Freedom to Last



It's been a month filled with history-making events

Celebrating Black History Month - time well spent

Pulitzer Prize winner novelist Alice Walker's birthday

And some sports stars who made their records pay



But perhaps the most significant - happened today

Nine years ago - a man was given free right of way

After being locked up in prison for twenty-seven years

As followers fought for his freedom with many tears



A man who never should have been put there at all

Who spoke out for freedom from apartheid's school

... A thought process given credence only by whites

... A minority population living South African nights 

 

So Nelson Mandela was imprisoned to shut him up

And on this day in history - was released ... cut ...

Free from his chains, and the bars hemming him in

And treated like a dog, made to feel he couldn't win

 

But win he did .... becoming South Africa's leader

Which just shows you can't keep a good man down

No matter what you do or how awful he's treated ...

For good men with honor and integrity, get around ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

9:15am Thursday, Feb. 11th, 1999