A Rude Awakening

Every single, blessed morning My dog barks at our back door She has to go out and relieve herself At exactly half past four It doesn't matter when we went to bed Or how late that we stayed up I am greeted each morning with a rude awakening In the form of loud barking from our pup I don't know how she can exactly be At the same time every morn Even adjusting when we change the clocks Twice a year I would have sworn This morning there was no barking alarm For the first time in fifteen years I did not sleep in - I was awake all night Covering my pillow with a stream of tears