Luciano Pavarotti

On learning of that the life of Luciano Pavarotti had been extinguished Poet-in-Residence composed the following small tribute which was published in Poetry Monthly.

Italian Sunset

Luciano, my friend
with your smiling eyes
and unshorn beard
with Italia in your voice -
the language of opera
and amorous dalliances -
sing now of football and of gondoliers
and of the love of well-born ladies
and of Tuscan wine and conversazioni -
sing to us now in the glowering light
of our fading torches and flambeaux -
perhaps of Naples and Venice
and send us your best long notes
down the sunset of your going.


c)- Gwilym Williams