there's something simple about waking up early
on a summer morning

tiptoeing down the stairs
everyone else in the house
still
asleep
unaware of your stirring

sunlight illuminating
the just recently
dark corners

bare feet pattering against
wooden floors

in that moment it seems everything
will be okay
it's easier to hope
             ---breathe

hope is simple
in the early morning

because
     you see
           no one has
had the chance
       to
  break it yet


- l. m.