Marius the Wise

For Dr. Marius Wehner and
in honor of Erasmus of Rotterdam,
1466-1536

Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1466-1536, woodcut (1526)
by Albrecht Dürer, 1471-1528

Marius,
You wise young owl,
You teacher of the next generation,
You citizen of the world,
Hanna’s son and the son of Claus,
Husband of Nassrin, one of the brightest
And most beautiful stars
On the horizon--

Marius,
Become the wisest old owl,
Become the best professor,
The most caring husband,
The best father and friend, and
The best bridge-builder around the world.

Marius,
Take good care 
of one of my greatest treasures:
The frame from the past and the image
Of your intellectual predecessor, 
many centuries ago.
Learn and grow and become
Marius the Wise. 

Dr. Henrik Eger

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