Sunrise

I awake to the pre-dawn
Gray behind the pine branches
Outside our window with
Palms along the ridge,
She is sleeping with
The cat Ellie between us
The other cat Benny at
The foot of the bed
And our red dog Rosie
Shyly standing by the bed.
I pay the foot of the bed and
Rosie jumps up to curl quietly
As both cats hiss at her.
She still sleeps unaware of
Her pet audience as I flick on
My reading light to read and
Follow the maps of whatever
Book I put down last night
Long after she has
Fallen fast asleep.
As the room slowly brightens
I glance over at her
Expression and she
Opens one eye
Smiles at me
And we say
Good
Morning
As the sunrise
Clears the mountains
East of us and the
Sunlight pours
Into the room
Onto our
Bed
Full of pets.
Another day
Begins together,
Each happy to
Have good
Company,
The pack
Sleeps
Hunts
Eats
Together
Stronger for
Our friendship
Though only
She and I
Smile.