Nelson Mandela: Many Stumbles, No Mumbles

Each time I raise my gaze to the night sky, A million stars stare back, shedding happy tears of light. And I cannot but stare back in delight, Wondering which one of them holds your great soul. Tell me, Old Nelson, do they--these stars--still shine upon you? Heaven should grant that they do, For like them your example still shines upon us, pointing to us the true north of life-- And, oh yes, this one great lesson: that life's struggles will endure our stumbles but never our mumbles. Yes! Our hopes may fall and our fortunes dip, but on their feet our voices must keep. Twenty-seven years did rough chains bind your feet, And twenty-seven years did they girdle your breast, But not once--never--did they bind your voice. "Only free men can negotiate," you scoffed at your jailers, scorning to barter your ideals for your freedom; And to that crooked Boer court: "A free South Africa is the great ideal for which I live, and if need be it is the one ideal for which I will die." Then to a bleeding, seething nation: "Let's break with the past." From the flesh of these words a new nation was carved for white, brown, and black alike. Twinkle for twinkle it matches the skies, And in its bosom you now rest forever: quiet, contented, victorious!