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Open Poetry #44
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Reconciliation
| Open Poetry #44 |
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Reconciliation |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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Although this poem is about Nelson Mandela (known affectionately as Madiba - pronounced Muddeeba - with the accent ont the EE - and whose book is "A Long Walk to Freedom") and South Africa, this is posted in honour of Barack Obama and the shining hope for a new USA. In South Africa, 16 December has been a holiday for many years. Initially it was called Dingaan's Day and was to celebrate the Afrikaners' victory over Dingaan, the King of the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838 - the river was so named because of the blood that flowed (yes, ouch, very insensitive!). The Afrikaners had promised to celebrate it every year if they won and later the name of the holiday was changed to being the Day of the Covenant. After the back of apartheid was broken, the holiday's name was changed to the far more appropriate (and conciliatory) name of Reconciliation Day. I hope it will stay that - the name and the attitude. RECONCILIATION DAY 16 December 2005 A long, long walk, Madiba. More than A Long Walk To Freedom. Some of us don’t know, didn’t know, can’t know, want to know, . . . are afraid to know . . . We are a miracle country, a real country, yes, a country with scars and tragedies and real blood and stabbings and burns and gun wounds and murders and past tortures (and some still hate and some still murder) but we are also a country with quivering, shimmering, breathing, beautiful hope and heart, . . . but . . . the most precious thing we have as fleeting as butterfly breath and as substantial as a mature whale is the forgiveness that many so many have heart-given to their perpertrators of such evil atrocities. I stand in awe I bow my head in reverent silence I cannot own that ability for myself for I don’t think that I could do it if I had had to walk your path but I own it by association for I am proud to be a compatriot I am proud to say, ”I am a South African.” Owl |
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| © Copyright 2009 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
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amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
Owl...this gave me goosebumps. Absolutely incredible. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you amusemi. I am glad you were touched by it. Owl |
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secondhanddreampoet Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394a 'Universalist' ! |
a most excellent 'write'! I hope the following may once again someday also apply to the U.S. (as it once did in my ancestor John's time of 'revolution'): "a country with quivering, shimmering, breathing, beautiful hope and heart(!)" MUCH long-sustained applause for this fine 'penning'! |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Bruce, for your eloquent and appreciative comments. I hope so too. I am an ardent optimist and I believe in your "We can" man, especially with everyone's support, including that of his detractors. I believe that although he cannot do the impossible, he will do the very best he can (and that that will achieve more good than any president of the USA in a long, long while) and that he really has the good of the USA and the world and all its inhabitants at heart - and that he actually has a heart, and a very compassionate one. Owl |
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inkedgoddess Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392Ohio |
I like very much the spirit of hope that endures despite circumstances of past lives. |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
Hi Owl, it squeezes heart, I love the verses, a precious thing as substantial as a mature whale which is concrete and powerful and beautiful and defines the sea and its life...In fact i like all stanzas : Some of us don’t know, didn’t know, can’t know, want to know, . . . are afraid to know the precious thing is forgiveness and I think that in the history of South Africa there is a lot to share.... I don't know South Africa but I feel there are wonders to see and share with the people and the countryside.... thank you for the beautiful poem. yann |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you Yann for your deep understanding. South Africa is a wonderful country, and in all my 63 years, I have never ever lost my sense of awe and wonder and excitement for my country, but so especially since 1992/1994. I know it is a lame excuse, but it is nevertheless true, that when I was growing up, I didn't know about the atrocities of apartheid. I wondered in a vague sort of way sometimes why blacks and whites had to sit on separate benches and travel in separate buses and had some questions for adults as to why everyone didn't have the vote - and was not satisfied with the responses - and in 1961 I wrote a hate poem to Dr Verwoerd (since lost - or thrown away by my mother along with a lot of my other possessions), and I saw for myself some of the indignities, but I didn't know how very, very much deeper apartheid went. It was only during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that I learned of the horror of some of the atrocities (and I realise, even then, that there were many, many thousands that I will never know about). That was the birth of my trying to enter into the hearts and minds of the victims - and every non-white was very much a victim in just the normal everyday indignities and injustices and feeling that it would never come right. Of course, the situation is still far from perfect in South Africa, and there is still a long road for our country and its peoples of all races to walk, but it is infinitely better than it was, and I believe that in small steps it is improving every day. However, we have elections coming up soon, and if Zuma becomes president of South Africa, I, along with many millions, will hang my head in shame and embarrassment. Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Oops, Inkd! I missed your response. Sorry. Thank you for your sensitive response. I love the fact that that same spirit is echoed in you. You wouldn't see it and love it if you didn't feel it and have it. Imagine if you were to spread it to all the people you know! Imagine if everyone did! "What a wonderful world" we would have! Owl |
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Robert E. Jordan Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Yo dear Owl, This is excellent, and truthful work. I like it loads. Love Bobby |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
Thank you for the comment Owl, I just would like to know something, Who Zuma is ? What does he represent ? yann |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Bobby. I am touched by your response. Yann, wow! I think I should take my answer to one of the Discussion boards, perhaps, The Lounge, for more detail on our politics, but basically (for here) . . . oh, I think if I answered it here, even gently and in a few words, my poem would be closed down by the moderators. I think that I will answer it in The Alley (in Discussions) instead. It is not what I will say (except for one particular word, for which there is no adequate replacement), but the furore that it could result in - and would, if the majority of Pipsters were South Africans. I will reply briefly in The Alley and if you (or anyone else) would like more detail, please just ask. Owl |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Yann, my short reply turned out not to be very short, but it is in now, in The Alley in Discussions under the heading of: Answer to "Who is Jacob Zuma?" Owl |
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