Awaken to a cacophony of crows from an army of roosters

Bastards

Arise from bed, yawn and stretch

Stiff from last night’s antics

Stare at yourself in the mirror

The years weigh heavy

Go to the kitchen

Brew some coffee

Single-origin dark roast from Sumatra or Philippine mangosteen

Drink a full pot

Prepare breakfast

Fried eggs and fruit – lilikoi, bananas, dragonfruit

Appreciate the early morning glow of dawn

Chase off a chicken that tries to break in through the screen door to steal cat food

Listen to podcasts – Rogan, D’elia, Diaz, Segura

Learn something new or just have a silly goose time

Christmas comes from the worship of red and white psychedelic Amanita mushrooms

Chris might have a racist Starbucks in his house

Two cats will join me for my meal

Cinnamon and Boots

Blotches striped gray and white, orange tabby

Lounging on the railing or napping on the couch

Dress comfortably

No need for underwear today

Fluffy fleece sweatpants

And an old t-shirt too

Tend to your plants

A carnivorous vining pitcher plant

A glass terrarium of fresh green moss and Utricularia

An orchid yet to bloom

Take up your paintbrush

Paint a colorful scene

A sunrise or sunset

A great oak tree

Sandalwood incense

Take up your pen

Write a short story

Black ink stains your palm

Their blood on your hands

When the coffee wears off

Go make some tea

Genmai-cha from Japan, green tea and roasted rice

Pale milky green, an odd smoky flavor like seaweed

Read a book

A reference book for medicinal plants

– purple coneflower, aloe vera, marshmallow root, heartsease, and passionflower

A Tell-Tale Heart

The exiled Wolf Queen

Walk to the market

Across the bridge and through the streets

By a fragrant hedge of mock-orange, blooming small white flowers

Orange African tulip trees

Buy cookie and cake mix

Make cupcakes and cookies

With sprinkles and blue cream cheese frosting

Oatmeal and chocolate chip

Clean up your room

Fold your pants, hang up your shirts

A collection of jackets

Leather and suede, silk and satin, linen and wool

A red latex trench coat

An embroidered silk bomber, gold with a dancing crane

A black suede fringed biker jacket that mom wore in the ’80s, gold angel pin on the left shoulder

Brown corduroy and a white fleece collar, from a friend who moved away

Put away your makeup

Your tools and brushes

Liquids and powders

Fifty shades of lipstick, fifty shades of shadows

Away into boxes

Organize your shelves

A treasury of National Geographic magazines going back to the ’60s

A silver leather-bound compilation off the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice from middle school

Slim, worn-out picture books

Escape

Listen to music and sing your heart out

Learn the words as you go

Doesn’t matter if it sounds good

Eagles, Elton, and Bowie

5 o’clock

The sky warms with color

Put on shorts and shoes

Let’s go for a walk

The sun will set

I go to the sea