Parikia

better days

PARIKIA

The road to Parikia
It winds down to the bay
The sun inside the torquoise
The middle of the day
The bike is overheating
The wind is in your hair
We stop into the cafe
The two men sitting there
Breathe out when they see you
Your beauty makes them weep
The place is almost empty
The town is half asleep
A pitcher of ice water
A box of cigarettes
A fisherman's young daughter
Untangling the nets

The hour of siesta
The bouzouki playing low
The speaker by the harbor
Athens radio
The men are playing checkers
The smell of cinammon
Clothesline hung with octopi
The stillness of the sun
Another kind of time here
It's June or it's July
It's loving one another
It's knowing we may die
The hand under the table
Resting on the knee
The old caiques rocking
The rhythm of the sea

A cafe in Parikia
The harbor of the town
The sun upon your forehead
Legs so long and brown
You laugh about Lamia
The women at the feast
If a man is bearded here
They think he is a priest
You clap your hands together
Almost spill my drink
Now you're laughing louder
The checker players wink
I am not a priest of God
I'm not done sinning yet
We order up a bottle
I light your cigarette

The road to Parikia
It winds down by the bay
The sun inside the torquoise
The middle of the day
We rode in from Marpissa
The wind was in your hair
We took an outdoor table
The two men sitting there
We're sighing when they saw you
Your beauty made them weep
The place was almost empty
Parikia half asleep
A pitcher of ice water
A box of cigarettes
A fisherman's young daughter
Untangling the nets

DL