Checklist for the End of the Visit (Checklist for the End of the World?)
OK let’s make sure you’ve got everything –
bee stings?
check
blood pressure?
check
tornados?
check
inflation?
check
war?
not having a pen when you need one?
check. Can you imagine?
Yeah. OK a flat tire on the back road?
a check
That you look in real life the same as you do on the self-checkout screen?
check. Don’t remind me.
ok. roller coasters?
check
forgetting trash day?
check
general birds?
Ew. Check.
the possibility that you had mono once and it’s going to compromise your immune system forever?
I did have mono and you know it. Check.
I’m just saying you could have gone to the doctor. Screwworms?
check
money?
check. I mean. Such as it is.
OK, keys?
yeah keys, check, phone’s here too
ok good because if anything is still here after you leave I’m gonna call you to come get it –
this is a small house, I don’t have room to keep a bunch of stuff.
I know. I worry about that too.
You worry too much
Too much. I know. I worry
I know. About that too. OK I love you. Be careful. Buckle up.
OK I love you. Lock your door.
OK. Call me when you get home.
OK. Call me if you need anything.
OK.
Ok
ok
9 thoughts on "Checklist for the End of the Visit (Checklist for the End of the World?)"
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most all of us live by checklists followed by the endless goodbyes, which makes the parenthetical in your title so provocative
Creative form and dialogue, but it’s the title that caught my eye. I enjoyed this one very much.
I love the sprawling nature of the list. I followed right along. The ending is all woman. Love it!
My boys left two days ago for the summer. Feels.
Love the list with its humor, questions and answers!
this list reveals so much in so few words!
Love the humorous elements.
Thanks for pointing out the ridiculous thoughts/actions that we do and will do again tomorrow!
Love the long title, and how wild and scattered the poem looks on the page.