Hamba kahle, John Matshikiza

I woke this morning to news of John Matshikiza's untimely death yesterday .  An extraordinary man - writer, playwright, actor, poet, social and political commentator - whose writing abilities, passion and insight are so powerfully portrayed in his 1974 poem "And I Watch it in Mandela"

It is not for the safety of silence
That this man has opened his arms to lead.
The strength of his words hangs in the air
As the strength in his eyes remains on the sky;
And the years of impatient waiting draw on
While this man burns to clear the smoke in the air.
There is fire here,
Which no prison
Can kill in this man;
And I watch it in Mandela.  

Hamba kahle, John.