ode to toaster

you have served us so faithfully
for the past six years or so
and i'm sure you would have
continued to do so

had i not dropped you
three times in a month

i feel so bad
that in a rush
you slipped
right through my fingers

a piece fell off
not critical
and i put you
back in service

but as i went to
put you away
i dropped you again
my clumsy side revealed

this second time
that's when i knew
your time with us
was limited

you were left
with floppy sides
and a rattle
i never did identify

still you served us
frozen waffles
poptarts
and toast

the third time
you lost a pin
from somewhere
on your body

uneven heating
and unable to pop up
on your own
still you served us

i fondly recall
your hijacked adventure
when you were taken
from my counter

she placed you in a box
crumbs and all
and gave you back to me
for a wedding present

what generosity
although i'm sure
she felt close to you
since she used you all that year

with one more drop
i put you in the trash
and my hubby
wheeled you to the curb

early, early tomorrow morning
off you'll go
to the toaster resting ground
with all your cohorts

but i couldn't let
this moment pass
without saying farewell

and thank you