the whole nine yards.

Dennis Keeley, from A Survey of the Quotitdian Landscape
Any less than ten yards, you have to punt.
The momentum lost, you now hold a line.
Back & forth it goes, ten yards the standard.

But something matters about the near miss.
Falling short does not equal standing still.
Seeing the summit awes like reaching it.

Go the whole nine yards. Notice the distance--
beyond your reach but within your sight,
close enough to go back where you belong.

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