece's purpose was served. Nice little lark.