They Left So Abruptly

They Left so Abruptly (for the countless South Africans, of all colours, who dedicated their lives for freedom and democracy) the valiant ones countless many known many more nameless the truest sons and singers husbands and poets lovers and wives daughters and farmers workers and sisters brothers and friends they left so abruptly with quiet pride steely courage gentle dignity they left so abruptly leaving us our tomorrows brighter hopeful filled with promise they left so abruptly so that we may breathe the breath of liberty the air of freedom the warmth of justice they left so abruptly leaving with us their parting gift freedom inkululeko swatantrata liberte azadi vhudilangi libertad they left so abruptly yet we remember them all today in the days that slipped away and in the many more that we await they left so abruptly yet they remain hewed into our memories etched in our consciences engraved in our hearts they left so abruptly and yet they endure with us within us now and forever more