Morning Ritual

And in the morning I rise early
the sun still rolling over beneath her blankets
cold floorboards shock my feet
the night's effort of stubble paints my face
I make coffee to remind my body that I might need it later
outside the bunch grass meets me with the cool morning air
and the smell of salt
cold sand greets my toes when I step off the old wooden porch
and down to the beach

The sun opens one lazy eye on the far horizon
painting orange the underside of blue grey clouds
I strip off my t-shirt and boxer briefs
and wade into the chill surf

I am mostly water
one with the tide
foam caress and the push-pull of waves
rocking me awake
cold makes bumps on my skin
my jaw shakes and then clenches tight against the wind

Nature's caress is not a caress of comfort
but of life
I will take that life back to you
slumbering in your dreams
back to the little house where I will shave
wash the salt from my body
gently move your legs aside
and wake you slowly
from the center outward

Later, we will finish the coffee
Talk of dreams and which groceries we need
Tomorrow will be the same
If I am lucky.