Let us justly honor Mandela's fortitude, integrity and courage... but let us not for a moment lose sight of the fact that much remains to be done. While we can celebrate this man's personal triumph, let us also remember all those who have struggled in vain, and continue to struggle everywhere, for a humanity that is not just human but is humane.

::::::::

When the Great Man died

the hypocrites came out and cried,

"When shall we see his likes again?"

But, secretly they said,

"He was a troublesome spirit in his youth,

but we broke him.

"(Breaking rocks in the sun year after year

will break the hardest men.)

"The seasons changed... and he was 'suitable.'

(We'd worn him down; time chiseled him.)

"We would play up his 'non-vengeful' spirit.

(What vengeance will a man in his 70s wreak?)

"We let him mambo on the World Stage.

For playing our game, we gave him: new teeth;

a home; comfort in his old age.

"'Don't call me,' he said; 'I'll call you.'

"He didn't call, of course; nor did we.

"He got the 'moral victory'; we took the spoils:

gold and diamonds; cheap labor; land to die for,

to kill for. ..."

Authors Bio:
Gary Corseri has published & posted his work at hundreds of venues worldwide, including Op Ed News, The New York Times, CounterPunch, CommonDreams, DissidentVoice, L.A. (and Hollywood--) Progressive. He has been a professor in the US & Japan, has published 2 collections of poetry, 2 novels, and edited a literary anthology. He has performed his work at the Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and his dramas have been produced on Atlanta-PBS and elsewhere.