the early morning stretch

as i lie

on the kitchen floor, doing

my early

morning stretching,

while waiting

for the coffee to boil,

i hear a series

of serious cracks in my

back

and shoulder.

breathe, i tell myself.

just breathe. but

my knees sound like crickets

and my

neck

refuses to turn from side

to side like

it used to.

it doesn't help when the cat

and dog

come by,

one on my spine and the other

licking my

face

growling for a snack.