Waking Without Alarm

By Karen Paul Holmes

a day without obligations
slivers of silver spilling from the shades
a small ceremony of jasmine tea
in the Japanese pot
ten minutes of Qi Gong, twenty rubbing Watson’s belly
in the evening, a pang of regret for a lazy day
then remembering
I deserve a chance to do something or nothing
innate joy rising
and Watson, smiling, asleep in his basket.

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