My Padrino Abe

At the top of his profession,
Abe was a brilliant, eloquent lawyer and judge, steady as a majestic oak,
Who provided his wife and family all of his love and support,
But now sadly has been silenced by the ravages of a stroke.

Praying and hoping for his recovery,
His wife of sixty years is ever present, watching over his care;
And even though Abe cannot yet speak,
His eyes and his smile tell Celia his love is very much still there.

To me, that brief, instantaneous look in his eye,
When you see that he recognized you and was aware,
That’s when you knew that for that fleeting moment,
That his memory of you is still there.

Now it’s been months since Abe’s stroke,
Yet Celia is still there, lovingly by his side every day of the week.
Baby steps at first, seemed his progress at first,
Then all of a sudden, he started making strange noises, actually re-learning to speak!

Could this be His big sign?
Abe’s re-awakening, his rebirth to the human race?
Just goes to show you the power of the human spirit,
For we just knew he’d be back with a little help from God’s grace.

Human nature being what it is, I am aware,
Still it is not our job to question, complain, or compare;
But to be compassionate, to assist, and to offer him the Lord’s prayer.
For all we know, Abe is the fortunate one, and truly walking on air!

Mom called Abe this week to wish him birthday greetings;
So when the phone was put up to his ear
Upon hearing Mom’s voice, Celia recounted,
Abe grinned widely most sincere!

Now, knowing my Padrino Abe like I do, I would apprise
That like a prizefighter looking for the win,
You can see the fight in his eyes,
Wanting to come back to us, surely that would be no surprise!

Knowing Abe’s memory is still in him locked inside,
He knows that Celia, the love of his life, was always by his side.
Then, of course, he recalls his Son, Abie, with whom he took much pride;
His beautiful daughter, Sandra, who made his heart swell;
His lovely grandkids that he also loved as well.

Abe has gone now
To be with his God, and loving Son.
But those of us who loved him in life
Know that his legacy of a very good and honest Man lives on and on.

‘Till we meet again, Padrino!
Godspeed…
Your God-Son always,
Bob Collazo, Jr.
9/20/13

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