Five by Five

A Morning Ritual

One

The mind
Begins to stretch
And thoughts unwind their threads
You catch them all, gently spinning
A dream.

Two

Coffee —
The bitter taste
Unfurls upon your tongue
Lingering till it finds your heart:
Racing.

Three

It hums.
A blast of warmth
Tousles your damp hair.
And drapes you with its breath just like
A cloak.

Four

Gulping …
Swallowing down
Liquid clear as the glass
Lips pucker at the ugly scent —
Chlorine.

Five

Seated;
Contemplating
A tidy row of keys
At last your fingers stretch and grasp
A fugue.