I love The Song (In the Cat’s Eye, 2009) for its simplicity. The symbolism of this little poem is, perhaps, too obvious, but it speaks to the power and the impact of a single voice.

It seems appropriate to use it here as part of the celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela, whose quiet voice did  in fact break down the wall of silence around apartheid and awaken a sleeping world.

 Glenn K. Currie

The Song

A lone bird,

Resting in the arms

Of a tulip tree,

Sang.

His song carried

Across glazed fields

And into the snowy wood.

I stood

At a stone wall

Between forest and farm,

And listened

To the simple notes

Awaken

A sleeping world.