Ten Minutes

Ten minutes in the morning.
Ten minutes until you have to get out of bed.
Ten minutes to lay there and take stock of things.
Ten minutes to lie there with your eyes closed listening to morning sounds.
Ten minutes enjoying the silence knowing your kiddo is still sleeping.
Ten minutes trying to identify the birds you hear chirping in the pre-dawn morning.
Ten minutes wondering how the sound of big trucks can carry all the way to your ears from the highway.
Ten minutes feeling where your body needs to stretch and then stretching deeply.
Ten minutes to breath in and out. Breath in the light, exhale the darkness.
Ten minutes to enjoy the softness of the sheets still cool where your body was not.
Ten minutes to lie still and pretend you are still sleeping.
Ten minutes to try and remember the great dream you were having.
Ten minutes to contemplate calling in "well" to work.

slowly open your eyes
make the mental list
one big sigh
slide the legs over the edge
touch the feet on the floor
and wish for those ten minutes back