AUSTRALIA ~ The Antipodes

AUSTRALIA ~ The Antipodes
I love a sunburnt country / A land of sweeping plains / Of ragged mountain ranges / Of droughts and flooding rains / I love her far horizons / I love her jewel-sea / Her beauty and her terror / The wide brown land for me / ~ Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968)

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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Mandela Day




Today
ANTI-apartheid hero
of South Africa 
Nelson Mandela
marks his 
94th birthday
 in "good" spirits 
in his home village of Qunu
with his close family 


Yesterday
67 years in politics
27 years in prison


One Day
Can we spare
67 minutes of one day
To give
At least a thought
A caring thought
To others?
Maybe
Many others?


I have spent nearly
27 minutes
Shaping
The clay in this post


Sighhhhhhh


Mandela was born on July 18, 1918  in Mvezo village southeastern South Africa.
His great-grandfather was a Thembu king.
His father was a counsellor to the Thembu royal family.

But his family lives in a thatched hut
And raises livestock.

But his father dies when Nelson is nine
And he becomes a ward of the royal household.


When winds of change blow
They may gust for a time
Till the next season


*27 minutes
Your time is now 
UP



Makhalima reads a book to an elderly woman in Qunu...Lutho Makhalima (R) reads a book to Nobantu Mbhokodi, an elderly woman, in Qunu, eastern cape, July 18, 2012. South Africans celebrated former president Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday on Wednesday with special events and charity work in what has become known as "Mandela Day".The former leader's birthday is used for a campaign that aims to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better by asking people to give 67 minutes of their time painting schools, planting trees, visiting orphanages and old age homes to honour Mandela's 67 years of political activism.
REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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7 comments:

Mary said...

A fine tribute to Nelson Mandela on his 94th. No, 67 minutes does not seem like it would be too much to give to others considering what he and other real heroes have given.

Kate said...

That wonderful man has always been one of my heroes! Saw him in South Africa a number of years ago. The world needs more leaders like him!

Kay L. Davies said...

Beautifully done, Gemma, a fitting tribute to a man who set an example few of us can equal but all of us should follow.
K

Herotomost said...

I am just glad that there are people to look up to.... a fine tribute to a great human being.

vivinfrance said...

I enjoyed the history and the poem. Thank you.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Thank you for this wonderful post, Gemma. I like your whole approach here and the thought you have given to Mandela's legacy.

Anonymous said...

Gemma, I loved your post. We measure time in years, minutes... and yet this man is truly timeless in his pursuit of justice. A worthy tribute to an ageless man, Rra. Mandela, an inspiration and a living example of triumph of the human spirit. Peace, Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/07/18/life-without-limits-sun-scribs-3ww/

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  • A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent
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  • Winter is the fire, simmering lonely in the soul ~ Gemma Wiseman
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