the sun shaded
by clouds
the air cool
on skin
the cat curious
of the crow
who hops
on the railing
to say good morning
as we sit
on the balcony
this day
morning
another morning another day
the cat curls
in my lap
as I watch the trains
roll by
while the sun peeks
through the clouds
over the hills
to the east
another morning
another day
here
in Aliağa
being optimistic
rooster crows
somewhere
in the darkness
being optimistic
about the dawn
Anna rises
in the morning
Anna rises
naked
to stretch
arms encircling light
as the room
breathes her scent
then exhales her
into the world
night to morning, Maltepe
there are horns
tires screeching
a shout or two
dogs barking
a rooster crows
somewhere
toward morning
then light
fills the sky
as morning comes gradually
coffee
spiked with Bailey’s
in my cup
gulls sail by
to greet me
mist rises
off Princes’ Islands
as morning comes
gradually
lighting the world
sometimes in the morning
sometimes
in the morning
the islands so clear
on a sea so calm
one can almost forget
the horns
the explosions
the chanting
from the night
before
and this world
in transition
turning
rapidly turning
once again
Maltepe morning
sipping coffee
six floors up
gazing seaward
the gulls
gliding by
with promises
of flight
6am, Thursday morning, Maltepe, Istanbul
I stand eating
corn on the cob
on my balcony
at six
in the morning
gazing at the Princes’ Islands
basking in the sun
listening to gulls
flying overhead
feeling peace
descend
on my world
Maltepe morning
early morning
sun creeps up
and lights
the world
as coffee
opens eyes
to watch
Leonard Durso 