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Monday, April 23, 2012

My Morning Ritual (Prompt: Morning)

The ritual starts the same way:

My first thoughts
are always scrambled:
part disappearing dream,
part beeping alarm clock,
and part soundtrack
to whatever tv show
is playing on the set
that was left on
as a lazy night light.

I hear the tip-tip-tip
of Yorkie claws scratching
on the laminate floor
as Sadie the cat
drags her paw
across our closed bedroom door,
and makes
a slow, torturous scrape,
her mute petition
for admission.

The dogs want out
and the cat wants in,

I’m barely awake
and I’m already playing
zookeeper.

I escort the dogs
out to the backyard
and I breathe in the
sweet and sharp
cold morning.

God hears
my silent prayers
of gratitude,
and my mind scans
the coming day:
it thinks in terms of
appointment blocks
in Microsoft Outlook.

I ask
“please help me be
a good man, and
please watch over
my wife and children
and bring them all
home
safely.”

I dwell in this
quiet and slow moment,
until clarity materializes.

Then, the barking begins

shallow and soft,
ruff-ruff

ruff
then louder

yike-yike-yike!

which signals the
end of my morning
ritual.

8 comments:

  1. These are morning companions, Magnolia and Mona Lisa.

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  2. "I’m barely awake
    and I’m already playing
    zookeeper."

    Well, that sums up my morning perfectly!

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  3. such clarity, and depth, to a dull but meaningful ritual. Thanks for sharing your poetry, your pets, and your morning!

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  4. What a special time to connect with Him before the day gets away! :) and with the added bonus of Magnolia, Mona Lisa and Sadie. :)

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  5. Yep, Bosco is the boss around here. He tells me when to get up, and what he wants me to do once I am up, which is, wait on him!

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  6. This makes me want to curl back up in bed. What a cozy poem. Love "scrambled" and "lazy night light." Thanks, Buddah. :)

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  7. A day that begins with a prayer is always better. Cute dogs. I once had a yellow lab named Sadie. She was the best pet I've ever had. Now I'm sad. This is not rhyme, just the right time... haha

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  8. made me smile...i'm such a morning person...love all the sounds in an awakening house..but even more being the first one up even before the birds start their morning concert...smiles

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