Nino Poem by Francis Duggan

Though he'll never see his homeland shore again
The accent he brought with him with him remain
He has two grand-daughters the eldest twenty three
The old bloke from the coastal town of Italy,
Fifty years in Australia that seems a long time
He came here at twenty one a few years short of his prime
His devoted Italian wife Rina died two years ago
Of cancer her ending was painful and slow
Nino is a quiet man nice in a quiet way
He is one who never has too much to say
He does not drink much alcohol just the odd glass of wine
And he looks fit and well for one of sixty nine
His old Coastal Hometown he will never more see
And his old bones will rest far south of Italy.