POETS START EARLY
The neighbor walking her dog at 7 am
has reason to believe she is the first
to take in this soft summer morning,
but I’ve been watching since 6 am
and she has missed a sunrise,
a freight train whistle, a young buck,
two does and three spotted fawns,
hummingbirds and nuthatches,
squirrels playing tag in the wet grass,
three or four rabbits feasting on clover
and a whole hillside of chipmunks.
My writing routine is to get out of bed between 5:00 – 6:00 am, make coffee, and then sit in a reclining chair which swivels to look out over the yard as I write. I like the view from my chair, as you can tell from this week’s poem. I have a study, too, but I usually reserve that room for revising, organizing and printing. Be well and, as Garrison Keillor often said, do good work. (Is Garrison Keillor sufficiently rehabilitated so that I can once again refer to him without fear of offending? I hope so; we spent many a cold Saturday night enjoying ‘Prairie Home Companion’ on NPR . . . back in the day.)
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A New Poem Every Monday
(tho’ sometimes life gets in the way)
Joseph Neely, all rights reserved
The Occasional Poem 
Well put, Joe. I’ve always been an early riser (5am this morning, and I’m writing this at 6…), so this poem hit home with me.
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Nothing like that soft morning light. It’s always so peaceful.
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THIS MADE ME chuckle! Something about the neighbor thinking she was the first but you had her beat and then listing all the things she missed! Love it! Now that I have been lucky enough to visit your house I know you have a great view of things.
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I guess it would be too obvious to title the poem: “The early bird” !
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I also am a lifetime early riser and very smug about it…absolutely the best time of the day!
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I’m so happy to reconnect with you Joe — or at least with your beautiful words. May I have your permission to attribute your poems in worship as appropriate? Blessings to you my friend–Cathi
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Yes, of course, that would be an honor. I hope you are well. I am working on putting together a book proposal (know any publishers or agents? haha) and will be celebrating 11 years of sobriety this month . . . you were there at the beginning. Blessings to you and yours as well. – Joe
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Won derful
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