A Citizen's Prayer For Madiba Poem by Diana van den Berg

Dear God
please accept these humble tears
in supplication for our beloved Madiba
who we share with all the world.

What statesman
throughout the history
of mankind
has ever held
not only
such respect,
such gratitude,
such honour,
but
so
very
especially
such raw,
unmitigated
and unconditional
love
of everyone
who has ever
heard of him
from those closest
to him
to everyone
in his own country
from
every
single
political party,
his own
and all
the opposition parties,
to those
in the furthest
corners
of the globe.

Dear God,
despite
our need
to keep him
with us
forever
as the living legend
he is,
whatever is best
for him,
please do.

Signed
in tears,
a citizen
of
South Africa.