Second Draft

Sleep stumbles, tumbles out
Shoes out the door
lift down and the open air.

The morning dark kisses
nerve ends on bare legs
pin-pricks awareness

Alone. Dark. But aware.
A zephyr whispers on bare arms.
Almost autumn.

Above the sky. Darkslateblue.
life's mysteries. One. Two. Three.
Three bird calls. Waking. 5.15.

I walk to escape what ennui
there is in milliseconds slowed down
creeping slowly

till blood flows through
touching tips and skin
chanting life buzzing

now awakening that longing
as through the dark stairs of
eight floors of controlled panting
and the darkest shade of blue

I climb out into the light.