Nelson Mandela's torment.
I didn't set out to start a war
you bought the war to me
all I ever wanted
was justice, peace, equality.
Did you really believe my imprisonment
would erase my people's anger
did you think you could silence tormented voices
that screamed for justice in a world full of fear.
There was never a doubt in my mind
that my people would run and hide
for even the street rat grows wise
in his quest to belong, to survive.
You say you set me free
but I was a prisoner long before you turned the key
you took my life but never my dream
I died a free man under no one's command.
We all are children of God
there's no need to fuss and fight
it's what's inside that counts
of that I have no doubt.
So let me spell this out
it's not all black and white
we all bleed red, we laugh, we cry,
we live, we learn, we love, we die.
I wish I could rest in peace
but I toss and turn in my grave
for colour's no longer the issue
religion dominates.
So much hatred, so much pain,
land and oil the ultimate gain
freedom fighters, dictatorship,
martyrs, saviours, holy war.
What did I sacrifice my life for.
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Submitted on June 30, 2015
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:06 min read
- 3 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABXB XXXX XXXX BBXX XCXD DCEE XXXX FFXA A |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,048 |
Words | 215 |
Stanzas | 9 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1 |
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"Nelson Mandela's torment." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/79983/nelson-mandela's-torment.>.
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