morning antagonist.

Pour the coffee. 

Add cream, fast as you can, and

watch as it creates an instant mushroom-cloud effect in the

drink's midnight center; a plume of whitish smoke that

greedily envelopes the former dank liquid.

Add a hasty stream of sugar, an off-white

waterfall of grains that tumble in and

stir, stir like mad with your spoon, toss it into the sink before

he can notice the shiny bowl of the implement and beg, pulling roughly on your leg hair,

your ears too finely tuned to the whine he floats up toward your aching head, your shoulders bent forward in a premature aging curl, gulping the too-hot coffee and scalding the rear half of your craggy tongue

the same tongue that you hold, painfully, in order to prevent it from lashing about,

aiding you in a combat

you wish to refrain

from participating in.

You tell your tongue to remain in its stead, instead, you go toe-to-toe

with the morning beast

with the tormenting voice

that lives in the mourning space of your head,

you tell it to quell it to shut the fuck up so as to navigate the waters of the early day without involving a row.

It is a difficult place, this morning space, it is cluttered and the cobwebs are miles long and wide and deep, they are the hammocks that swing, the only objects that remain unfettered in the space so jam-packed DAMMIT the jam just dripped on your foot and you look about,

praying for a clean cloth to still inhabit the countertop.

Comments

[Nancy]

I feel what you experience in the morning. But there is no way ever that I could express it as eloquently as you.

You make the jam dripping on the foot seem romantic.

[Kevin Charnas]

Ummm...this sounds vaguely familiar.

[Ruth Dynamite]

I read the first two lines, then backed away from the computer and got myself a cup-o-joe. I'm with you, Deb. I know the feeling well.

[Janice]

but there never is a clean cloth. just one that your husband left in a rotting heap in the sink.

new here - from Jenny's

[bubandpie]

I thought of this post this morning while I waiting for the coffee to brew and battled my morning demons. I'm trying to figure out the proper title to dub you for all your posts like this one: Mistress of the Mundane? Queen of the Everyday? Hmm, these all sound vaguely like drag queen titles. Anyway. Great post.

[Andrea]

You filed this in 'obviously pathetic attempts at literary achievement'. No, that just won't do. How 'bout this: 'blowing people out of the water with my words, one post at a time'.

I want a cup of coffee now.

[NotThatTara]

Mmmm, coffee. My husband and I love the moment that the cream explodes back up to the top, too--that's when you know you've added enough.

I really should try to wake up before my son does in order to prepare myself for the day, but he gets up so damn early that I can never manage it. You've perfectly captured that morning struggle.

[Mommy off the Record]

Lately, I've been feeling like this morning, noon and night. Great post. I'm off to get my coffee now...

[Her Bad Mother]

You tell it to quell it to shut the fuck up...

Yes.

[Jenny]

Yes. And yes.

I can't say anymore but I wish you'd stop bugging my house.

Also, you used the word "row" correctly. This is why you are my best friend in the whole wide world.

[wordgirl]

I don't drink coffee either, but this post sums up why I'm NOT a morning person.

[Sunshine Scribe]

I don't even drink coffee either but you had me salivating. And smiling. You are so damn talented woman!

[Mayberry]

I don't even drink coffee, but I liked that. Very much.

[something blue]

You make me feel feisty and I'm desperate for a steaming cup of java.

I'm captivated and I hang off your every word. Love it!

[motherbumper]

damn... you nailed it to the wall.

[toyfoto]

That is so beautiful. Really, really.

[Domestic Chicky]

Delicious. And yet another reason I NEED to wake up before my doodz. But it comes so early!!

[Mrs. Chicky]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has mornings like that.

[MelanieinOrygun]

Bravo. And amen. Perfect.

[Jenny]

I just wanted to post to prove to you that I really do read your stuff when if first comes up...I just need to digest it before I respond.

I'll be back.

[Dawn]

How did you get inside my mind for the last two mornings, as I tried not to yell at child, at Husband, at MIL???

Why can no one understand that silence is the best way to warm me up???

[stayathomemotherdom]

Beautiful! Ha Ha...