Night/Morning

Stay up with Amy Losak as she shops and muses, part poem, part dream.

Twilight Zone rerun

Robert Redford’s dazzling grin

in pure black and white

cracking

the crust of night

tinnitus

cataracts softening the folds in Quincy’s craggy face

Even the birds are snoring. Even the young cat has settled down. She disappears into her shadow. I eye the silver sale on QVC. Love knot earrings —a steal at $40, a host toothily chirps.

Despite my drowsiness, I am tempted.

half-past midnight

setting my teeth on edge

Clear Choice ad

 The hosts are grinning. With their sculpted, squared nails, heavy eye make-up, chipper chatter, and studied, animated glam, they irritate me. And yet, their energy also inspires my envy. I would buy their elixir in a bottle.

up all night

alarmed about my arms

Crepe Erase ad

Now the birds start to stir. Winnie-cat stretches out into a crescent moon, fading but still fluorescent. She yawns, then paws at the worn rug. Her marble-green eyes glare pleadingly at me.

before dawn

something

shifts its weight

Her swaying belly-fur dusts the wood floor as she sashays into the kitchen. She softly meows for her breakfast.

Winnie knows that I will follow her.

I press the down arrow on the remote. I sit up like a Zombie, heavy-lidded, my shirt sticking to my stiffened back.

And I start my day.

morning boredom

I hit “Extra Strong”

On Mister Coffee

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Amy Losak is an award-winning short-form poet. Like her mother, Sydell Rosenberg (a charter member in 1968), Amy is a member of the Haiku Society of America. Amy and Syd’s collaborative chapbook, Wing Strokes Haiku (Kelsay Books), was released in 2022. Syd’s poetry chapbook (which Amy helped edit), Poised Across the Sky, came out in 2020 (Kattywompus Press). She also is an aspiring children’s author, represented by D4EO Literary Agency. Amy is also a veteran public relations consultant with decades of knowledge, skill, and experience. She and her husband Cliff have two cats, Winnie and Penny.

Amy's piece "Salad Days" appeared in Certain Age in 2025.

Image:

Purple haze by Moreno Matković

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