Forgiven

(many will write on Mandela; but this is mine)  -MF

The shore birds dip and dive As wild winds push and pull And hold the winged flier Pinned upon the canvas sky Held up on mere promise Which will not let her fall.

Moon attracts deep blue tides To come up upon the land And wash us clean Over and over; As if the dark brown sands Need encouragement To welcome salty sea In roughhewn hands.

Ebony night yields Bursting day tests the sun And forgets to promise the stars The sweetness of light; Until the next and the next Dusk to dawn to dusk Surrenders simple memory.

Do not forget how nature Spins the world; Makes each day a lesson In letting malice go; Remember the man who Taught unconditional love; That the open heart protects Itself and others By simply being open.

Come child and take my hand And look out there among The dark green fields; All those things done not done All the words said in anger, Each time patience lost, When we broke trust and Turned our back on giving.

All are now forgiven; We have been given The gift of mercy; Earth and sea and sky, You and I, Hold these precious keys In trembling hands And use them Unconditionally.

His visiting time is over Footsteps fade upon the Weeping land but never In our broken hearts. He is Mandela, And he is going home.

#Mandela