I’m
going to make it

worth
your while

to
get up this fine morning.

I
woke up early,

a
strange thing for me,

you
were sensibly still fast asleep.

I
crept about quietly

threw
myself in the shower

and
brushed my teeth

–
you didn’t stir.

On
went my clothes,

I
even blow dried my hair

–
and still you slept.

I
got myself together:

list,
money, phone,

grabbed
my trolley

and
off I went.

Soon
I was in the bustle

of
expectant shoppers,

early
risers,

vibrating
the air.

Senses
alive,

quickly
I spied

coffee
and venison

lamb
and beef.

Milk,
cream,

olive
oil, spuds,

mushies
and toms,

apples
and pears,

all
of it locally grown.

And
then

I
saw them,

and
I knew it would be so

– my
breakfast surprise,

my
bribe to help you rise.

Strawberries!

New
season,

glowing
like rubies,

more
precious than gold.

I
gather them in

next
to my cauli,

carefully
nestled

with
asparagus spears.

My
trolley now laden

I
depart with my brownies

–
save them for later

when
we’re reading the paper.

Home
again,

and
still you sleep.

I
macerate the strawberries,

I
pop some ground almonds

into
the pancake mix

for
a bit of a kick.

And
now all that’s left,

is
you,

my
sweet.

Arise
and join me.

Let’s
eat.

©
Palitja Moore, text and image (apricot blossom), 2015