Mandela and De Klerk by Wayne Visser, Literatures from the Margin, B.A English Literature, 3rd Year 6th Semester, Elective Paper, University of Madras

 B.A English Literature

3^rd Year 6^th Semester

Elective Paper – BEN-DSE2C

Literatures from the Margin

UNIT-1: Poetry 

1.8 “Mandela and De Klerk” by Wayne Visser

About Author:

            Wayne Visser was born in Zimbabwe and has lived most of his life in South Africa and the UK. He is a writer, academic, social entrepreneur, professional speaker and amateur artist.  In addition, Wayne is Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and Visiting Professor of Corporate Responsibility at Warwick Business School in the UK. Wayne has a deep love for Africa, its people and its wildlife, which is given voice through this collection. In 2005 Wayne wrote a lovely piece of poetry entitled, “I am an African”, it is featured in Awesome South Africa.

About Poem:

            This poem taken from the collection (contains 25 poems) “I am an African: Selected Africa Poems” published in 2008.

Text:

(A Tribute to Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk)

 

Divergent paths by twists of fate

Ordained to meet, then separate

High branches grown from different stems

That intertwined to make amends

 

Who are these sons of destiny

That changed the course of history?

Who are these dons of liberty

That led their people to be free?

 

Mandela – from the Themba clan

Among the hills of Transkei land –

Was schooled to be a royal chief

But chose instead the golden Reef

 

De Klerk – of Afrikaaner stock

Who staked their claim to Transvaal’s rock –

Was steeped in National Party depths

And followed in his father’s steps

 

Both knocked upon unopened doors

Both tipped the scales of unjust laws

And each was raised to lofty heights

By willing hands and vexing plights

 

Mandela – asked to fight the ground

Where dignity was beaten down

De Klerk – compelled to guard the fort

Of privilege the past had bought

 

The stage was set for black and white

To go to war or lose the fight

There was no neutral ground to stand

Each corner backed their leading man

 

Mandela raised the nation’s spear

The State replied midst rising fear

The ‘Pimpernel’ was put on trial

And banished to the Cape’s bleak isle

 

For twenty seven years and more

The battle raged upon the shore

Until De Klerk set Nelson free

To take their place in history

 

Negotiations followed swift

To heal the wounds and mend the rift

And even while blood soaked the ground

A partnership was sought and found

 

Until the day – that happy dawn –

A rainbow nation’s dream was born

We owe a debt of thanks and praise

To those who led us through the maze

 

Mandela brought great unity

And showed that truth can set us free

His lack of spite inspires us still

To strive to serve a higher will

 

De Klerk’s great gift was letting go

And having faith that trust can grow

He showed that change is like a seed

That knows no bounds of race or creed

 

And so we raise our voice and say:

We celebrate upon this day

Two heroes of democracy

Who rescued our humanity.

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