Amicale

   On March 27, discover the poem written by Eloisa Bytyci, a student at the University of Strasbourg.

 

Dear Dad

Snowflakes falling from the sky

I have an umbrella

The ground is getting all white

White like your hair

White like your beard

Pure as your heart

Pure as your vision of love

A vision of love that you taught me purely

 

How you taught me plenty of things

How to walk

How to run

How to talk

And how to jump

 

But that was when I wasn’t a grown-up

In fact I grew up without you

From eleven to my twenties

You weren’t there

Where were you? Where are you dad? I used to wonder

But eventually I got my answer and accepted my fate

 

Dad, I found you

I found you but I didn’t know it would be too late

I found you for the first time

-We spent ten days together

Ten days that went by like ten seconds

 

Dad we’re going to catch up on the time we spent separated

Dad, I promise you that

I’ll be back in summer

Dad, you’ll get to know me better

You’ll see how we share the same habits

Same gestures

Same way of speaking

Same face, same height

Same love for life

 

Strange how I’m just like you

Even though I grew up without you

Dad, you’ll see how similar we are

Dad, you’ll see the person I have become

Dad, you’d be so proud

 

Dad wait a second, mom is calling

Dad, why did she tell me you’re sick?

Why did she say you’re at the hospital?

Dad, what’s wrong?

Dad, why aren’t you answering your phone?

Dad? Dad?

What is going on?

 

Dad, why did mom tell me you’re gone?

What does she mean?

Dad, I need answers

Please dad

 

Don’t do that to me

I was supposed to come back for summer

Dad call me back

 

I fear it’s too late for you to hear anything

I fear that I have to get there before summer and spring

 

Dad, I’m here

I came earlier than expected

Dad, can you hear me?

Dad, can you see me?

Dad, look, it’s me!

 

Dad wake up!

Dad,

Dad wake up,

Dad, wake up I beg you

Dad give me a hug

Dad, I need you

I need to hear your voice

Dad please

Don’t do this to me

 

Your face is all purple

Your face is so cold

Dad, I’ll cover you with a blanket to keep you warm

 

Snowflakes falling from the Sky

Snowflakes falling from the Heavens

I can feel tears coming up my eyes

I can feel my heart beating heavier

 

How are we going to catch up the ten years spent apart?

Now that you went into the Eternal Sleep

Dad? Still not answering

Dad? Still no answer

 

I guess this is it then

I’m going to grow up all by myself

And you won’t be there to witness

It’s alright

I’ll pretend that you’re living somewhere

-Having a good life

Hoping that one day my phone will start ringing

And see your name appear on it

 

Dad, I’ll visit you every now and then

I’ll clean up your grave

So that flowers can grow

Without weeds bothering them

 

It’s snowing again

It reminds me of your white hair

It reminds me of your white beard

This time I don’t have an umbrella

As I let the snowflakes fall upon me

As a reminder that wherever you are

You’re always side by me

                                           Eloisa Bytyci