I wake with one eye swollen
and mantra in the mirror
I am seen and appreciated
loved and deserved –
The swelling is going down
and I walk into the early morning
down the road to the river
where the dog runs
lopsided, making a job for himself
and above a small sliver of moon
tempting me, blood soon
I relish her, gaze south to clouds lit up
by a sun that might as well
never show, the swelling is going down
and wind glides from one side
of my face to the other
Despite my lonesome,
I am loved and beautiful
and avoid looking at mirrors
or windows too closely
instead watch the dog
lazily chase a squirrel
who is also, likely, a good boy
and this time I gaze west
where the logged out hillside
glows softly and I can see
ocean one thousand miles off
in the brightening sky, I breathe
the cool morning in,
the swelling is going down
On the walk home the dog
listens well and I gaze south and west
and the moon softens
taking rest in the blueness of
her bed, at home
I look at myself
beautiful, loved, seen,
the swelling goes down so far
my eyes vanish
falling from my face
I cook eggs, alone meal
the dog has eaten and sleeps
now in his chair
The room is cold, I step outside
and feel the heat on my skin
The wind rifles across my body
and around like a cocoon
This I hadn’t noticed before
I am suspended, it is warm
and I see no sun at all
recent 