I wake up to the soundless words
of repeated prayer and thanks
repeating, over and over somewhere above my sleeping self
I perform my daily rituals
silent movements to order and clean
water to replenish myself
and the day yawns into being
I look at the calendar
linking mind and memory
engaging the first gear
toward the long day ahead
I revisit the day just passed
the joys and petty irritations
all focused by the perfect light
of my life's tragic arc
I engage, again and again
moving, talking, thinking, writing
connecting
the spaces between us blinking
I visit the idea of tomorrow
and the days beyond
sending thoughts and hope
out into the darkness
to prepare my way
I fall asleep to the soundless words
of repeated prayer and thanks
repeating, over and over
leading me down to my rest.