Renzo Lazzarini
our dear friend
has remembered us again
sending news of his family
in good health
despite the virus
raging through the country
same as here
keeping them and us
cooped up like pigeons
in our homes

I remember how we met
we'd come by bus
my wife and I
from nearby Lucca
to the little town
of San Lorenzo
where her grandfather
was born
grew up and lived
before he came
an immigrant
to San Francisco

The bus failed to return
no taxi service
but nearby
a man was wheeling
a glass jug
so big it filled his wheelbarrow
Carroll asked him where
he planned to take it and
we started chatting
soon we were invited in
to meet his wife Nicoletta
look through the family photos
hear about the Califonia cousins
then he drove us home to our hotel
in Lucca

That was six years ago
we've been back once
to stay with them
spent time with Davide
their son and his gay husband
met their daughter
daughter's children
stayed in touch through email
all this thanks to Carroll's interest
in family roots
leading in turn to my romance
with the Italian tongue
la bella lingua

A paragon of generosity
Renzo has driven us
all through the Tuscan countryside
to see the sights
the Devil's Bridge he worked on
as an engineer
to mountain villages
churches and caves
the quarry from which
Michaelangelo obtained his marble

Tonight I'm wishing him
and Nicoletta
all the Lazzarini family
a joyous Christmas
same as they wish us

May La Befana
the good witch who visits children
through the days of Christmas
bringing gifts
bring joy and pleasure
to the grandchildren
Renzo and Nicoletta hold so dear

And may the light of Christmas
usher in a year
of hope and promise
fill the hearts
of our Italian friends
with all the blessings
flowing from the birth
in Bethlehem