A Morning View

I set out from the desk toward the wide living room windowsill to see what the morning looks like outside. Climbing up via the arm of a wooden chair took a few steady pulls, but the sill offered solid footing once I arrived. Between two terracotta flowerpots, I found a brass pocket compass lying flat. I knelt beside it, testing how its glass casing reflected the daylight and watching the delicate needle gently swing and settle toward the street. From up here, the neighborhood paths seem orderly and open, ready for walking.