His Day Is Done: A Nelson Mandela Tribute

By Maya Angelou

He was a son of Africa who became father to a nation and, for billions of people around the world, a beacon of hope, courage, and perseverance in the face of opposition. Now, acclaimed poet Maya Angelou honors the life and remarkable soul of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Nobel laureate.
 
In His Day is Done, Angelou delivers an authentically heartfelt and elegant tribute to Mandela, who stood as David to the mighty Goliath of Apartheid and who, after twenty-seven years of unjust imprisonment on the notorious Robben Island, emerged with “His stupendous heart intact / His gargantuan will / Hale and hearty” to lead his people into a new era.
 
This poignant work of gratitude and remembrance offers condolences to the resilient people of South Africa on the loss of their beloved “Madiba” and celebrates a man like no other, whose life and work changed the world.

Praise for His Day Is Done
 
“Moving and heartfelt.”—The Washington Post
 
“A powerful, gripping tribute.”—NewsOne
 
“[His Day Is Done captures] how many were feeling.”—BBC News

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9780812997026

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was one of the world's most important writers and activists. Born 4 April 1928, she lived and chronicled an extraordinary life: rising from poverty, violence and racism, she became a renowned author, memoirist, poet, playwright, civil rights' activist - working with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. She wrote and performed a poem, 'On the Pulse of Morning', for President Clinton on his inauguration. She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama and was honoured by more than seventy universities throughout the world. She first thrilled the world with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). This was followed by six volumes of autobiography, the seventh and final volume, Mom & Me & Mom, published in 2013. She wrote three collections of essays; many volumes of poetry, including His Day is Done, a tribute to Nelson Mandela; and two cookbooks. She had a lifetime appointment as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University of North Carolina. She died in 2014.

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Reviews for His Day Is Done

[vtlucania · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tribute to Nelson Mandela by May Angelou is what one would expect from Maya Angelou as it is deep and poignant in its brevity. Include in this work is are pictures of Mandela at various stages of his life. As this is a tribute and not a retelling of his life, the poem touches on the vital points in his life of public service. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words maybe this is the reason Ms. Angelou did not feel the need to write a long poem for Mandela.
At this day and this hour, his death is still fresh enough for this poem to have validity and touch the reader deeply but will it have that affect in a few years? Only time will tell but for at least the foreseeable future Mandela will be remembered as all the lovely things highlighted by Maya's poem or should I say by the citizens of the United States poem as commissioned by the Department of State.
My favorite part of this poem is the title, "His Day is Done." If you couple this title with the song title "Well Done," especially if you are familiar with the words in "Well Done" where it says "Well done my good and faithful servant well done." With this combination, Mandela had nothing left to complete as he had done the job he was born to perform and was called home so it is true, "His Day is Done."