I know Winnie Nomzamo
A poem to the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the Mother of the Nation.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/01/letter.jpg)
Just after she got married
Her husband was taken away
She had to father her children
Before she could finish pronouncing the word Icon
She had to father and mother the nation
I know Winnie Nomzamo
Just after she got married
She had to carry her family on her shoulder
Carry the nation on her head
She had neither experience for these responsibilities
Nor opportunity to chose
Nor freedom of choice
I know Winnie Nomzamo
Just all the while Nelson was kept
Incarcerated at the Island
She kept the home fires burning
Hope and source of inspiration for the Nation
Opened her heart to the crying
Opened her door to the running
I know Winnie Nomzamo
Just as the days got darker
Kept the oppressive system on their toes
Kept the ANC alive
Upheld the Mandela name
Provided decisive leadership
Encouraged vibrant activism
She was fearless, she was daring
She held the sword at the sharp end
While the Icon was moulded
She bore the pain of their family
She absorbed the shock of the nation
She shared his pain as husband and leader
When he was denied bread because he was black
She filled him with words of hope
When he was humiliated, denied to wear long pants cause he was black
She retained his dignity by being the strong black woman, wife, mother and leader
Just as time would tell
While the president in waiting
Went through political initiation
She cleared the path and prepared the way for him
She raised high the ANC flag to the world
She kept her right hand clenched fist high in the air
I know Winnie Nomzamo
When time for the inevitable arrived
With humour/ dignity walked him out the Polsmoor gates
Took his hand from the prison guard
Handed him over to his people
But lost him to the nation
She is the hero
Hers is the crown of glory
Worthy of all credit
At what price if not all her life
Qhawe lama qhawe
Camagu ntombi ka Madikizela
Enkosi kuwe Nomzamo uzamile!
I know Winnie Nomzamo!