Habit

Habit

Ron Riekki

for Sally Brunk 
& Gerard Manley Hopkins 

Even coughing, now, I have gratitude, for 
the ability, the rapidity of air, of life, forced 
in and out, but here, now, how lucky I am, 
even with, this summer, two aunts, an uncle, 
a best friend, all dead, how fast everything 
can happen, the grace of flesh, the way my 
face, right now, is all fevered, but how lucky 
to be in bed, a soft bed, a good bed, waiting 
for the moment when I’ll have the energy 
to rise, some Sunday, soon, I suspect, to 
pull back the curtains, see the sun crowning 
the hill outside, the hill all cinematographic, 
and my eyes, yes, thank God for our eyes. 

---

Ron Riekki
Author & Poet

Ron has been published in Threepenny Review, Bellevue Literary Review, Rattle, and many more literary journals. His most recent book is My Ancestors are Reindeer Herders and I Am Melting in Extinction (Loyola University Maryland's Apprentice House Press). Right now, he's listening to The Growlers' "Black Memories." You can follow Ron on twitter at @RiekkiRon.

Photography by Ece Ebrar