Morning light is quietly loud
Strolling through the window
Past the blinds
onto the walls
the floor
the bed
steady 
unrelenting
illuminating
black cats glow and stretch
 
I look at you as you sleep
you exposed and hidden 
beneath the comforter
you breath comes in and out 
balanced 
Steady
a melody i dance to
around the edges of the bed 
my movements are slow
but deliberate stepping closer 
the coolness of the fan stirs
the warmth radiating from your hip
 
With practiced ease I gather the cover 
thinking a story lives in their folds
the restless toss and turns 
the languid feline stretching you do 
the way two bodies find one another
without looking
fingers reading skin through traces
the final curl into slumber 
 
your eyes part and you crack a smile
knowing what i’m about to do 
rolling onto your back
naked 
still
soon the cocoon
will hold you again
 
I throw the flat sheet into the air 
popping it one or two or three times
until it falls just below your chin
I do the same with the comforter
smoothing them out
 
It’s a small gesture 
but in this moment, it’s my thank you
I’m building this refuge for you
so I can step back and watch you fall again
Sleep soundly babygurl
the world can wait.