From the collection And Don’t Come Back, 2021.
Wake Up
Like every other school day
I call you twice
then I climb the stairs
the picture of
how daylight meeting your eyelids
squeezed nose-wrinkled shut
can pull your face into a grin
even if you don’t mean it –
can make me smile, too
I twitch the blanket from your feet
Tickle your toes
just a brush of my fingers –
and you open your eyes
you protest
but you smile, too
for real
9/21/20
Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That? 
Such a sweet portrait. Sometimes those everyday moments are the most precious to recall.
Yes. And I am always interested in the transition between sleep and daytime life. It’s always like crossing a border or greeting a traveler, I feel.
Yes, I agree.
I was having such a pleasant dream early this morning about being in Italy–and then my cat woke me up. 🙂
Oh, that cat!
🙂
I think this poem is very touching in its portrayal of a simple but telling moment in a relationship. I sing show tunes loudly at my children if they are having trouble waking up in the morning. Definitely less gentle and less sweet.
But, it gets the job done, right? (I would love to see you doing this).
This brings back memories – of my mother waking me for school and of me doing the same for my sons!
Yes. I think it is a universal experience, almost.