The Sunrise

I missed the sunrise this morning 

Waking early at 530

Reading the news in bed

Finally dressing at 630

Layer after layer 

It would be cold 

On the shore of the sound

My wife woke as I was about to leave and asked me to get her a cup of coffee

The night before I’d rubbed her feet

The day before I learned she needed 

to tuck her sweater into her jeans 

Because of the weight she’d lost

Before that I had helped her into the car

on the way to the hospital on Christmas Day 

When I approached the door to our house

holding the cup in my hand

a few sugars on top of the lid

nestled in a napkin 

The smile on her face

was more beautiful than any sunrise

That I have witnessed or could imagine.

And if my hopes and dreams are realized

I will see her lips turn into a smile

and her love for me shine like the rays of a rising sun

for many years to come.