CECYL, SON OF OUR SOIL : CONSUMMATE REVOLUTIONARY

{Poet’s Note : I wrote this poem for the passing of my very dear friend & comrade, Cecyl Esau, Umkhonto we Sizwe Commander in 2021, as a contribution to his memorial service. Cecyl was given a full Provincial Military Official Funeral. Though the reading was filmed & recorded as part of the proceedings, I recently kept dreaming about Cecyl. I realised that he wanted me to post the poem here. So now I am doing just that, with my love for him, & trust it will be found by some of the soldiers he commanded, who are still living. Cecyl was sentenced for 12yrs imprisonment on Robben Island for his political cum military activity. He later joined the Institute of Justice & Reconciliation, continuing to strengthen Democracy in South Africa, before his passing } CECYL : SON OF OUR SOIL : CONSUMMATE REVOLUTIONARY U stood there Magnetic our sacred Cause ingrained in your palms expecting nothing but what a moment would bring white smile ready aware of every tiny move in a congested hostel room stripping every youthful illusion with a glance of undying delicate Love Speaking to our awakening Souls twinkling merry eyes sharp moulded from the molten centre of our shackled land A confident rod steadfast in the knowledge of sure Victory Cecyl, you clenched your fists with childlike savvy age-old African glory your anger altogether pure, clear, controlled black crown unkempt absolute in a knowingness that Truth was the flip side of Justice Your unassuming simplicity was beguiling, even enchanting your gait quick when quick was the order of the day your amble sure when surety demanded it your rush determined as determination filled your every fibre your “I must” became “We will !” Working to free a people was no game of broken dice revolutionary ardour was not a glamorous chessboard strategy and tactics lived together on hands that washed dishes or delivered poetry books with Glee Your no-nonsense attitude instilled a commanding respect in soldier, student and clergyman Alike Firm fingers cradled deathly grenades not in hatred nor in bitterness neither with a shred of malice just a tool, a necessary tool to unlock ancient grids of empty hearts unlock a nation’s wealth to share to fill naked bellies create rainbows in a land destined to be free to untie ropes of three hundred crying Years Cecyl, Son of our Soil You accepted the fate of a waiting Island like others before you Robben Island knew your hopes, goals and desires An Island surrounded by cool blue waters of our Southern Cross seas washing the organs of your revolutionary body as you lay in a gloomy prison cell clarifying objectives making plans expanding the inner dimensions of a mind on an evolutionary Quest Your throaty laughter stilled our fears your calculated indignation and quiet mirth hid the pain of separation from family your resilience and acceptance of dull routine sharpening your pin prick intellectual Power all these kept us companeras on our Toes ! Then the Island and its waters birthed you into more finely tuned Labours of Love Again you claimed the baton nothing more, nothing less there was work to be done songs to be sung victories to be Won Your stories became fodder of inspiration your visits memories of burnished gold as you traveled across small dorpies, on trains busses, in taxis, searching Observing Held conference with rocks and rivers intently watching for a message an elvish phantom, a lucid dream a Spirit on a mission capturing threads of silver sayings from earthy Oumas who offered you koesisters and rooibos in tin mugs which you savoured with Glee You listened with a bleeding Heart calculating the depths of our pain heights of our hopes singing soft praises to our own inner powers of Godliness never missing a single note of beauty as life unfolded unfurled, undulating Ever-changing Consummate Revolutionary ! ancestors gazed in silent wonder sat in unspeakable bliss for visions you gifted us with just by being Present And as your Star lights another corner of our African sky let it shine down with Madiba’s with Mahlangu’s, with Johnny Issel’s Ray Alexander’s, Virginia Engel’s Chris Hani’s and Neil Aggett with Annie Salinger, Helen Josephs’s Let its lustrous beams connect Samora & Cabral link Guevara and Fidel weave with our Patron Saint Revolutionary par Excellence Jose SanMartin Let it twirl and dance with every revolutionary tasked with aiding the Spirit of Freedom a Spirit soaring free from hunger on our beloved Africa as on our writhing Globe now releasing damaging Demons In your Graduation from Earth as you enter your resting rose garden released from flesh send your sparkle of quiet Contemplation send your steely nerves your incisive knowingness send Scales of Justice to our ravished townships our dark pandokkies our ardent campus youth as a coveted blanket across our colourful Land Let your silver sword of Truth illuminate those who tread our corridors of power in ignorance, confusion and Greed Let your heavenly light pierce our Khoisan wanderings our Zulu dancing our soft Sotho songs Let it imbue our very essence with the Wisdom that Light follows Dark Truth never dies that Justice always walks along our byways when Faith becomes our major tool and each day a new page of focussed loving Kindness To serve, to serve, to serve A people of the South Cecyl, Son of our Soil WE SALUTE YOU ! ©GhairoDanielsPoetry& Song2021