You are cheery
And I am dreary

You are social
And I am a rock

You live to see the sun
I lurk among the shadows

But when I'm by your side
I actually feel alive

I was lost and wayward.

My path eaten by the fog.

Then I realized, the fog was in my eyes.

So I took some time.

So I relaxed my mind.

The trail became so clear.

And it led me straight to you.

When I caught a glimpse of you, I barely could believe.
You sat there on my porch as if to be my sign.
And when our eyes locked, you didn't fly away.
Is it injured? Is it real?
These were my first thoughts.
Even as I opened the door, and stepped towards you, beautifully you held your perch.
You're the bird they love to hate.
Your beauty they can not see.
Dark, smart, and misconstrued.
They say that you're an omen, but I can see that you're my guide.
To the crow outside my window, you're always on my mind.
To the crow outside my window, you're really just like me.

Ask me who is the most generous man I know and I shall speak his name
Ask me who is the most humble man I know and him I shall acclaim
Ask me who is the most altruistic man I know and his face shall be on the frame
Ask me who is the most kindhearted man I know and you will hear his name again
In my life, I've never met anyone like him again

A man devoted to his family and his community
Always preaching the word of God and leading us to felicity
Always ready to sacrifice his needs for the sake of love and unity
He taught us family, love, fraternity, forgiveness, religion, compassion, tolerance, peace and generosity

I am who I am today thanks to his teachings
He was a leader, a guide, our role model
There is no one like him

He was a father, a brother, a friend, a companion, a grandfather
16 years since he is gone but his words still resonate like thunder
You are no longer here but your teachings linger
A man who was not afraid to cry when needs be but also not afraid to yell and impose order

Always playful with kids and receptive and caring with adults
I feel privileged and lucky to have known him and call him grandpa
For in my life he has played a huge and special part
The memories I will treasure and keep them in my heart

Although he is gone, we will always be together
And his spirit will live on in each one of us forever
From where he is, he is protecting us and guiding us on our way
He is praying for us everyday

He used to pray God "Let it be I who fall sick instead of one of my family member. Let it be I who die instead of someone in my family."
What kind of man wishes for that, you ask.
Someone special I will say, a man of love
And I would like to thank God above
For blessing us with this man, with his kindness and love

I truly believe that God has gifted him with something special
He taught us not to let this world be in our heart for it is not eternal
I know he is in a better place
Watching us all with a smile on his face
I hope we are making you proud from where you are
We are still crying an ocean of tears
As we feel so empty and hold many fears

If I could just turn back the time to those days you used to laugh with us and made us feel so special and loved
Those days you pretended to be in pain when we stepped on your feet while we were playing
Those days when they were only you and us in the room with your half covered grey and curled hair
Those days we used to watch tv together and whenever there was an intimate scene you screamed your favorite word "Touc" and scared us (not that I know what it means)

Time will heal so they say
And time fades away
While a part of us is taken away
I know we will meet again one day
But until that day
Know that you are truly missed
Mame Alassane Lahi whom we affectionately called Mame Rane