Dave Bonta's short poem imagines a morning that arrives outside but never reaches the doctor. Daylight comes to the yard, yet night stays behind, as if posted at the door like a guard. The title, "Missed appointment," suggests the doctor has failed to show up for something, and the poem seems to answer why: the doctor is still stuck in darkness.
The speaker doesn't say what they feel outright. Instead, the details do the work. The doctor's rooms are sparse and worn: an old, painted dresser, a bad bed, and a clock "ready to shake," which makes time itself seem tense or about to break down. The mood is uneasy and gloomy, with a hint of exhaustion or even illness. Judging by the imagery, the doctor may be depressed or simply worn out, though the poem never says so. The speaker watches from a distance, noticing what is missing and letting the cramped, shadowy room explain the absence.