Poem: The Almost

The Almost

might be worse, might be.
It hurts, always,
anything besides 
the desired "yes"
will not bring anything
but more upset,
always that has been so
and I do not expect 
it will ever be otherwise.
Why would it change?
Even so, it may hurt more
to know it was so close
and still not enough.
It is no good
to find out
everything was done right,
was good, was recognized
as worthwhile,
just not quite enough
for the outcome
to be anything else
but the same again.
It will always hurt
when that is what comes of it.

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