The sea fades into a well blended orange sun. the deepest blue stretching its fingers grabbing the horizon line. ripples in the waves of color they crash into stars. the explosion peaks behind the darkest of clouds. the sea is drowning the colors of love and turning them muddy. the ocean is wrapped in brilliance laughing at the unattentive ones. the sun dissapears. its warmth gone Texas is now the spring of bluebonnets and sweet air. the handprint of faith stretches across the sky i believe to be my open sea.

behold your mother bent over with age,
who washes still your clothes over the tub,
and he whose joints now more frequent he rubs,
behold your father as your mirror gauge,
          for what he is, that also you will be,
          and how he leaves, you likewise will, so see

her old curved spine slight twisted won't deter,
the mighty worker from her daily chore,
of caring for the child-like man she bore,
for love, her duties she will not defer,
          for still she will admonish what is right,
          until she leaves your unattentive sight,

the once invincible and wise father,
now frail with muscles atrophied and weak,
persists beyond your stubborness to speak,
whose sage advice, to heed you will not bother,
          oh dear, with aging horns yet still a fawn,
          at whose feet will you sit when he is gone?

remember well your parents while they are,
while wrinkled trembling arms may still embrace,
to whisper in the ear and kiss your face,
before their mouths and ears will be too far,
          for one day you will find yourself alone,
          until your aging flesh departs from bone

(C)2012, Christos Rigakos

i walk
unattentive
no care about the steps
i take
holding your hand
going to the train station

we sit down side by side
you're telling me a story
about something related
to your young students
and i find yet another pink hair
stuck in my beard

the train arrives
all the vampire people
start to slowly walk
through its double doors
dragging their feet along the way

we can't find a place to sit
so we remain standing up
face to face
and i find yet again in your expression
the very same singularity
that made me feel weird and romantic
when i first met you

i pay close attention to your eyes
which reminds me of
the sweet smell of coconut shampoo
and the way you grin
every single time
my lips touch your neck

we say our simple goodbyes
wish each other a good day of work
i get off the train
and start walking
unattentive
no care about the steps i take
because if i did care
i'd also probably realize
i'm past the point of seeing you
as just another person

its difficult to hear you
through the din
i kinda hear you
wanting to be near you
but the air is too thin
and the noise is too loud
and i too be impossibly proud
Unattentive
to your warning signs
And impervious to my own
another glass of wine
and i'll be just fine.