Waking before you 
I watch and 
listen before rising 
to open and 
make before returning 
and sometimes no
usually most times 
you have moved 
occupied my side 
like a little 
soldier taking a 
town in some 
strange land and 
declaring it yours

Twilight has no 
twin sister this 
side of day
no quiet slowing 
ebb from dark 
she this night 
simply sits and 
stares west like 
she’s hearing something 
dawn is different 
in the mountains 

More like murmur
maybe even purr
sounds like coo
even that too
the affection sounds 
tiny simple mews
hushed deep sighs 
prompting your turn 
and my attention 
fingers through hair 
head to chest 
and the dreams 
that these moments 
ever do make 
in quiet sounds
and soul songs 

Wait wait a
minute hold this 
just a minute 
there there isn’t 
this nice this
us this now 
and we go
about sipping and 
dreaming and watching 
and even waiting 
listening kissing too
cups to lips
to sips to 
warm kisses that 
taste like morning 

The sun finally 
made its debut 
at last peeling 
off the scabs
of last night’s 
storms exposing day’s
newly healed wound 
of dewy zinnias 
and moistened hydrangeas