morning in summer

This poem was written during a poetry workshop as an homage to the gorgeous Self Portrait of John Lee Clark. Indulge in Pádraig’s reading of the poem and associated wisdom in this episode of Poetry Unbound.

i push the pillow over and straighten my neck over the cold mattress underneath 

i shuffle my hair and try to remember how glorious it is
to have awoken yet again

i take off my t-shirt and turn off the ac and open the drapes and the windows to welcome the bright warm air outside

for the pigeons encamping on my balcony i am a known threat

for the coffee beans i am a hand that turns the grinder’s handle with a steady grip

for the coffee cup i am no longer a pair of lips seeking the magic of the black juice

rather a pair of hands that did their best to put it back together after the stormy lover had left