John Lazear Okrent: “This Morning”

I pulled a pair of my wife's underwear
from our dog's ass. Yes,
a number of my days have begun like this.
It is early. The city is soft. The sky
looks like sugar-water. 
All the east-facing windows catch fire. 
In their secrets, people are waking 
cotton-mouthed and empty-
handed and reaching.
Each day begins with an erection—
I mean, each day begins with a question
and the ten thousand things,
each one a suggestion 
of another, uncounted thing.
Surface from sleep with the sunken treasure 
of breath, call it yours. 
The sidewalk braces for the heat 
which will come and lay its dogsbody down.
I rise early because I am my brother's keeper
as well as my dog's. 
Come on, dog, greet the day! 
I know a fire hydrant that's expecting you 
and a coy, little breeze 
waiting to be coaxed along
by your reaffirming snout.