Ironic Advent Mediation #5: The Return of the Advent Bird

The Return of the Advent Bird

Father heard a bird one morning,  

from his lonely cell, 

"Madiba, O Madiba” she singing,  

 Freedom what she tell.

Singing, “Father lift your weary eyes,

Father, make your old heart new,

Sweet the soul that longs for freedom,

Madiba, Thembalethu”

Can we risk the cost of mercy

After living living hell?

Is the bird of hope still singing?

Madiba, I cannot tell.

Singing, “Children lift your lovely heads

Children, make the old world new.

Dance the dance of Nozibele,

Rolihlahla, Thembalethu

Father heard a bird one morning,

from his lonely cell

“Madiba, O Madiba” she singing

Madiba, Thembalethu.*

*Xhosa words

Madiba—an affectionate tribal name for Nelson Mandela

Thembalethu—“our hope” (masculine)

Rolihlahla—“troublemaker” (Mandela’s birth name)

Nozibele—kindness/mercy (feminine)