!Morning has broken
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agk's diary 
29 June 2022 @ 12:40 UTC
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written on GPD Win 1 via puTTY
in the backyard
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I love the hymn morning has broken. A little girl 
on the east-facing hill behind the church, I sang 
it at dawn Easter, one of a small congregation in 
bluejeans pastored by my dad. He, in white vest-
ments, flung water on us from an aluminum bowl with 
an evergreen branch. The sun rose behind rugged 
cross and cowfield. We went home til the dress-up 
service.

Last couple mornings with my little girl been 
sweet. It cooled some. I washed dishes from house-
mate's late-night omelet; made porridge with her on 
my hip watching intently. WSKV's bluegrass and 
gospel show played softly from the Baofeng UV-5R on 
the windowsill.

 This morning's porridge
 -----------------------
Boil water in Meme's little green enamelware pot
Toss in chia seeds
Grind steel-cut oats and a little flaxseed to flour
    with the coffee grinder (~5 sec)
Whisk flour and a packet of gelatin into the pot
Simmer, whisking, til thick but watery (5-10 min)
Serve over pad of fancy butter and frozen berries
Wash baby soon as she done so it don't turn to glue

 * * *

After breakfast dishes I ground coffee to pourover 
brew for Evy when she wakes; steeped golden monkey 
imperial black tea for me. In the backyard, now my 
little girl splashes in her tiny pool, now digs 
dirt with the trowel. 

Focused and serious she bellows, mouth closed, at
dirt she's moving. Morning birds sing in woods up 
the hill to my right. When she indicates she wants 
some I give her sips of delicious tea from the good 
china Cassie gave me. 

Soon Evy'll be up to her coffee, sun will find this
corner of the backyard, and the tractor will dig a 
new grave in the cemetery next door. Morning birds 
will fall silent, crows will caw, dogs bark, Evy'll 
hang our scrubs on the line to dry, and I'll be in 
school with only short breaks through 9pm.

Til then I'll pull nutsedge and Virginia creeper 
weeds from the garden, sip tea, and hum with the 
radio.