NINETEEN

And the sun will still rise on the horizon
A sunrise without you
The beginning of a new year without me
But still, if we really look . . . carefully
There we are, holding hands on your birthday
You, handsome as always
With your bright young smile, looking at me
And I will kiss you softly and caress your skin . . . 
You, my little Prince of Persia
See the golden sun and its portrait on the sand
Highs  and downs, orange and browns
No footprints ahead
Because there we go into uncharted territory
To celebrate life at its fullest
Keep smiling for me
My little prince of Persia
No matter what, I will be there
Look at that desert in front of you
A whole life unexplored
And in each grain of sand
You will find a new surprise
Touch it, and all that sand can be yours
With its warmth
With its roughness
With its ever changing dunes
With all its colors
And watch it change as the day changes
Color by color
Hour by hour
And your life will change with it
And every other birthday
Once again in its presence
Either Sahara or Florida
A desert or the beach
All that sand will still be there
All under your feet 
All for you to enjoy
And tomorrow will come
When once again 
With sand between your toes
You will remember this day
When at nineteen
And holding hands with me
We celebrated with all the joy
Your first birthday together.