In
Cape Town, thousands pay their last respects,
Outside
St George's queue in heavy rain
To
view his simple casket and reflect
A
moment, cross themselves, and leave again.
Their
Tata lies in state, their grief's sincere:
This
fiery little priest who took to task
The
mighty for their sins, who showed no fear,
And
asked the questions no one else could ask,
They
simply knew that he was on their side.
Some
there for sure recalled another day –
The
Arch was in full flow when doors flung wide
And
filing in, their weapons on display,
Policemen
lined the walls, recorders live
To
capture his incriminating words.
But
Tutu spoke and looked them in the eye:
"You're
powerful, but know I serve a Lord
Who
can't be mocked – you have already lost!"
Then
stepping from the pulpit flashed his smile,
"So,
I invite you now to come across
And
join the winning side!" And every aisle
Erupted
into praise! A dancing mass
Spilled
out into the streets. Police fell back,
The
forces of Apartheid at a loss,
Disarmed
by joy. See how the smallest crack
Admits
the light of hope, and demons cower!
For
Tutu knew that it is not enough
To
rail for justice, hammer truth to power:
The
victory that lasts belongs to Love.
Forgiveness
isn't easy, but it's worth
The
grace it takes to sacrifice your right,
And
stem the urge to pay back hurt for hurt,
To
break the chain of hatred, that despite
The
truth of evils done, new hope may form
For
healing and for peace. This Tutu knew
Too
well, for he had walked that road before.
And
as he heard the victims' tales and, too,
Their
violators', there and then he wept.
But
all who knew this man spoke of his joy,
That
cackle, and the sense of fun that kept
Him
grounded – that no cancer could destroy.
And
now the angels join to line his way,
All
blowing vuvuzelas as they jive,
Now welcoming
this saint in royal array
To
Jesus’ Rainbow Nation in the sky.
But
Tutu’s spirit has not gone away,
The
Lord with perfect timing marks his life.
For
with a pun too obvious to miss,
(the
kind the Arch himself could not resist)
He hints,
“To get through 2022,
Just
think 2-2 and you’ll know what to do!”
