emperor of class

half a world away
my breathing is
shallow & my eyes
are bleeding
tears

can it be true?
bernie fung
is gone

bernie fung
was a resplendent
emperor––
to enter his office
was to realize that
time could stop––
it didn’t matter

what mattered
was a meeting
of hearts & minds––
trust came first

here was a man
who could reach
across east & west
like a colossus
of a global
harbor

how do you build
a golden empire
of commerce?
––with integrity

how do you invest
in the future?
––with the knowing
that encompasses
understanding
called
wisdom

we are all
members of your
family &
first is your
wife––
gracious as
the dawn

you were a shrewd
& generous man.
a careful man. an
intelligent man. a
heartful man.
a business man. &
like the best of us––
a bundle of
contradictions

your unmatchable
smile & your bow-tie
were your earthly
signatures––
these will be
incorporated
into a constellation
of remembering stars
to keep your
name