Rising early

I hear the paper boy outside

throwing the newspaper

I have to give him credit

everyday he comes on time

rain or shine

and he always hurls the paper

square in the center of the driveway

which in itself is quite a feat

I always hear the chug of his truck

the one-note plop of the chunked paper

as it hits the pavement

how adroitly he slings it

sidearm across the steering wheel

anticipating the angle and the timing

to get it just right

as good as any quarterback

then the race is on

down the street to chunk more passes

he has a front seat full of papers to deliver

but a small window to get it done

we wonder where he goes after that

once his fast-paced game is done

all his customers are still asleep

there are no fans to cheer his game

or applaud his amazing success

 

perhaps he just goes home

to read the paper.