Hot water in the morning

With my fists
Half-heartedly
Balled up

(Without vigor
Enough to make
My knuckles white)

And stuffed
Into the pockets
Of my jeans

I lean my bony hip
Against
The marble countertop

And wait
For the hot water
In the kettle

It does
Eventually
Bubble audibly

I look up
At the cracks
In the ceiling

And exhale
In the dark
Of the kitchen

(We leave the lights off
To save
On electricity)

Before I can
Pour the water
Into my mug

I walk away
To write
This

August 08, 2021 at 09:37AM