Oliver never awakens
grumpy or groggy
always plugged in
he springs onto my chest
his night breath smells
like the wake
of a passing
trash truck
his tongue the mop that
slops my cheeks and nose
as the tail wags
with each laugh
whose increased volume
triggers more and faster licks
those charcoal eyes
probe me for the moment
I moan and move the sheets
as he leaps off me
when I slide off the bed
he circles twice
in front of my pillow
and falls fast asleep
stand up straight! a needed mantra for my sway back like a tall parenthesis bordering a crowd of crooked I’s the spinal pain of straightening easing with each day old roots have sprouted ne
if you’ve ever jumped from a cliff into water you know how you enter the sheet of liquid is critical to avoid the pain of a back or belly flop keep the arms in legs straight and toes pointed becoming
a drop of water runs down the glass joins the puddle draining from the bottom of the shower which made me think how we lag behind some relationships then hurry to catch up when we see them slipping aw