The Avenue Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

The Avenue

it is a delight to get up early, say, six o'clock
the day smells fresh and the Avenue so busy at day time
looks comely and the many commercial banks look coy
as do the hair salons, nail bars and the yoga club.
it is is a wealthy neighbourhood, my wife cuts my hair
and she goes to a modest hairdresser in a part of the town
more modest.
Why I can´t understand is why people sleep so late
get up at ten when the best part of the day is over, dormant
under sceptical duvet breathing in the stale air
of slumber that has lasted too long.
Coffee is right in the morning I get mine at the petrol station
I drink my coffee and talk to no one
and the dogs taking their owner for a stroll have stopped
barking at me wagging of tails instead.