Time and the universe
stood still for you
in that era
when the stone, arrows and fire
summoned all to places,
seeded with anguish,
and Amandla broke on every lip,
courage decorated every
shoulder with pips.
among those born with you
were traitors, collaborators,
black sheep,
who piled stones on the streets
so children could stumble on them.
among those born with you
are my brothers, comrades,
you gave your hand
to kindle the fires inside them,
to steady and press their feet to the earth,
speeches with which they turned stones,
stone upon stone,
time after time,
where the struggles for the dignity
of blacks arrived in search of them
and manacles kept crushing
their wrists and ankles
all the way to the jailhouse…
your speeches,
salt of our earth,
never lost taste on their tongues.
nor did the fires
stowed in their bellies ever lose glow…
as they counted the stones
they never stumbled on.
give me the stones, fire.
give me your hand, time, everlasting.
give me the universe,
your shoulders
to stand on,
giant among men.
