Students. Poem by PAUL COLVIN

You made me laugh, you made me think, you opened up your hearts
And to me your painting’s secondary, you are all a work of art
You gave me back what I thought lost and instilled in me a pride
When that first night, you comforted, a colleague as she cried.

Naively loud within your crowd, each there for one another
Supporting as true friends do, each a sister and a brother
To homesick friends, those feeling down or others who feel ill
Loving hearts cure anything; you don’t need doctor’s pills.

The fire went out in Vesuvio but was rekindled in your hearts
And I hope that friendly fire, never will depart
For when Napoli meets Glasgow, that’s as good as it can get
And you, Napolitani students, are ones I won’t forget.

To meet with you, to dine, to drink, to talk with you, a pleasure;
And the memories I take from this, are ones I’ll always treasure
As a month away from families, loved ones or just friends
Can make a life a bit surreal, that’s when we show pretence.

You made me laugh, you made me sad but mostly made me proud
And I couldn’t pick a better class or choose a warmer crowd
You’ve an innocence and charm, mannerly and fun
How could I pick a favourite or select a special one?

You all touched me in special ways and I never could foretell
That the sheepish ones I met that night in a Paddington hotel
Would stay with me forever, forever in my heart
And that each and every one of you, is a precious work of art.