Before Tomorrow Begins
One dog and one cat pretend
to sleep in the dark next to the bed.
While coffe pot laughter writes sonic
kitchen haiku. Playful gurgle song
disk jockey with a needle
dropping hot old tunes.
Beauty was awake late, deep
into the dark night poems.
She sleeps peaceful now.
The sound of a handmade
ceramic cup thunks the cedar
board with a deep and true
quiet punctuation.
A thick roast steam rises up, life
in timed rhythm of sound and smell.
Boot lace slither, it’s too much
for the cat to bear.
He attacks the strings like a kitten.
After all these years it sill makes me shake
my head and tie double knots around
and through gaps in flashing paws.
It is peaceful here.
On the lanai tasting the elixir and smoke
of the days first cigarette I can feel
the forest breathe.
The offering of my morning grattittude
is holy to me, intended to be as uncareful
as it is sincere.
I am thankful.
The mist covered lake rests still
down there somewhere.
Every dripping wet drop thing drips with mist.
Up here the slow growing groans of oak
and pines accompany owl flutes in the fog
in a strange patterned dripbeat time.
There is no mountain.
These rocks become wet bones.
This now –this place– this is our home.
Gloves on and shovel fitted
to my hand. Unceremoniously
I flick what is left of the coffee
(the bitter creamy dregs )
from the cup into the flowers.
Enough, there is work.
7 thoughts on "Before Tomorrow Begins"
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Masterful job of capturing this moment. This poem is in no hurry and I enjoy every rich lush detail you dole out. And the ending is fantastic: it takes a firm command to end this revelry.
This poem and yesterday’s hold so much quiet and depth. Enjoyed!
“coffee pot laughter writes sonic kitchen haiku”- such a great phrase and image. Same for flicking coffee into the flowers. This is wonderful stuff to read.
I can see it all.
I really enjoyed this, especially “On the lanai tasting the elixir and smoke/of the days first cigarette I can feel/the forest breathe.”
The way all the senses are wide awake in this poem is amazing.
nice.
i like
in a strange patterned dripbeat time.
from the cup into the flowers.