He wakes early

Before dawn breaks

No alarm sounds 

Except in his head

Dressing fast

Grabbing his camera

Outside air tastes good

Camera and tripod assembled

Anticipation, physics and beauty

The sun will rise 

At a precise known time

But the colors are dictated by nature

Clouds might be illuminated 

Or can block off the sun

Wind changes the water

From a mirror to a raging sea

The earth spins 

Light bathes the dark sky

Clouds tinted orange

Still water is his reflective canvas

Time to capture images

Camera remote fires rapidly

In an empty theatre 

Only witnessed by him and the birds 

Tidal waves of colors flood the sky

Diamond flash of sun erupts center stage

This opera performs daily 

Avian choir sings

More camera clicks 

Transient images captured

On a silicone chip

To be engraved in his mind

Sun climbs higher 

Sunrise is over

He goes inside 

Climbs back in bed

She sleeps soundly

He downloads images

Post processing

Laptop keyboard clicks

Picks out one shot

She wakes bleary eyed

Staring briefly at his screen

A smile confirms

Sunrise is now in her mind’s eye

She sleeps more

Dreaming of retail therapy

Lunch with girlfriends 

The alarm clock sounds

Arms swinging to kill it

“I hate mornings” she bleats

No memory of sunrise in her mind

He tries to understand why

Life Brings daily wonders

Until death

He prayed for at least one more sunrise

She went shopping