Before Five

Before Five by Jack A.S. Dunce I opened up the shop at dawn As I usually did, Day in, day out, for years and years, Since my days as a kid. 'Twas just a matter of habit, Its reason lost in time, Forgotten in the grind of days, Immersed in living's grime. Only the stragglers from last night continue on roaming -- Either too drunk or overworked-- These streets of the morning. And none of them ever came in, Each one a passerby, Except a lady who came each day Before five exactly. Each day she bought the same old thing, Nothing more, nothing less. I had not seen her for awhile; 'twas time to reassess. Before the day began, I went out to play chess. --🏵️-- ©️pgmr 06/12/2025 *Inspired partly by nurse @Cee 💉 🩺 crazy long work shifts