Phaëthon

Easter smoking is the best. If there's a
bit of nicer weather all the better.
Yesterday you promised dad to quit, but

somebody decided that he needed

proof he was alive. A reason not to

die regretting everything preceding

is so that another day is seen by

you. The lives of people matter greatly,

not our own. And friday afternoon was

worse than you'd anticipated, sitting

in the hospital and wondering if

sadness would erupt into your heart or

not. The heat was penetrating, and the

night was longer than you thought it could be.

Twice. And off he went without a fight or

final gasp of light as morning broke at

dawn on sunday. Disappear, because the
day indeed is straying farther from the
mean. The reins are slack on sunshine's horses:
You are conflagrating but remain the same.

Alcaeus fragment 34a (Castor and Pollux)

Come to me, from Pelops' isle departing,

brave and steadfast children of Zeus and Leda;

show yourselves with generous, kindly spirits,

     Castor and Pollux,

who across the broad and expansive earth and

all the sea on swift-footed horses fly and

rescue humans easily from the frigid

    coldness of dying,

vaulting up the heights of the well-benched ship's masts

glowing far, ascending the forestays in the

dismal nighttime, bearing the blazing fire for

    shadowy vessels.