Dear LPG,

I think that we all go through a sort of early morning ritual where the confines of our reality need to be recalled as we wake up in the mornings, and there is no doubt that the horizons of our plans and thoughts have been limited somewhat over the past year because of the social and geographical limits that covid-19 has inflicted on them.

But while each day brings slight alterations to the processes that take us from opening our eyes each morning, to becoming fully functional and ready to face the day, I hope that the routine described in my poem might be recognised by some…

FIRST THINGS

Light on
Time checked.
Light off
Sleep again.
Wake and wonder
Light on.
Check time.
Up.
Two feet
On carpet.
Stand, walk
Open curtains.
Light off.
Dressing gown
On.
Downstairs
Carefully.
Hold banisters.
Enter kitchen
Radio on.
Food ready
Cat first
Me second.
Otherwise
Trouble.
Tea brewed.
One more
Day begun.
Maybe a walk
Today.

Foster Murphy