Writer’s poem to the president goes viral

THE lockdown has been an adverse time for many but a uniquely challenging one for the nation’s president.

In an effort to extend her support for Cyril Ramaphosa, professional writer, Claire Lagerwall took to her social media to share a heartfelt poem which has since gone viral, winning over the hearts of many, united in support for the president who is faced with the huge task of managing a pandemic that has rattled the country.

Titled, My President, You’re Tired, the poem which she posted on her Facebook page on 21 April, has received over a million views and 8000 shares.

Claire shared that the inspiration behind the poem was to remind people that Ramaphosa is as much a human as we are and that he is doing a brilliant job. “It’s easy to cast the first stone until you have stood in his shoes. There is a lot of empathy lacking. I understand that people are angry and want their country to be a better place and he is trying. Often in a chess game, you can see many pieces moving here and there but you don’t know the final strategy until the final move. We don’t have final picture, we have no idea what is going on. I just know and I have it under good authority that he in under a lot of pressure. The giants he is facing are not easy to face, from people to the country. He needs our prayer,” said the past Yellowwood Park Primary School (YWPPS) learner.

The mother of three said that she never imagined that poem would attract so much attention but she is very excited that it did. “It was incredible to see it fly around like that and go viral, not from a position of vanity or self-gratification but from a position that people are reading this and resonating with it and its reminding people that there is hope. There is so much negativity in the news and so much fake news and lies that we forget that there is still God. If we call ourselves Christians then we cannot doubt the man that he has put in charge.”

She said that she was informed that the president has read her poem and that his administrator would contact her. “But that’s not necessary at all. It’s just to give him the support he needs and to let him know that the nation is praying for him. I do hope that he has found the encouragement in knowing that the nation is still praying for him,” said a compassionate Claire.

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