Dreamscapes slowly fading,
and awareness awakening.
Dawn's alarm is calling
into the sleepy realm,
invading the subconscious.
Weary brain resisting.
Heavy eyelids stalling.
Reach up and hit the snooze,
For just another moment
of sweet repose.
Wander from my sleep
and stumble out of bed.
Groping feet plod slowly
into the kitchen,
to walk on the sticky floor.
Who didn't do his chores?
Hands amiss in empty air
to find a switch on the wall.
Flip it up for light!
Close heavy eyelids tightly
so the light is not so fierce.
Turn the water on
and clear the sink
of last night's dishes
that should have been done.
Find the coffee pot
to discard used-up grounds.
No one emptied the trash.
Open cupboards clumsily
to seek out canisters
of coffee...
and filters...
and vanilla.
Where's the spoon?
Fill the pot and pour
the water into the reservoir
and set the filter cup on top.
Two scoops of fresh grounds.
Don't forget the lid.
Aromatic senses. Add vanilla.
Turn it on and wait.
Hands, not quite alert,
open up the fridge.
The handle is sticky.
Get out lunch meat and cheese
Don't spill open cartons of milk.
Just close the door.
Now open the cupboard,
the one up above.
Get down the loaf of bread,
with no tie... left open,
First slices are dried out,
hard and stale.
Why do kids leave bread open?
oh, well, put it on the counter
with the crumbs
and spilt orange juice
that no one cleaned up.
Just make the lunch
after wiping off the counter.
Put makings away
count out the cookies
and crackers with cheese
and please remember a spoon
for the pudding.
Now go to the bathroom.
Move carefully, step
around the coffee table
stacked high with papers
the kids brought home
for me to see
when I have time.
But, not right now.
Pick up the laundry
they left in the hall
and take it with me
back to the kitchen
where I can throw it
down the stairs
to the laundry room
where it can wait
while I pour the coffee
two cups for him and me.
Put the lunch in a bag.
Cream and sugar for the coffee.
Put the cups on the table.
Here's yours. Here's mine.
It's getting late now.
You had better go.
I need to get dressed
so I can leave on time.
I have to leave soon;
as soon as I can wake up
from this foggy dream
of early mornings with
dreamscapes slowly fading
and awareness awakening.
Dawn's alarm is calling
into the sleepy realm,
invading the subconscious.
Weary brain resisting.
Heavy eyelids stalling.
Reach up and hit the snooze,
For just another moment
of sweet repose.
Trinka Powers - copr.1989