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He was 12 years old
When he died.
Shrunken to a skeleton
By the ravages of AIDS.
Only 12 years old,
Infected from birth
His fate determined
Before he was born.
But Nkosi
Was not resigned.
He was a fighter.
It was as if Death
(who never loses)
Had bitten off
More than he could chew.
Nkosi, he lived longer
Than any other
AIDS infected child
In all South Africa.
What a fighter!
His voice rang out true
For the rights of these,
South Africa's
Pariah children.
And he WAS heard.
Not only in
KwaZulu-Natal,
But around the world.
You know what
Nkosi said?
This little fighter?
As his body withered,
As life ebbed away
He said to us:
"Do all you can
In the time you have
With what you have
In the place you are."
Wisdom of the elders
From the lips of a child.
Thank you for your gift,
Nkosi Johnson
Zulu Warrior.
