“England expects that every man will do his duty” – Horacio Nelson
Naval Commander Horacio Nelson
The vital Battle of Trafalgar he won.
Lost his right arm and his sight in one eye.
Revered for heroism, from a gun wound he would die.
Chuckling Nelson Mandela
carried a chequered umbrella
almost thirty years on Robben Island, a prison
he ascended to a powerful Presidency, wearing a red ribbon !
________________________
[Poet’s Note : President Mandela actually did occasionally wear a small red ribbon on his lapel, during his Office, indicating support for AIDS sufferers, at the time when the disease was at its peak, worldwide]
_____________________
Placed 2nd : Clerihew Contest
Sponsored : Tania Kitchin
May 26
Years ago I did so choose, to go on a Caribbean clipper ship cruise,
and, in addition to several other islands,
anchored off Nevis, northwest of Saint Kitts,
where, in the late 1780's, Nelson had lived,
and still bears traces of his presence today,
in various parts, pieces and bits.
When our windjammer Skipper informed us,
'Shopping here's good, snorkeling is bad,'
I avoided the former, sought out the latter,
and, as a matter of fact, a good time was had,
for no sooner had I ducked under,
two feet from the waterline,
in about one foot deep (shallow) water,
tho' visibility was, in inches, no more than nine,
I espied a white clay churchwarden pipe,
which I retrieved, broken, not whole,
with one third of the stem, and most of the tobacco-burned bowl.
1787, Nelson married the widow Fanny Nisbet on Nevis,
and, as the island he was about to depart,
'Desist smoking or else!'
Horatio may have heard her insist or impart,
and that which I found, I've a mind to say,
was his very last pipe, he'd reluctantly tossed overboard,
on that sunny day, when, as Captain of Boreas, he sailed away.
Today I’m grateful for Nelson Mandela…
Who understood when all is said and done…
the main purpose of freedom
is to create it for everyone
At nine, lost a father
Raised by a single mother
Had to switch home
Not as a prince in a throne
Nelson's story lives on
Stripped of who he was
Forced to take an English name
And carry the weight of that shame
Made to wear a suit
Told to change his voice
But deep down he knew
He never really had a choice
The boy who slept on the floor
Chased cattle under the sun
Kept something burning inside
A knowing that he’d become someone
Years passed, he found his voice
Not too loud but firm and clear
He stood for those like him
With hope and not fear
He turned struggle into power
Loss into grace
Built more than a name
He gave struggle a bone.
Good night ladies and gentlemen
I’m ready to sleep and dream again
My silk bonnet on my head again
Ceiling fan going strong my friend
Good night hope you sleep long
But if you’re in another time zone
Then enjoy your morning or noon
May your day be pleasantly consumed
And if you’re looking for a test
Enter my Prince Roger Nelson contest
This time I’ll have more winners and
You can be one so take a chance
Nelson Mandela was the man
the west loathed him
he wasn't white
he wasn't rich
he stood for the oppressed
not the South African white mobsters
that locked him up, undressed
he was a terrorist
or so they said
And now?
he's on your postage stamps
so lets prey for the day
when you learn the truth
thank-you Sinwar
for standing with humanity
There is no peace with an occupier
one cannot rest with a vile viper
ready to choke you
if anyone has doubts
go sleep in a gas chamber
then do pray
tell me how that works out
Willie Nelson
likes to play music for fun
he doesn’t need money for his family to feed
but as a sideline he developed his own brand of weed
The "Trilogy of Non-Violence" advocates peacefully uplift humanity
Humanity is to behold a peaceful way of overcoming the struggle of life.
Life, where all souls are valuable and with love are diminishing hate
Hate! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. states, "Driven out by the light."
Light of the world for humanity to see shining bright, eliminating darkness
Darkness, which Attorney Nelson Mandela survived in gloomy dungeons.
Dungeon of despair, trying to rent his humility, spirit, and soul without relent
Relent, he withstood, overcame with God's grace, seeking peace, not revenge!
Revenge develops turmoil in humanity's mind and soul—"So agonizing!"
Agonizing the spirit to do ill will toward others without peace—Violence!
Violence Attorney Mahama Gandhi pronounced is inferior to non-violence
Non-violence is strength emanating from an indomitable will of humanity.
Humanity diligently erased images of the beast, displaying its ugly appearance,
Rev. Dr. King, Jr. Attorneys Mandela and Gandhi defeating such ugliness!
He was renowned for his good looks
when I met this young man,
--at work, admittedly, gadzooks!
'Twas about four a.m.
He was one with lots on his mind
arms on the desk, leaning,
offered water, but he declined,
now face to face, smiling.
His thorn, a Hollywood idol,
a while will be a pain
hand fanned me close, his truth was told
till he boarded a plane.
Soon nineteen-eighty will then square
I know what's coming next ...
suite keys for this one-song wonder
plus for his replaced ex.
His family are known figures,
both his mom and his dad,
and his older brother, and him
too! Pointless 'Want Ad'.
Did Nelson give one scintilla
about France’s silly flotilla?
No! Nor was he bashful at court,
though of the quite gaseous sort,
as his farts smelled of vanilla.
(Today is Tata MANDELA’S birthday. Freedom lovers all over South Africa are celebrating his legacy of Compassionate Love. I wrote this poem on his birthday when he was still alive. I am so grateful that I was humbled to serve in his government whilst he was President of the First National Democratic Government in South Africa.
At the time I wrote it, I was living opposite a pine forest. )
MANDELA’S BIRTHDAY POEM
All is radiantly translucent
Drops of water sit in
Silence on trees in sunshine
Aloe reflect themselves
In flooded ponds
Tasks are listed
Pines reach for the sky
Where clouds ripple lace across
A stretched out blueness
Dogs bark
Workers to work
Students to school
Earth holds us
in the full Awareness
of our own power to
Change !
Happy Birthday
Cherished leader
©GhairoDanielsPoetry&Song2011
SEE POEM READ BY POET ON YOUTUBE
@ghairodanielspresence
South Africa is the first
Place in Africa where you can find more Excellent
Roads , rail ways , ports and Airports than some
European, Asian, American, Oceania countries
And more best world wine companies.
During apartheid many black people where living
In locations, treated as foreigners in their Country
No black person occupied the presidency or
Governor offices in Apartheid regime.
Happy day was when Mandela won the Election
And became the first black president ; many black
People felt free to visit different provinces and
Places where they were not allowed to walk in
Individuals or come closer without their white bosses.
Nelson Mandela remains the well respected Hero in
Europe and Africa because he forgave some white
South African criminals & promoted "Rainbow Nation"
So that majority of black people could easy their
chronic pains and becoming happy.
March 18/2023
Written for poetry contest sponsored by Anoucheka Gangabissoon
off kilter music
metronome off by a beat
willie nelson way
THE TALE
Walking down the street with my bare feet
The thoughts of Mahatma, Nelson Mandela, and Osagyefo
Pumping my blood towards the course of Emancipation
Freedom! - Is the word
The one true legend which opens up all minds
To set free the thoughts of the thoughtless
To make strong the spine that’s prone to Hopelessness
To give the Shy another chance
Confidence! - (A Core)
To reach and beyond boundaries unfathomed
And who can deny the “Wondrous-Magical” spirit
Provided by the Supreme Man upstairs
Our Father (GOD)
For He has given, even me, a purpose
To live,
To fight,
To survive (strive)
Not a super tale to be tossed with
Not to be forgotten
And not only to be told or passed
In successive generations
But to be lived,
To feel free,
To embrace;
Everything Destined….. (Free Advice)
BY ASANGALISAH AKANTERE ISAIAH
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