I used to talk to myself

I awaken early,
stumble into the bathroom,
wrap myself in a goofy bathrobe
large enough to keep the pickup warm,
and set about turning myself
into a semblance of humanity.

It is almost always dark.
I walk before the sun comes up.
Sometimes one of our cats
wanders in, assuming I can see
what they can; cat-eyed.

This morning I saw Annie,
vaguely, scarcely a shadow
on the bridge outside our bedroom door,
as she often is at that hour.

"Come on, Annie!" I said, quietly,
not wanting to awaken Mari.
"Puss, puss!" "Come on, Annie!"

She ignored me, as she often does.

The light was better when I came out.
I could see what had been only a shadow.

I had been talking to a watering can.

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