You stood behind me the day I received
A spirit you swore to guide and protect,
Love as you so marvellously did. I remember,

The Christmas presents, the Easter eggs,
Your smiles, your jokes, the liqueur you made,
Your azure eyes, the stories behind

A life lived light-heartedly facing endeavours
With humour and scientific approach.

Your German mother, your Sicilian father,
The war, the bread made of marble
The American soldiers, the candies they brought.

How you met your wife at sixteen, by the sea,
Your sixtieth anniversary, diamonds in a bonsai,
Reminiscing the Avenue of the King

You indulged in investigating chemical reactions
The city is populated with students you lectured,
Whilst you answered all of my questions

I was always enchanted by how you knew everything
Your passions, the mountains, hunting for mushrooms
Taking long walks and shots, you had a collection

Of over two hundred cameras gave me my first
When Kodak was still a synonym of memories,
Twenty-four or thirty-six in a row, though mine

Were mostly blurry. I thought you were magical
Catching instants, my youth, pictures of us made by you.

Your motorbike, your coupé, your bicycle
You cycled, the whole of Europe and travelled
On boats, only enriching the chest of your recounts

Mesmerising me at each lunch I rejoiced
At your invitations, you cooked wine poured
Though you trembled not a drop, ever missed the glass.

I remember, you sharing your wisdom cap in hand
Blending honesty and irony to expose my naivety
As I ranted about my luck all things considered

You told me, if you break your arm you do not
Thank God for saving your leg, you could have
Not broken your arm in the first place at all.

You taught me pragmatism despite
My romanticism I now understand.

However, though you could have not died at all
Indeed I am grateful, to whoever lives above
For having had you as my godfather,

Have you guide my spirit, protect it and love it,
I salute you with the greatest pride
For having been beheld by your azure eyes.

A privilege as I muse on the bonsai surviving you.

[Featured photo: Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection in Federal Way, Washington by ang3lsdream]