Analysis of ADIEU PAPA MADABE



A patriarch, legend, family man,
A moral compass,
An arc of proprietary leadership
With octopus creeping advancements
Inducing pomiferous effects
Africa’s epitome of
Struggle against racial oppression
The Great Madabe :
An iconic glistering personality
Held the jugular of
Erstwhile oppressors spell-bound.
According to him :
‘Exhausted all peaceful means’
Spear-headed weapons of warfare
To tackle this gamut
Rivonia Trials :
Black face in White Court,
White Court in Black Country,
Black Country White Ruled,
A sizzling paradox.
An illustrious Amicus Curiae
Who ought to ensure
Right persons do not
Travail in Court
Travailed but prevailed.
In Prison :
Remained a dignifying character,
Bubbling with unending
Vigour and vitality
Though sequestered within
The prison’s iron-gates
The ideals he stood for
Could not be suppressed
With draconian laws,
Separatist illusions cum policies.
Prisoner of conscience
A.K.A. 46664  Robben Island
His heart for his people
Obviously exhibited by
Willing sacrifice of
His freedom for countless numbers.
A multifarious personality :
A former herdsboy,
Won the Almighty God’s Heart
In tendering the herd
He saw another King David
Mindful of His creation
Nkosi  Dalibonga,
Elder Statesman,
World Ambassador,
Amicus Curiae,
Exemplary Leader,
Reconciler of his nation,
Negotiator of peaceful end to Segregation.
Papa Madabe,
Indeed had a heart
For the people
No wonder God
Emplaced him as
The Primus Black African
To preside over his Country.
The Last Journey :
Home going,
From Pretoria,
The Military C-130 Hercules Jet
Hurtled through the morning skies
Landed safely at Mthatha Airport,
Eastern Cape Province
Where this son of a Chief
Spent the happiest years
Of his childhood.
Last Parade :
Colour Party of White and Black faces
Previously unheard of
A resounding result of the Struggle,
Carry Matata Madabe’s remains
To the dark coloured hearse
Amidst full
Presidential Honours…
Adieu Great Madabe
You were a Great light
Now in the far beyond,
Good night for your passage
Has caused an irreparable
Generational chasm for
Years to come.


Scheme Text too long
Poetic Form
Metre 010101001 01010 111010010 11010010 010101 101001 100110010 011 1110100 101001 101011 01011 0101101 1101011 110110 110 11011 110110 11011 010010 101000101 11101 11011 0101 1101 010 0101100 1001010 100100 101001 010101 001111 11101 101001 10000101100 100110 101010 111110 100001001 10101 11011010 010100 0101 1001011 010001 11010110 1011010 11 1010 10100 0101 010010 11110 010011011010 101 01101 1010 1101 111 0101100 10110110 0110 110 10100 01001101 110101 1010111 10110 111101 101001 111 101 110110110 1000011 0010011010 101101 101101 011 0101 0111 10011 100101 111110 11101000 0100101 111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 2,089
Words 356
Sentences 12
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 86
Lines Amount 86
Letters per line (avg) 20
Words per line (avg) 4
Letters per stanza (avg) 1,696
Words per stanza (avg) 324

About this poem

The poem is written in honour of late foremost, indefatigable and first black South African President, His Excellency 'Madabe' Nelson Mandela.

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Written on 2013

Submitted by dirifdivine on June 20, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:46 min read
2

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