The deep roar of heavy wheels breaks through
My pleasant perusals and poetic musings.

Recalling an alert ignored in evening rain and repose,
A fresh alarm jars me to early-morning action.

I skitter throughout the house gathering,
Open the door, scramble bare feet on concrete,

Nose slapped by nauseating stench as I empty the porch can
And thud it into a behemoth red belly.

Toes licked by tickling tongues of wet grass,
I hurry to the road towing an awkward load,

Then awaken the dog’s loud disapproval
By shouting my winded gratitude to the sanitation worker I barely outran.