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Banish Morning Fear

Text of Poem

When he woke at dawn, it was his habit to think
each new day offered another adventure for him;
he smiled at himself, at his age to be concerned
with such thoughts, but still he liked the wonder of them.

But today, as he lay half-roused, a finger of fear
troubled his mind as if the morning’s surprise
might point out a sorrow born ahead of its time—
just then his wife stirred, opened her comfortable eyes.

First Line
When he woke at dawn, it was his habit to think
Original Pub Location
Original Publication Date
1980
Original Citation
Modern Maturity 23.4 (Aug.-Sept. 1980) 20.
Complete Poems
399
Word Count
77
Poetic Form
open
Themes