Poem: The first thing

The first thing

is what is needed,
is obligations.
That is what comes.
There is not appreciation
or expression of affection
or gladness
about anything else.
That is all left aside,
is pushed off for later times.
The thing to know
is what is required,
what is needed, demanded,
expected.  It is there
before the rest.  No,
that is a lie.
The rest will never come.

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