He learned Spanish/also Papiamento/also Dutch/learned to type overnight on a broken typewriter to get a job/in Curacao/so it was natural/to go from boarder/to family friend/to family/to Delio/revered Godfather/ the families/children/adored his generous loving and kind presence/arriving from distant shores/he held on to relationships like a sailor lashed to the boat/in life’s storm

We are connected/in times of grief/of anguished vigil/blessed to bear witness/blessed to stroke your sweet hand/face/the cry for healing/with you/we are connected/like no others/to you I have turned and returned/now turn to me/know that I am here/let me croak a verse/a sweet song to help you rest