Nelson Mandela

The night wind whispered,
Of the passing of a great man,
A beacon of truth,
Eloquent integrity,
Without bitterness or hate.

In 5 syllables,
His name will ever burn bright,
In the white darkness.

The world mourns the passing of surely the greatest man of our age. It is so sad to hear of his passing, although possibly a blessing for him. But we should rejoice at his influence on the world. At his integrity and clarity of vision and his wide grin and twinkling eyes.

May he rest in peace.

I know the image and poem don't seem related, but think of Mandela as a tall tree, who would bend, but not break.

Not haiku or tanka ... neither was enough so I did both - I think I'll call it tankaku!