November 1962
Through discourse & rebellion, you have bought malign
Ideals into the black community; unneeded pretence
Will only serve as a just reason for you to form & design
Another rebellion, I convict you & give a life sentence
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
Robben Island Prison
There sits Mr.46664; basking upon dried nettles
And moving to the music of tortured screams
He opens his eyes but to only see darkness
And wakes only to reminisce fondly of his dreams
Sweat beads hydrate his soul whilst waves crash
Against the seas; surrounding the fortress abode
He counts bodies of his allies to bring forth slumber
Waking every morning to watch the night as code
Of the island’s law; He is labelled as another number
The Officers whip drums to alert the already dumb
But he lays, lays upon embers beaten and numb
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
April 1984
How about an emission of your sentence Nelson
Recognise Transkei and settle there away from here
Your time at Robben you must’ve taught you a lesson
What say? Leave your views; is your wife to you not dear?
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
Pollsmoor Prison
He sits in a better environment but one embroiled
In inner violence, turfs segregated an internal apartheid
Spreading solace towards belligerent beings that beat
To the rhythm of invisible octaves & wash in the heat
Of the white sun gracing the white communities around
Cape Town; he watches the rain & droplets ground bound
Leather harnesses harness the black horses contained
In stabled cells; once known as men whom were detained
Officers rejoice and mock visitors point at the animals
There he sits alone, amidst the crowd of these cannibals
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
December 1988
I have nothing to say as you have nothing to say
You are irremovable & dream something impossible
Though never threat i can promise hell from this day
Live to remember the offer & what could’ve been possible
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
Victor Verster Prison
Rustling leaves wither up his weathered soles
Abolished & banned, panned by social stooges
He toils at nights to lay awake & recite his goals
In the morn he bandages his hands, blood oozes
Tomorrow brings another tomorrow, writing away
Misbegotten to this sinful world, untainted he wakes
Sway the government violence was the last card in play
Now he sits recounting his deeds & revising mistakes
For he sees a light which shines true and bright
Maybe a better tomorrow will be born to this night
“Tomorrow will be better,
I wish for the better day”
Tomorrow’s Facts
- Mandela has honorary degrees
From more than 50 international
Universities.
- He was inaugurated as the first
democratically elected State President of
South Africa on 10.