It’s Morning at Cloud Walking

9:40am
Cloud Walking
Back patio
Push open the door
Ahh
A perfect, crisp
Fifty-nine degree morning
The sunlight barely kisses the tops of the trellises
Steam slowly rising from my cup
Me and my dog

Inside, “Hi Kath”
River pours a latte
“It’s abstract”
Then mine
A perfectly made
Whole milk cappuccino
An indigo cup
With the little ridges
No lid, please

Door jingles
Friends enter
“Good morning!”
Another jingle
“Can I pet your dog?”
A little pat
A little wag

Someone
To me
“You look nice”
Some days
More than others
I need to hear that

Friends, acquaintances, familiar faces
Fill the front
Fill the back
Fill the tables and chairs
Working, chatting, reading
A familiar hum

It’s morning at Cloud Walking
It’s morning
And I’m home

Photography by Jacob Titus