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(A Poem for Mothers’ Day)
Hamba Kahle Mkonto
Literally means ‘go well spear’
Go well warrior
Brave warrior woman
A warrior of the spirit
Warrior with an open heart
You laid back easy warrior
A warrior of the people of South Africa
My protector
Care Giver
Potter
A fighter for freedom and justice
A defender of our integrity and dignity
Go well
Hamba Kahle Mkonto
Mkonto we Sizwe
Literally ‘Spear of the Nation’
The Servant
The Worker
Leader
Teacher
Legislator
Envelope licker, Graffiti painter and Poster sticker-upper
Sacrificing with humility and dignity
Go Well Spear
Daughter of Eli & Vi
The Mother of me
Daughter of Elsie – of Albertina
Friend, sister, mother to so many
Our Comrade
Unpretentious & Effective
Loving
Activist – courageous, committed, disciplined
I salute your spirit
Thank you for all you have given – and all you have shown me
For Sheila’s local activism and commitment
Let there not be another 10 years
Of the demobilisation of our people
Let us recommit to deepening democracy and opening debate within our movements
For Sheila
Not another 10 years of job losses
People’s lives ruined by privatisation, capital investment, and single minded pursuit
of profit
For Sheila’s humility
Not another 10 years
Of the opulence and self enrichment that has emerged in her movement
For Sheila’s humanity
Not another 10 years of landlessness
Peasants forced into cities and reserves – alienated from their land and culture
I say Aluta Continua – Let the struggle continue!
I say Namaste – I love, I honour, and I respect you.
Hamba kahle mom
I
pick up the spear.
Delivered
at Sheila’s funeral, on 20 November 2004.
This poem was
submitted on 10 May 2020. You may republish it, so long as you credit
the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change
the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
