Sunrise And Over Easy Poem by Bill Galvin

From my window I could see the headlights
Climbing the mountain in the pre-dawn gray
For to be the first to see sun’s light this day.

Why not, I say to no one in particular,
And gather myself to make the pilgrimage.

I stop to make a hot tea in the lobby,
And get to the site with no seconds to spare.
Scores of Nature lovers, with cameras and without,
Huddle and brace against brisk 50 degree breezes.

The clear morning does bring out the best
For the camera and the mind,
As the sun rises from the Downeast coastline.

Duty done, a procession heads down the winding road,
And as most turn off here and there, among us
There are hunters on the prowl for the morning coffee;
But at 5: 30, there is no place in town open.

Then, of course, the used-to-be-locals-only breakfast place;
Now the destination of all who learned the secret,
With lines out onto the sidewalk after nine…
But this is locals and sunrise peepers time.

An end stool at a small counter for five is ok by me.
I can hear the three near me jabbering their usual.
“Had ta cut a shahk off owah bait line yest’dy.”
“Nah, that don’t hurt him none.”
“But latah we bubbled up a pod a whales
That musta been followin’ us. That was fun.”

These places are rare because they stay downscale
And still know how to make eggs over easy.
Thick homemade wheat toast and hash fill the bill.
The coffee is still bad, hot, and strong…
The flatware the same as I used here 40 years ago;
And waitresses still friendly; some of them the same, too.
“Was everything OK? ” “Absolutely. Haven’t been here
In quite a while. Just as good as I remembah.”
“Well, thanks for comin’ back, ” as she writes the tab.
I hear remarks. “Alright, Jack, that’s enough.”
“Well, you nevah thank US for comin’ in.”

I look over, and all four of us are winking and grinning.
Good and simple and pleasant and nice.

7-16-2015