Maya Angelou's tribute poem for Madiba
Author and poet Maya Angelou has delivered this beautiful poem as a tribute to Nelson Mandela. Watch the video here.
The video was uploaded by the U.S. Department of State's YouTube account, with the following description: "Video message delivered by Dr. Maya Angelou on behalf of the American people in memory of Nelson Mandela."
The poem starts:
"His day is done.
Is done.
The news came on the wings of a wind, reluctant to carry its burden.
Nelson Mandela’s day is done.
The news, expected and still unwelcome, reached us in the United States, and suddenly our world became somber.
Our skies were leadened.
His day is done.
We see you, South African people standing speechless at the slamming of that final door through which no traveler returns.
Our spirits reach out to you Bantu, Zulu, Xhosa, Boer.
We think of you and your son of Africa, your father, your one more wonder of the world.
We send our souls to you as you reflect upon your David armed with a mere stone, facing down the mighty Goliath."