Love in the Morning

love in the morning should be discreet

lest children wake leave things incomplete

while red wing blackbirds trill saltmarsh questions

and a quince sprig touches the window sill

in the quiet of early morning when pollen

settles dry and dusty kiss her soft cheek

tenderly caress inside her night dress

often the sheet rucks where the bee sucks 

strong love on a soundless wooden frame fir bed

at one with the high tide and the rising sun

strong love rolling over still mounted still wed

at one with the morning and song birds calling

Richard M Russell (C) Dick Russell

                             2023