I Woke Up Late This Morning

my day today was ruined

before I even got out of bed

the cat died

sometime in the night

and did not lick my face

at dawn as usual

 

TEARS BEFORE BREAKFAST

a new poet or two, a new pair of books

garnered from the annual poetry festival

     to which I am a first-timer

which shall I read first?

setting aside my Sunday newspaper

time enough for that reality stuff later

I pitch into a slim volume

reflecting now on that sudden onset of darkness

I never knew what hit me

strumming, murmuring, swaying, swooning

knocked off balance

my sense of me, split

me, spilt all over the floor

     like that carton of milk after I saw

     that mouse on the kitchen floor that time
floored now this time

I'm smitten by my new pet poet

the softest kitten fur

     playful batting mitten paws

     squeaky bright eyes following the yarn trail

Curses! I have been hornswaggled by a new poet

a new sweet, sultry voice

irresistibly drowning me in siren song

just what I needed

what was it that had falsely me assured me that I could
     read just a little before breakfast

     then get up from the couch

     grab a second cup of coffee

     finish reading the newspaper

and get on with my life?

now I have poet vertigo

nothing looks the same

I'm different

the world is reeling and demands a new accounting

I'm busy

     inundated

     deafened, blinded to the cares of my

ordinarily demanding world I see

untidy

     dirty dishes, wash yourselves!

     dust bunnies, go back to sleep!

          the daddy long legs will

               take care of your pesky residents for me

and I will cry real tears before breakfast

hearing the calming soothe, the echo of your voice

     the crickets low chirping

     the mourning dove's coo-oooh!-coo-coo-coo-ing

     the creek noise flowing, slowing my start, stilling my heart

now... wolves howling, bats yowling, dogs growling

     unfed, unloved

babies wailing, diaper-pailing daddies

     nailing boards up before the storm

paling shimmering light, stars, night

     waves waving, sailing

     trailing, womanly, four feet behind my newest poet

my voluptuous curves curving, serving, trotting

besotted beside my newest dearest friend

would this never end!

plotting a hold on my latest treasure, braver

demanding we're eternally together
my sweet, fathomless new poet love