What do you think?
Rate this book
His Day Is Done: A Nelson Mandela Tribute
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2014)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
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
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
17 people are currently reading
2126 people want to read
About the author
Maya Angelou
286 books14.4k followersMaya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 26, 2014
This is a moving tribute to Nelson Mandela, who died in December 2013. Maya Angelou wrote a loving poem about Mandela's grace and his influence in the world. The book includes several sepia-toned photographs of "Madiba" throughout his life, and it makes a beautiful 44-page memorial.
"His day is done,
Is done.
The news came on the wings of a wind
Reluctant to carry its burden.
Nelson Mandela's day is done.
The news, expected and still unwelcome,
Reached us in the United States and suddenly
Our world became somber.
Our skies were leadened.
His day is done.
We see you, South African people,
Standing speechless at the slamming
Of that final door
Through which no traveler returns."
When Mandela was released from prison, Angelou writes that the world was watching "as the hope of Africa sprang through the prison doors."
"His stupendous heart intact,
His gargantuan will
Hale and hearty.
He had not been crippled by brutes
Nor was his passion for the rights
Of human beings
Diminished by twenty-seven years of imprisonment.
Even here in America
We felt the cool
Refreshing breeze of freedom
When Nelson Mandela took
The seat of the presidency
In his country
Where formerly he was not even allowed to vote."
My favorite section of the poem is near the end, featuring a photograph of Mandela smiling, and the lines:
"We will not forget you.
We will not dishonor you.
We will remember and be glad
That you lived among us."
The poem and photographs are a lovely tribute, but I think the book would have been improved if it had included a short biography of Mandela. I do plan on reading his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," but I think there was a missed opportunity with Angelou's book in not including a few pages explaining Mandela's extraordinary life.
"His day is done,
Is done.
The news came on the wings of a wind
Reluctant to carry its burden.
Nelson Mandela's day is done.
The news, expected and still unwelcome,
Reached us in the United States and suddenly
Our world became somber.
Our skies were leadened.
His day is done.
We see you, South African people,
Standing speechless at the slamming
Of that final door
Through which no traveler returns."
When Mandela was released from prison, Angelou writes that the world was watching "as the hope of Africa sprang through the prison doors."
"His stupendous heart intact,
His gargantuan will
Hale and hearty.
He had not been crippled by brutes
Nor was his passion for the rights
Of human beings
Diminished by twenty-seven years of imprisonment.
Even here in America
We felt the cool
Refreshing breeze of freedom
When Nelson Mandela took
The seat of the presidency
In his country
Where formerly he was not even allowed to vote."
My favorite section of the poem is near the end, featuring a photograph of Mandela smiling, and the lines:
"We will not forget you.
We will not dishonor you.
We will remember and be glad
That you lived among us."
The poem and photographs are a lovely tribute, but I think the book would have been improved if it had included a short biography of Mandela. I do plan on reading his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," but I think there was a missed opportunity with Angelou's book in not including a few pages explaining Mandela's extraordinary life.
January 18, 2014
Who better to do a tribute to Nelson Mandela than Maya Angelou ? And in true Maya fashion, she does it with a poem. It's not by any means a long poem or book. It can be read in mere minutes because each page contains only a couple of words which are accompanied with photos of Nelson taken throughout his life. Like I said it's a short read, but I found a chill going down my spine while reading many of the pages. Give it a read for yourself. This is also the type of book that I am sure will be given, time and time again, as a gift. Of course Nelson Mandela's life itself, was a gift to us all.
March 15, 2015
It's not political or reglious or spiritual, it simply is a poem in gratitude. Although it is a tribute of thanks and although there are no labels. It is everything and simply is. The late great Maya Angelou was a wonder with the written word and the spoken word. The rhythms, the structure, the silences...all she has mastery over and it comes out here in this poem. There will not be another Nelson Mandela and there shan't be another Maya Angelou. People can carry the torches and pick up where they left off, but both were unique.
November 29, 2014
Angelou starts her tribute with this: "To all the world's citizens, who lost a friend when President Nelson Mandela died." Well said!
This is a beautiful little book filled with Angelou's poem and historic photos from Mandela's life. The simple format makes this a nice addition to a classroom for many uses. Special little treasure of a book.
This is a beautiful little book filled with Angelou's poem and historic photos from Mandela's life. The simple format makes this a nice addition to a classroom for many uses. Special little treasure of a book.
June 19, 2019
*SPEECHLESS*
November 4, 2016
Very short, but passionate read. Nelson Mandela was an amazing man and inspired so many in an unjust world. While he was only one person who walked this earth and this poem did not fully express his compassion and love for the world, he made a difference in more life than he probably ever dreamed.
June 24, 2014
Have always loved Maya's work. Some of it more profound than others, but NEVER a waste of time! So sad reading it because she wrote for everyone. Now, who will write with love for us all?
August 13, 2016
Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela
June 17, 2016
I love Maya Angelou.
October 17, 2017
This book is essentially one long poem. Somehow I expected a lot more from it given its Maya Angelou's work. The two verses that will stay with me are:
"We were enlarged by tears of pride
As we saw Nelson Mandela's
Former prison guards
Invited, courteously, by him to watch
From the front rows
His inauguration."
"He has offered us understanding.
We will not withhold forgiveness
Even from those who do not ask."
"We were enlarged by tears of pride
As we saw Nelson Mandela's
Former prison guards
Invited, courteously, by him to watch
From the front rows
His inauguration."
"He has offered us understanding.
We will not withhold forgiveness
Even from those who do not ask."
October 25, 2024
I always enjoy Angelou's poetry. I didn't realize this book even existed until I saw it on the shelf at my library. It's a poetic tribute to Nelson Mandela with photos of his life throughout. I remember learning about Nelson Mandela and being shocked that he only died in 2013. History isn't as far away as they'd like you to think, and this book exists as a reminder of that.
July 13, 2017
Rating: 4.5
I really enjoyed this little book. It was very inspirational, and I loved it .
Quick but I want everyone to read it !
I really enjoyed this little book. It was very inspirational, and I loved it .
Quick but I want everyone to read it !
February 9, 2020
Short beautiful book.
March 10, 2022
"Thank you, our Gideon. Thank you our David.Our great courageous man.We will never forget you"
June 25, 2024
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. But a poem by Maya Angelou is worth 10,000 words. Here is a wonderful tribute to a great man by a great writer.
March 29, 2014
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."
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."
September 21, 2014
Maya Angelou brought poetry back into my life through her undeniably moving inaugural work "On The Pulse Of Morning" presented during President William Jefferson Clinton's inauguration in January 1993. She passed away this summer (July 2014) and her absence has already created an unfillable whole in the cultural fabric of America. His Day Is Done may well be the last of her works to be written and published before her death. It is a tribute to Nelson Mandela, another of this world's heroes, who passed away in December of 2013.
There is only one word I have to describe this work: magnificent.
I can think of absolutely no good reason why this poem cannot and should not be incorporated into the education of all children everywhere. It most certainly could and should replace the rote memorization of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees"*- a piece that I still cannot truly forget though it is more than four decades since I was forced to memorize and repeat it.
*Joyce Kilmer, "Trees" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetr... retrieved 21 September 2014.
There is only one word I have to describe this work: magnificent.
I can think of absolutely no good reason why this poem cannot and should not be incorporated into the education of all children everywhere. It most certainly could and should replace the rote memorization of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees"*- a piece that I still cannot truly forget though it is more than four decades since I was forced to memorize and repeat it.
*Joyce Kilmer, "Trees" http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetr... retrieved 21 September 2014.
December 21, 2015
Honestly, I only read this book because it was Maya Angelou. I mean, who can write a poem about Mandela better than her? Its a poem filled with pure gratitude, there isn't any politics, race or religion involved. Maya starts by saying "To all the world's citizens, who lost a friend when President Nelson Mandela died." This one sentence says a lot. The whole book is written in Maya Angelou style, humble and subtle. Its not sugar coated, the whole thing is just put out there for us to read. Its shortness is what I really like. The whole thing, though a poetry, says a lot. It took me less than 10 minutes to read it but it still moved me. She quotes Mandela throughout the book. "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use in the world" was written in one of her first pages. It is truly a book filled with element and must be read by everyone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2015
A Nice Tribute to Nelson Mandela
A beautiful tribute to the beloved Nelson Mandela. Now here's a leader and a man capable of uniting a nation. His methods however were not always acceptable but his heart and his passion were genuine and never self-serving...to end apartheid. Current leaders could learn from him. If you have interest in Nelson Mandela there are other books about him and his life or see the movie Invictus for the real guy. Only a three rating because there just wasn't enough here about this great man.
A beautiful tribute to the beloved Nelson Mandela. Now here's a leader and a man capable of uniting a nation. His methods however were not always acceptable but his heart and his passion were genuine and never self-serving...to end apartheid. Current leaders could learn from him. If you have interest in Nelson Mandela there are other books about him and his life or see the movie Invictus for the real guy. Only a three rating because there just wasn't enough here about this great man.
October 4, 2014
This is a poem in book form.
Since it was an elibrary book check-out, I'm adding it to Goodreads listing - where I can easily remember it.
Read this just days after Ms. Angelou passed away.
What can I say, but an extremely powerful tribute to Mandela.
A substantial loss to humanity in both their passings.
Since it was an elibrary book check-out, I'm adding it to Goodreads listing - where I can easily remember it.
Read this just days after Ms. Angelou passed away.
What can I say, but an extremely powerful tribute to Mandela.
A substantial loss to humanity in both their passings.
January 22, 2015
He has offered us understanding.
We will not withhold forgiveness.
Even from those who do not ask.
Nelson Mandela's day is done.
We confess it in tearful voices
Yet we lift our own to say:
Thank you.
It was beautiful. Very good, indeed. If only I could have more.
February 19, 2017
Given the short amount of time in which this poem had to be written, I guess I understand why it's not as deep or complex as other works by Angelou. However, I'm just disappointed because for a U.S. State Department commission, and a work to commemorate the honorable Nelson Mandela, it is short and simplistic. Mandela's grand and far-reaching work has to speak for itself.
May 16, 2014
One of Maya Angelou's finest poems. She brought her A-game. I hope if you have heard and/or seen the video tribute, I highly recommend reading the words with your own voice. The book edition is also very nice and has some lovely images of Mandela. I really enjoyed this poem.
September 17, 2014
Maya Angelou is always a favorite, and so is Nelson Mandela so this short book was a win for me no matter what. I loved her poem, and it was nothing short of what I expected from the great poet and novelist that is Ms. Angelou.
November 18, 2014
I saw this book on the shelf in my library and immediately picked it up. Even though I thought there was going to be more to it, it was a quick and easy read. A beautifully written poem by Maya Angelou, it paid great tribute to such a wonderful and inspirational man.
RIP Nelson Mandela.
RIP Nelson Mandela.
June 26, 2015
Good job, America. You managed to make the live and death of South Africa's national hero about yourself. When I think you cannot get your head more in your ass. If someone did this to our(Turkey's) national hero Atatürk, I would be much much more pissed.
February 14, 2016
A small book, in terms of page numbers. It is hard not to swept away by the beauty of Angelou's words, let alone when she writes poems dedicated for Nelson Mandela.
One of my fave lines;
Never withhold forgiveness, even for those who do not ask.
One of my fave lines;
Never withhold forgiveness, even for those who do not ask.
January 21, 2014
This is beautiful and it made me tear up. As beautiful as anything.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews