This blog is a tribute to Carlo. A renowned radiologist in Central Italy, Dr Carlo Amodio lost his life to Covid-19 at age 71 in early April 2020. He continued to faithfully serve his patients to the end. His daughter Michela Carbonari is an Adagio friend and creator of beautiful, slow travel programs in the Marche region of Italy.
A dear friend of Carlo wrote the poem below on June 1, 2020. That would have been his 72nd birthday. The translation is my own. For correct viewing, please be sure you do NOT view this blog in Google translate (which removes the Italian poem entirely).
| Addio Carlo | Goodbye Carlo |
| Sei volato su nuvole bianche, | You’ve flown away on white clouds |
| in una giornata di sole d’aprile, | on a sunny April day |
| nella primavera che amavi. | in the springtime that you so loved. |
| Sei andato via lasciando | You went away leaving |
| semplici ricordi, | simple memories |
| senza parole, | without words |
| che a volte non servono, | which sometimes aren’t worth a thing. |
| ma manca la tua voce festosa. | I miss your merry voice. |
| È quasi arrivata l’estate, | Summer’s almost here, |
| potevamo dire la nostra e | we could have had our say and |
| ridere di tanti fatti, | laughed at many facts |
| ascoltare una diagnosi | interpreted a diagnosis |
| perché ciò ti piaceva, | because you liked that, |
| un esame con strumenti | an examination with the |
| da collezione, a volte | latest instruments, sometimes with |
| con risposte infauste, | ominous outcomes that you |
| che spiegavi con occhi tristi, | explained with sad, sincere eyes. |
| sinceri, avresti detto la tua | You would have had your say |
| su questo malanno perché | about this disease because |
| i mali estremi li guardavi negli | you looked extreme illness |
| occhi! | right in the eye! |
| Avremmo voluto dirti come stai? | We would have wanted to say “how are you?” |
| Avremmo voluto dirti forza amico! | We would have wanted to say “strength, our friend!” |
| Ripercorrere con te gli ultimi | Retrace with you the final |
| giorni, il miracolo della consolazione, | days, the miracle of consolation, |
| davanti all’addio. | before the final departure. |
| Ora il nostro saluto è stato | Now our goodbye is huge |
| grande perché ricambia | because it shines with |
| la generosità operosa della | the living generosity of |
| tua vita, se avessimo potuto | your life; if we could have, |
| saremmo stati in tanti a | there would have been so many of |
| stringere la tua mano. | us to hold your hand. |
Poet Antonino Barrasso, Fano, Italy — June 1, 2020
Translation by Claudia Reynolds Harris