When insistent morning
forces the cracked blinds
It finds my eyes stuck
Atop a stiff, angry neck.

I wake
And I rumble
My joints grind
the coffee beans

A bit coarse to dank the water
My callused hallux worries the floor
Dripping done, I pour with sore fingers
The steel carafe silver as a nickel
The kitchen sink ablaze and singing
Light reflecting
Last night’s ice cream spoons.

The warm mug soothes
my a.m. arthritis
My arthritic mind coughing cobwebs and sleep.
This moment stands
for itself alone. Truth
can wait until past noon—
it’s coming soon. The truth comes soon.

10/2/2011