Rain and Breakfast

Wind rankles the panes
like a giant inhaling
for his birthday wish–
and I wonder if the house could
lift off its foundation like Dorothy’s did–
spin across the soccer fields and coffee shops
and set me down in a new, techni-color life.
I contemplate an upgrade to sparkly shoes as
I slide on sensible mules,
amble downstairs,
dreaming of oatmeal with berries
and toast with apricot jam.
Or maybe strawberry.
The decisions are few in the morning,
the mission simple—
break the fast, nourish the body,
the day hasn’t yet dug its fingers into
the nape of my neck
demanding to know how
the next 1,440 minutes will be spent.
I lean against the wall
watching sparrows shiver
in the apple tree,
and wait for the toaster to ding.

-from the book Rolling Up the Sky – a collection of poems by Linda Flaherty Haltmaier.

 

About the Poet:
Linda Flaherty Haltmaier is an award-winning poet and screenwriter. She is the winner of the Homebound Publications Poetry Prize for her full-length collection, Rolling up the Sky (April, 2016). Her debut chapbook, Catch and Release, was published by Finishing Line Press (2015). She was named a finalist for the Princemere Poetry Prize and her poetry has appeared in journals and anthologies including Canopic Jar, Mad Swirl, Poeming Pigeon, and more.

 

Poetry Breakfast accepts submissions of poetry and poetry related creative non-fiction year-round.  See our Submission Guidelines page for details on submitting your work.

 

Photo by ConDesign.