“The Rhythm of the Day”

Wednesday, November 26, 2025--Poetry Day 26

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

“The Rhythm of the Day”

The rhythm of the day depends
on the time of day you wake up.
For me, the rhythm of the day
starts early, probably because
that’s what time we had to rise
as kids and milk the cow,
feed the pigs, chickens, and horses,
and then get ready for school
all before the bus came.
My mom didn’t start driving
until I was about 14,
so it was get to the bus
or walk seven miles to school
one way, which was a bit challenging.

Now, the rhythm of the day starts out
early still, for stretching, reading,
studying, and then exercising
all before 9:00 a.m. or 10:00.
Instead of breakfast being
at the crack of dawn, now
it is later around 10:00
and lunch around 3:30 or so
and then a bit of healthy snacking
along the way until bed.

In between, it's about writing,
reminiscing, working in the yard,
taking out the trash, raking leaves,
catching up on the journal,
serving, teaching, and doing
things I want to do at my own pace.

The rhythm of the day continues
its joyful cadence as it has always done
although the melodic notes
may be different pitches
during each moment of the day.