The Birthday Countdown

I apologize in advance--when I get emotional, I write bad poetry. That's just the way it is.

Almost

She flips her calendar over to August,
circles her birthday
almost 23
almost old
almost there?
almost a real, normal person
almost employed
almost content with where she is
almost sure of where she is going?
almost confident in her abilities
almost comfortable with her body
almost come to terms with her family
almost come to terms with herself
almost happy with what she’s done, who she’s turned out to be
almost over college
almost ready to move on
almost done with 22
almost
almost 23