By Dawn

everyday life, memoir, memory, motherhood

A harp heralds in morning
but I often slap it for a snooze
before finding the balance to leave the bed,
my cozy nighttime womb.

And with steps I’ve swallowed
like my first sips of stale water,
I find my preteen daughter––
a crumbled cookie
in her silvery pajamas,
and I shake her free from
cookie cutter dreams,

before reaching into the heavens
to give my cherub
a kiss on both cheeks.
We greet as if we haven’t spoken
in many weeks.

Each morning, a family reunion.

Truth is,
coffee will be made without us.
Sandwiches were sacked the night before.
Prior to a blink from Mister Sun,
we’re dressed, fed, and
filing out the front door,
paths forged in sleep forgotten.

Cover Art: “Breakfast in Bed” by Mary Cassatt

Yusuf “Morning Has Broken”

9 responses to “By Dawn”

msjadeli

What a wonderful poem, Katie. The idea and the manifestation.

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1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Lisa. These early mornings sure wear us down. But, we have summer just around the corner.
  
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  1. msjadeli
    
    You’re welcome, and indeed!
    
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lifelessons

Love the poem and the song…

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1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Judy. My children truly make the mornings joyful.
  
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johnlmalone

a wonderfully warm re-creation of a familiar domestic scene; stanza two is a stand-out —

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1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thanks, John. Mornings are warm here now, making it easier to get the body going.
  
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  1. johnlmalone
    
    lucky you 🙂 of course, it’s the opposite here 😦
    
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Wholeness Chronicles

Standing ovation to this poem great, my namesake, the aroma of Dawn .
Thank you and love your work.

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