april 7AM

it was midday but the sun was low -
low & angled & sort of in the northeast.
trees reached bare-branched far into the street
with their long shadows.
a low haze dulled the sun's already dim efforts.

i entered this first winter day perhaps a bit overdressed
but not uncomfortably so,
to self-propell at a leisurely pace.
lah lah lah. taking it easy.

coming up the backside of the last hill
with the sun heating my cotton tee,
over the silence all i heard was the
tap-clap, tap-clap, tap-clap
of my steady but uneven gait.
i had to wonder if this gait is why
my left anklekneehip is always the one hurting.

but not today. no pains today. no issues. no worries.
tap-clap, tap-clap, tap-clap.
up the hill and into the winter midday
with the sun pretending it is april, 7AM.