stop the alarm honey
you don’t have to be at work for another hour
and you’re manly and can drive fast, right?
(though your body
waking under the Venetian blinds
twists like a crumpled bird)
they’re doing construction again
outside the window and I
keep waking up
and these bells keep running together and apart
and they make it hard
to drift away
come back to bed sweetie
why are you in the shower already
we have a half carton of eggs
and a coffee maker
and a phone to call sick and we have we
we wouldn’t have to step outside until tomorrow
close the damn window
don’t go out there are
big machines outside
and earth hungry jaws and wheels
and yellow tape waiting —
don’t go out.