HeartStrung

One day of my life as seen through haiku. 4 a.m. warm sheets, quiet house cats cry, ready to go out I am half asleep 5 a.m.  clicking corner fan I count, 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 when will sleep return? 6 a.m. cat knocking at door tap, tap, tap, I rise again she goes straight to food back down in bed now my body aches head to toe; stiff joints are the worst 8 a.m. click, squeak, rustle, snap; little sounds bring me awake everyone is up time for me to rise there are things to do today; nothing important 9 a.m. cutting table out strewn with paper and fabric I’m ready to work (but . . . )  motivation lacks scissors remain on table; I’m indecisive 10 a.m. warm water on skin sweet mimosa flower smell my body gets clean joints no longer ache I can reach my feet again and have no tick bites 11 a.m. daughter emerges lunch time from virtual school; different every day an interruption: Florida calls for Andre . . . it's still wrong number 12 p.m. juicy tomato oozes liquid as it'

crisp cool cotton sheet light creeping up horizon eyes open slowly

frosted window panes crisp white grasses frozen stiff: first frost of autumn

at night when you dream you dream with your whole body it keeps me awake

The rain comes      it streaks down the window pane and taps on the roof. People run     their muscles flexing and contracting with each extended stride         like works of art in motion,             but they all still get wet. A man crossing the parking lot       loses his shoe          o ne...two...three steps                 before he realizes his wet foot. A man with a beard,      pale skin in shorts,           walks casually through the down pour               c arrying his paper bag of goods                     from the top. He feels some small giving-way     and quickly reaches down to hold the bottom          before the whole thing falls out. Lightening strikes     t hunder  cracks through the sky           and I duck               though I am safely inside my car                    and thunder cannot harm me. And then the rain stops. Children jump in puddles          soaking their pants, their shoes               shouting with joy and full of play Adults slow their walking