Early Morning

occasionally a squirrel

falls out of the maple

onto my roof

thump

and in that instant

the squirrel is still

before it scampers away

I am fully awake

usually my waking begins

with the birds

feeding their young

in the yew

under my window

I become aware of

the chirping

and

slowly

aware of

the sound of the rain

if there is rain

the sound of the wind

if there is wind

and then aware of

the snuggled-in warmth

as I lie

curled

under the comforter

aware of

my skin

the feel of the sheets

and perhaps even aware

of sunlight

on the other side of

my eyelids

and abruptly aware of

the possibilities for breakfast

and what day this is

which is when I give up

and admit I'm awake

and get up

deliberately

into morning