Thursday, January 12, 2006

Raits Aistars - In Memorium


Photo of Raits Aistars with his grandson, Anders Raits Aistars, 2004


Photo of Raits and Anda Aistars, wedding day, 1964

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For my much loved uncle Raits,
March 13, 1933 - January 2, 2006

Ka lai atvados?
Vel paliek nepateikts vards,
neizstastits stasts, neaizlikts solis,
neatdots glasts.

Vel vienu dienu gribejas lugt -
vel vienu, tik vienu,
bet no Tevis vairs tik paliek
sirdij mila atmina
aiz peksni aizslegtam durvim.

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Photo of Raits and brother Viestarts Aistars in military, ca. 1955



Photo of Raits and grandson


Photo of Raits and grandson


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(translation from Latvian)


How to say goodbye?
Still that unspoken word,
the untold story, the step not taken,
the caress not yet given.

One more day
I wanted to ask -
one more, just one,
but there remains of you
only a cherished memory
behind a suddenly
closed door.


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Photo of the Aistars' men: l-r, Janis, Raits, father Ernests, Viestarts, Aivars