Photo by Elli O

Your checklist of firsts

A poem

They say progress is happiness
Well how did it feel
To crumple your checklist of firsts
And leave it on my couch

Accomplished? Ecstatic?
Motivated for what’s next?
It’s a sweet thing to see the ink
Dried and discarded

First isn’t last, unfortunately
But you live, you learn, and hey,
Ruin is necessity
And at least you got it out of the way

You move forward
Step past the casualty
So casually entrust the sting
To whoever, whatever remains

And now I have my own list
Your irresponsible tongue
Your sloppy fingers
Your wasteful love

You’re wasteful, love
But congratulations on your progress