warming up

it takes awhile to wake up.
to stretch, unstiffen
the bones, the muscles that
have shortened
during sleep.
it takes some time
to shake the cobwebs loose,
to get the down the hall,
the steps,
holding onto the rail,
watching carefully
where your next foot goes.
it takes awhile to
warm up to the phone,
to answer calls, to make
calls, to say the things
we need to say
on Christmas day. another
hour, another cup
of coffee, after the paper
the news, a walk,
then i'll be up to it.