Not-Quite-But-Still-Ours-All-The-Same

it’s an honour to be accepting this award on behalf of The First,
i read an article yesterday that said that I was The First,
i laughed,
they always need one

[knowing chuckles bounce]

the article went on:
accolades;

obstacles; over-   
coming under-mining
those always-there-odds
we’re always beating

poor odds,
i wonder when they’ll get even

[water sloshes, quiet sips]

still, this award is a laugh;
a hearty cackle,
a gentle roar,

[cloth-rustles, fidgety thumbs]

what’s First?
Ours
what’s Next?
that One too

[fretting, yawns]

so gladly, humbly, i accept,
Next-Last,
Almost-First,
Not-Quite-But-Still-Ours-All-The-Same

Natalie (@natalieisonline) is a writer and researcher based in London.