the morning ritual

after retrieving

the newspaper and a jug

of milk from

the front porch,

in my boxer shorts,

i wait for water

to boil

before pouring it over

a sleeve

of coffee grounds,

i do some push ups

on the kitchen floor,

a few sit ups.

i stretch, i yawn, i moan.

like a broken ballerina.

i feel as if might break

in two. i swallow

a few aspirins with

a gulp of sink water,

then turn

on the radio.

it's a commercial

for a senior home.

how do they know?