We Saw Madiba

With Our Own Eyes!

 

We know, not because we were told

but because we saw, that love

is the greatest power on earth.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

When our enemies torment us

in every way, we know

they cannot defeat the love in our hearts.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

When we think we can’t bear

another indignity without lashing

out at our enemies: We can.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

When we think we cannot forgive

the wrongs done to us, we remember

we are made of Madiba stuff.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

When we think we cannot hope

for forgiveness, we remember

what we once saw a man forgive.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

When we think we must pump up our hate

to overpower our enemies, we remember

what triumphed in Madiba’s day.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We know, even when hatred as hot

as a torch fires our hearts,

that love can welcome the flame.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We know truth and justice

will always triumph.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We know the sweet freedom that flows

from acknowledgement and apology.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We know the rightness and joy

that forgiveness can liberate.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We know the power of love.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

We promise not to forget.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

Madiba is the soul of every one of us.

Madiba is the soul that we all breathe today.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

Tell every child, every elder and traveler.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

We beg every teacher to show us the way.

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

We saw Madiba with our own eyes!

 

Jameson O’Neal

 

December 2013

Bend, Oregon USA