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.

Hold Your Breath

for Lily

 

 

 

A new day’s upon us,

and I was up all night

daydreaming about you

while sunshine lit the sky.

We lay out on a beach

amidst a turqoise sea;

we listened to waters

softly tickling our feet.

We got up for a swim

and kissed under the waves,

and coming up for air

we bumped our heads and gave

each other bruises and

headaches, and Iiii went to

the emergency room

with a bad case of the

bends, and you waited till

I could mend my broken

strength and stand up again

till you dumped me and went

on with your life without

one more thought of me or

the day i almost died,

diving to impress you.