in the cool of the morning
I feel the echo
of lake mornings

walking down the steps
towel slung over my shoulder
feet firmly set to the beach

iIcan smell the lake
before my eyes
are even open

and a flannel shirt
is my shield
against the cold

but nothing can stop me
from heading to the water
not even the chill

now,
decades later
i head to the patio with lake mindedness

a flannel
as my shield
from the cold

a blanket
for extra
protection

hot coffee in hand
and memories
of times with you