Awaiting Dawn Poem by bob barci

After the card game ended at 3,
I let the cat out, the same way it came in -
the window.
In my room, down the hall,
I changed into the moccasins
I use as slippers.
Back in the lounge I cleared the table.
The empty beer bottles went in front of the owner's door.
The ashtray emptied - to make room for new.

The night arrived on the way into town.
Now I wait for dawn.

Awaiting dawn in this quiet place
I investigate each amplified sound.
A car stops nearby - the closing of car doors - movement.
I should get up and see,
but I await the dawn.
The cat cries somewhere nearby.
Is it the cat, or my stomach growling?
Still waiting at 4: 35,
I started to wonder if I should bother.
Who knows what the rest of the day will bring?
How long will I last this time?
I glance out the window to notice a change.
The night's black sky is now a definite deep blue.
Should I record the dawn on film?
The squeaky room door may waken someone.
I can now definitely see the clouds.
If I record the dawn on film from within the lounge,
the noise of the camera may, again, waken someone.
The deep blue sky is now several shades lighter.
Doors leading to the outside make too much noise
and my anxiousness will make much more.
Standing by the door, I can still see the full moon
and hear the first chirpings of the birds.
The surrounding buildings are in plain view at 5: 15
and the morning sky brightens by the minute.
At 5: 25, the sky takes on a faint orange tint in places.
I begin to cheer it on, almost forgetting that I am the only one
still up.
Changing seats again, I can definitely see white clouds turning to orange.
Out the door, with its squeaks, I go,
to find it still a bit too chilly,
so back in I come.
Orange streaks giving way to orange glow,
indicating the rising of the sun.
At 5: 50, there's light blue sky dotted by orange and white clouds.

Now that it's day, I'll wait for the light to burn into night.