A Poem for Nelson Mandela Our Madiba From Abu Dhabi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the biggest honor of my life to be able to recite a poem for Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Service in Abu Dhabi today.

If I were to take you with me on this wonderful journey of an hour-long in Abu Dhabi celebrating the Life of Nelson Mandela, I would start with a DEEP BREATH, for it is a feeling that I hope to be able to put in a capsule for myself. From time to time I might want to take this capsule and hope that the energy and light and emotions will last for years. To be in a space filled with souls who had come together from ALL over the world, regardless of color, religion or race, regardless of gender and sex, all under one roof to celebrate the only burning candle in the room.
This candle Madiba is one that will burn for an eternity, it is not a tearless candle, but  indeed one that allows emotions, it is a wax that is to be molded in shapes and colors to fit everywhere anytime.

The space and the time stood still for that one hour as Ambassadors, Representatives, and Chairmen spoke, and also infant cried. TIme stood still as hymns were sung. Every one raised and we all sat in unison. The hymns celebrated LIFE with no color no religion, simply ETERNAL BEING. The music that came from the voices and sounds from the depth of those whose mother land is South Africa celebrated life.

There was a minute of Silence in the beginning, might I tell you that moment felt like a life time, and it just made me think of the hours days, months, years of solitude in silence where the candle burned in Mandela to make him the person he was.

When his Excellency Ruben E. Caro, Ambassador of Argentina spoke and recognized Mandela, at the end he said a round of applause, the whole congregation stood, but it felt somehow that the whole universe stood and applauded the life of Madiba… no one could stop, no one wanted to stop, those vibrations will carry on in my being for ever.

I would like to thank the Embassy of South Africa and His Excellency Ambassador MK Lekgoro and the wonderful organizers for asking me to recite the poem at the event. I would also thank the brothers and sisters that held me and said I was from South Africa. I feel I am a child of the Universe, so indeed, I am touched.

I would also like to thank my dear Brother Farrukh Naeem, who planted the seed of this idea of reciting a poem at Madiba’s service and my sister Linda Hollier for watering that seed.  Gratitude for your belief in me and my words.

LINKS TO VIDEOS

You can find the video of the poem here …. Remembering the Smile of Nelson Mandela our Madiba

This beautiful video was taken by my South African Sister Linda Hollier. For those that have been concerned about the empty chairs, they were held for dignitaries that arrived a bit late and had to stand with hundreds of others in the back of the gathering.

The event was also covered by papers and news channels one of which did a brief interview with me. Mr. Mohammed Sl Neyadi did a beautiful job capturing the feel of the entire event. The National coverage of Nelson Mandela Memorial

 

Remembering the Smile of Madiba…

What does one begin to say about a person

who broke so many barriers so many walls

Nelson Mandela to me represents a human being

Neither man nor woman; but both

Neither black nor white; but both

A person of religion but more so a person of spirit and truth

 

I can and have written volumes of verses about such a person

But if I had to summarize Mandela’s life teachings for myself or

for someone who may have landed in this gathering from Mars today

That message would be

Smile with your heart

 

For in that smile

the heart sees no color, recognizes no walls, and hears no inequality

Apartheid was not, is not a thing of the past

It is here among us today

May we on this day of remembrance

Open our hearts to no stars, crosses, or crescents

May we recognize all who live at home as king or queen

regardless of the person sleeping on the king bed

or washing those sheets

 

Each sheet of blank paper we see each day

A reminder that it is us, it is I who will write the history of this tale

As Nelson Mandela would say

not to omit the dark spots of one’s life

But only to learn from each breath

 

Perhaps it is in recognizing the decades of solitude and walls

that I truly begin to see the Light in today’s memorial

Remembering Mandela could see the other side

May we see the other side of the coin

as we drive by a worker whose name may resemble his

Dignity does not arrive in a suit and tie, nor a fancy car

Dignity and honor arrive with a simple Heart Felt SMILE

Bahareh

Madiba’s Memorial Program 

 

 

 

 

What an honor to be able to sign Nelson Mandela’s Book along with the hundreds of other people who had come to the service.

 

I wrote

In Memory of the Great Nelson Mandela-

May I one day walk in your footsteps

in Peace no Color and Love

Your Light on my Path

Bahareh