Leaves of a Day

First light is winter-empty and bare.

Yawn

Roll over

Look at the clock

Yesterday’s reruns spatter life’s branches.

Stretch

Rise

Morning’s sleepy reflection is older than expected.

An accidental dose of startling honesty

Quick

Pull the veil back in place

Race into another day

Before the first swallow of morning brew—hot, strong, sweet—cover reality in a thousand sprouts of springtime green, soft as a baby’s cheek.

Buds pop

Leaves open

Windswept branches sway

Mid-day is covered with dense, verdant foliage.

A short shopping list

An overdue phone call

A silly Facebook game

Move

Faster

Faster still, if only to hold the madness away. Ignore the tick-tock and the belly’s clench. An intolerable lull could reveal a sting in your eyes or a small, involuntary gasp.

Just

Get

Through

Focus on a fantasy-future as daylight slips by unnoticed.

Russet leaves disguise evening’s passion.  

Connection hides beneath distraction

Sincerity under sarcasm

Authenticity behind repression’s mask

The caress of a warm, damp cloth can’t wipe it clean but still

Softly

Slowly

Lifts intensity from another day.

Night’s branches rustle under a black-satin gown.

Leaves dry

Curl

Drop

Sweep them from the pillow and pull the covers high against night’s chill.

Eyes closed

Breath deep

But the mind holds fast to one last luminous twinkling.

Wasn’t there something?

Yes

Something more

A meant-to-be knowing missed in the flurry. A door hangs ajar, a choice stirring in a restless mind. Turn towards it?

Step in?

Allow that small, innermost child to walk helpless

Vulnerable

Alone

Through grief’s blaze?

Or give in to sleep’s sweet escape as the day’s final leaf falls.