• RISING EARLY
    by UC Poika

    she rises early but lies in bed awhile
    and tries not to think of him the way he is
    in the battles she has heard that he might be,
    prepared for the worst but hoping the best will come
    as she clings to her bed she tries to catch a smile,
    recalling his growls like the king of the species
    that crowds in beside her and sets his passions free,
    sensing him now as if a psychic medium
    she feels his loving arms, his hands, his breath
    and all that made her man the lover he was
    and wishes he were there to love her to death
    and wonders why the Lord does what He does
    as she buries visions of him in some desert camp
    and with fear in her tears, turns out their bedroom lamp.