Wake up and blow your nose
But keep the PJs on.
Email into work:
“Please excuse me today…”
…from time’s careful accounting.

Climb back into bed and
Consider the options. Perhaps you will
Wrestle back that feeling of what it was like
To approach an absolutely clean day
As a small someone, capable only of
Pouring yourself some cereal,
Reading yourself a book,
Mucking around with your watercolors
And enjoying
an untidy sense of wonder.

But keep in mind,
In order to get anything done today
(Especially if it involves watercolors),
You will have to stuff two tissues up your nose.
Otherwise you’ll drip.

Just convince yourself
You are a cartoon dragon
Exhaling majestic puffs of cottony smoke, or
A dwarven lord with an award-winning ’stache
That you keep proudly luxuriant, despite
The whitening effects
Of the passing years.