Like everything, “waking up” evolves.
The sodden infant wakes and cries for food
The avid schoolboy jumps from bed, resolved
To breakfast, meet his mates, head off to school.
The college girl may groan—that paper’s due.
The Prof may sigh; he has to grade the quiz
By nine o’clock; and businessmen eschew
Their coffee, dreaming bonus-building tricks.
Some wake to days of opportunity
They work and garden, often volunteer—
They revel in each day’s activity;
Spend evenings with hors d’oeuvres and foamy beer.
At eighty-three, back pinched, joints scored with grit,
I wake and moan: “Another day—oh shit!”
(8/5/13)