I CAN'T DO WITHOUT COFFEE

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can start the day without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you overlook it when those who love you take it out on you when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong,

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor one,

If you can face the world without lies and deceit,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, sex, color, religion, national origin, preference or politics,

THEN you have almost reached the same level of development as your dog or cat.

Morning Love

Morning Love  

As I started to wake this morning,
   in that half-alert twilight sleep,
  I saw you in my mind's eye.

We stood facing each other, very close but not touching.
I leaned forward.
Taking your shoulders in my hands and pulling you toward me,
  I kissed you gently on the lips
  then whispered into your ear
  thoughts that I have wanted you to know since we first met.
Not for long distance, or even across the room:
  my lips to your ears.

We kissed again holding each other tightly,
  lost in our love.
No past, no future; just our moment alone together.