I awoke to
saturated grass
puddles on the pavement
water still falling
not in torrents
nor gentle kisses
steadily
in giant drops
until it stopped
blue sky peeked
as storm clouds
disappear
my sunglasses
were left at home
damn
now I need them
sun’s too bright
I wanted rain today
morning
standing in the kitchen
sunshine on my face
listening to the sounds of quiet
hum of the fridge
tick of the clock
tap of my fingers on the keys
motors filter in
from outside
children at school
husband at work
4am dog taking a morning nap
upstairs cat is just that
out of sight and earshot
time to think
space to do
in quiet if I so choose
it must be Monday morning
thank goodness
It’s still full dark out this morning.
Up since 4:30am with The Early Dog.
Amazingly I woke up feeling mostly awake.
Even at THAT hour.
Coffee is helping open my eyes the rest of the way.
So when that pup was quiet and not underfoot I went lookin’ for him…
Ah, there he is, lying in the still dark living room, near the base of the gated stairs, waiting for the rest of the family to wake up.
But what’s he chewing on?
Oh, that’d be the alabaster candlestick my husband brought back from a USMC trip to Albania more than a few years ago.
Summer of ‘95, I think.
It’s not too much worse for wear.
It’s one of a pair.
I’m not sure where the mate is…or the candle…but I’m trying not to worry about that, and remembering they were empty last time I saw them.
I did mention the sun hasn’t yet risen to announce morning’s here?
Never a dull moment, even before 6:00am.
woof
I have a dog named Blue.
He’s named for his black fur that looks blue like a raven in the sunlight.
As an artist, I think of the primary color.
Secretly, I think he does too.
He’s a romantic, this dog.
Moonlit walks.
Starry nights.
Sunrise serenades.
How I love him.
This morning I heard, “Woof”, and joined him at the sliding doors to head outside.
Again.
This time though, instead of the lingering dark of night, the sky was awash in shades of lavender and hot pink, blended just so.
Oh, such wonderful colors.
Faded to steely winter sky color now.
But for moment, I stood in the brisk February morning, and savored the sunrise.
Thanks to my dog named Blue.
Woof
and in the brief moment
that I stood at the window
gazing at the sunrise
that same pup found a sock
under the la-z-boy recliner
he thought it’d be a nice snack
I disagreed
so out we went
at 6:50a.m.
for a walk around the block
me in my pajamas
mismatched ones at that
and polka dot rain boots
because like a firefighter
boots are easier to slip into
than tennis shoes that tie
especially in the dark
of technically morning time
when puppy less people
are sleeping
I’m caring less what others think
and doing what suits me
I guess I have the puppy to thank
for my growing nonchalance
as well as the moonlit, starlit, sunrise walks
that we’re going on
together
this morning I tried to go back to bed at 6:00
it is Saturday after all
but he woofed
that pup of ours
because he didn’t want me to miss the sunrise
it’s a beaut too
glowing soft peach at the horizon
blending upward into the palest blue
with wisps of pink clouds
for another dash of color
fading now
into regular morning colors
but I managed to wake up in time
to savor another sunrise
my heart socks from yesterday
are on inside out this morning
sometimes life feels like that
when your heart is closer to the surface
and everything hurts a little more
because you’re feeling
turned inside out too
I hate feeling like that
but on the flip side
that’s where the poetry comes from
for we experience the world differently
than those turned right side out
and feel compelled
to put those feelings into words
Moonshine over the front yard
As the sun was rising over the back
6:50am
On a Saturday
In early February
In central Illinois
My home
Since always
playin’ possum
I live in a house with three possums
not the pink tailed, beady eyed kind
the pretending to sleep while the dog barks in the early morning kind
there is a cat in the house too
she might as well be part possum
since she’s tucked in too
cozied up to those other possums
burrowed under soft covers
in rooms dark
for the sun has yet to rise
while the early dog and I got outside to take care of business
and he woofs the house down
so excited for his breakfast
and sits at the bottom of the stairs
waitin’ for the rest of the family
to stop playin’ possum
and wake up
to play with him
(the dog)
too much of a gentleman
he’s too much of a gentleman
to put the blame on me
it wasn’t the woofing of the dog
coughing of son number one
or morning grumbles of son number two
that awoke him this morn
from his workin’ mids (3-11)
just unhooked from chemo slumber
it was me
rummaging in the closet for clothes
that jolted him awake
but when I gave him multiple choice
the dog?
youngest son?
he just quietly said, “No”
not elaborating
as he ate a pop tart for breakfast
and took some medicine
before tucking back in
to sleep a little longer
later it dawned on me
but he was too much of a gentleman
to say so
Turquoise Tangles 