(for Madiba Mandela)

When freedom laughs at you
All you have to do is laugh back
Even when freedom laughs and lashes
You still have to retain that calm smile
To reconcile your living with your existence

Yea, freedom is sweet
Even Sweeter than honey
Even when freedom wraps you up in the aura of splendor
Even when freedom comes with its pains and pangs
Even when freedom wears the apparition of freedoom
Nothing can match the feat of freedom

But when the thought of true freedom
Engulfs our canal minds
We sense its bitterness in our flesh
Oh, it pierces so hard
That we often seek to avoid
Its momentary trauma
Yea, freedom is bitter
Even more bitter than bile
Because the true freedom
Stays waiting in the necropolis
Where you and you alone
Would live and exist in your vault
Where nothing batters your being

So when thy freedom comes
Wait and look it in the eyes
Embrace it and let it cuddle you
Wait for that which has long been waiting
For you since that day you with your hard head
Successfully dive the deep through
Wait…and let is swallow you up!

Gabriel Bamgbose