Cordiali saluti - Gianmaria Testa

Thank you for your collaboration

You were a most esteemed

Collaborationist

And your great spirit of sacrifice

And all the time you spent

On our common cause

Will never be forgotten;

And in the future

You can be sure

We will always take into account

Your noble teachings

And of course your seriousness, versatility

And great humanity

More than colleagues

We were family

Please let me know then

At your earliest convenience

Where to deposit the amount owed

And what remains

Of your fees

We wanted to give a party, too

Nothing too special

Just a farewell glass of wine but

As you know, your reserve

And your aversion

To any form or gesture of greeting—

Some thought it arrogance

But only because

They didn’t really know you

So they’ve asked me

Who have always

Been your closest

Collaborator

Among all those

You work with

And please don’t trouble yourself to come by

Because we will see to

Returning your personal belongings

And everything else

That you left behind

I can’t even imagine

All that you’ll be able to do

With your time, no longer under a boss

You surely have a passion

A dream, an old desire

And finally the chance arises

To give yourself body and soul

To what only yesterday

Had seemed an illusion

Believe me, it may be true, we’re alike

But passions are what make us

Different and a little special

Enclosed please find for your review

The account settlement statement

Along with my most distinguished

Sincerest, and kindest regards