The New Rainbow

A tale of the many people in the rainbow nation of New South Africans. SEA AND SAND Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa But more the South of Africa Where we live... Bless the angry mountains And the smiling hills Where the cool water spills To heal the earth's brow Bless the children of South Africa The white children And the black children But more the black children Who lost the sea and sand That they may not lose love For white children Whose fathers raped the land... Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa Many sunsets Gold and crimson Have dripped on the horizon, Weeping for the dying day. Many dawns Have risen In timely resurrection From their cradles of light. Sunsets and dawns Dawns and sunsets. I have seen them all But when, Oh when will I see that day When love will walk the common way To heal my wounded people And break the shackles around their hearts? - Don Mattera I loved the poem above by South African poet, Don Mattera and wrote it down when first saw it some years ago. Sadly, Don Mattera was banned for many many years by the government - so too many South Africans have not had the privilege of seeing his words in print AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is pure fiction. In this manuscript I have made up many names. Any resemblance to characters, living or dead, real or imagined, is purely coincidental. Some parts of this story are based on actual events in South Africa's turbulent history and others not. I have used the names of some politicians from actual history. DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the "rainbow nation" of South Africans, whom I hope may live in harmony, peace and prosperity in the new dawn. It is especially dedicated to my good buddies Lynda and Donovan, who kept faith during the dark days of Apartheid, and who are now rejoicing in the birth of the Rainbow Nation. Thanks to my beloved wife. Marie for giving me the time, opportunity and encouragement to write. Thanks also to very practical and efficient Marie for helping me with the descriptive bits, as well as the immense task of proofreading this and all my many other works. Also my heartfelt thanks to the beautiful tranquil South Sea paradise of New Zealand, that gave me the peace of mind and space to use my creative imagination. Godzone is the ultimate antithesis to vibrant passionate South Africa. Here in Gisborne nothing else much happens in my life, other than writing; so that's what I do. Thanks for the opportunity, Gisborne. Thanks especially to the many people of South Africa of all colours and creeds who gave me the inspiration to write and share some stories. This work is dedicated to you all.