Updike

[Steve]

Updike,
The coffee bubbled
Blistered, brewed in its corner of the kitchen.
The cat moaned, meowed
Stretched on the carpet and cleaned himself
In preparation for breakfast.

My lover slept her last half hour of warmth
Before slipping from bed, yawning
Stretching, cleaning up for breakfast.

I sat with my java potion and listened
To the news, watched the announcements marching
Along the bottom of the screen. That’s when I read
You had died.
I moaned, smoked and fasted;

Well, I didn’t make breakfast.