Inside I alone am awake
Silence is deafening until the computer suddenly hums
An enormous fan nearly drowning all else out.
Despite its noise I hear so much more

Outside are birds, finches, swallows and crows
Perhaps a raven an occasional duck
But only rarely, and only with luck.

Inside are snores from at least two sources
First comes my husband’s which sound like several horses
Then there is Hank, fuzzy and fat, snoring far louder than your average cat.

The computer fan whizzes, its heat on my lap, the couch is warm too
The light is bright with the promise of dawn, and daylight shines through
that open screen door providing a lackluster view
Of another building.

It’s Wonderful to be here, alone in this quiet.
Too early to leave, and I wouldn’t abide it.