By ROZI THEOHARI/

“The only secret people keep/
is immortality”/
Emily Dickinson/

You wrote your name on the blackboard:/
—Elizabeth Williams—/
The first day of our Multicultural Society course./
Introducing yourself to the class—unexpectedly/
You gazed at me:/
– Who are you?/
– An Albanian… – All my students are brave and prepared. Are you!?/
– I hope, I struggle, Dr. Williams!/
– Call me Betty…everybody!/

x x x

In this way…our friendship began
With my presentations –making a show
Of Albanian life, customs, traditions, weddings, deaths,
The beauty of nature and my people’s spirit.
Listening to me,
Seated near the window, as you usually did,
Your smiling face –your big black, smart eyes
Sent me a light –a light that never dies.
My dear professor Betty,
You evaluated me with an “A+”
Saying: “I want to see Albania!”
“Yes, my compassionate friend…we could!”

x x x

Year after year meeting in euphoria
At North Shore Community College
Reading each other our poems,
Making choices, challenges—dramatically
You wrote some verses for Albania
Hoping: “I want to visit Albania!”

But you took another path—to darkness
Turning-out-the-light-of-your-life.
In silence I pray. For your upheld faith.
For your angels’ love filling your being…

Someday, when I will go to my country,
I will walk your spirit over the snowy mountains
And around fields with multicolor flowers
Reciting your verses for Albania—
Amazingly—every spring
A myriad of blue petals of
“Lule mos me harro”—( Forget-me-nots)
Will fly up, in the sky
To find you in heaven
My beloved friend,
My unforgotten Betty Williams.