Checklist

Feet firmly planted
directly over the line
between the lost and found;
back arched, spine rim-rod straight;
head burning high,
held up by pride,
eyes fastened ahead -
Check.

Expressionless face
without tear-stained cheeks;
controlling emotions
lips that don't speak.
Bags under eyes,
not a pretty sight
mouth set straight in a line -
Check.

Useless pretenses were
no longer needed
when prettied up lies
left us defeated.
We argued and fought
to keep us alive
and it wasn't enough -
Check.

So here we are standing
two pieces in place
back at the starting line
at the end of our race.
We ran the last mile
on this last stretch of road
now let's stop running,
there are places to go.
Were we good while we lasted? -
Check.

So now it's good-bye,
the parting of ways,
no more pretending
we can make it okay.
Our hearts were too perfect
to be evenly matched,
and love isn't something
to be grown and then hatched.
But we'll both be alright
when we leave here today,
which brings us to this -
Checkmate.

Copyright 2009 S. Sieglaff