Important Poem by Shannon Thompson

I wrote a list of what was important to me
It ended up looking like an ingredient list for my future,
or a packing list to a vacation to a deserted island
(you know, the one you're stranded on, and you can only bring one thing)
I can't fit my family in a stow-away compartment.
I'd have to sit on the suitcases to close them and
all those convenient zippered pockets filled with abstracts
like love and religion-oh, and my toothbrush
nothing's more important than that just-brushed feeling
well, except a cure for hatred or AIDs, a way out of the war in Iraq, my dog,
and a few hundred cds of bands no one's ever heard of
but those would definitely exceed the carry-on size limit.
I could even ball up writing and poetry like gym socks
and tuck them into the empty spaces
around my neatly folded hopes and dreams.
Instead I think I'll wear them for a little while longer
Maybe the holes in the soles can patch the holes in my soul.
I can't forget a flashlight and some double AAs
just in case the future's not as bright as people make it sound.
I should probably bring some snacks and playing cards
I may get delayed along the way and I don't want to get hungry.
It's important to be prepared. I think.