it arises in the early hours
the sun's eyes not yet opened
by the quiet noises of dawn

| the breath in my lungs took a walk last night and hasn't made it's drunken way homeward

the lost hours between 1:17 am and 4:32, when my lids drew heavy under my brows despite the caffeine and racing thoughts

| why do you occupy all the rooms in my soul? you are so casual with my currency, it seems as though you wish me bankrupt on your love's doorstep

i'm too proud to look to the future; i glaze over my calendars with records of past deeds, hoping to emulate the glory years of golden sunsets and scant sorrows; we both know my heart is beating less and less as the minutes quicken to the final gate

| and i forgive the pain you've caused, mucking about where you don't belong and shredding my drapes. they enclose the cache of locked-away traumas and you couldn't have known, so i must forgive and suffer with compassion in my eyes yet

in the morning hours
when the sun has not yet woken
the air is thick with waiting
i am caught in the fire of desire
turbulence at ground level