Close Enough

You measure distance with your ruler eye
in whole numbers only;
fractions are but floaters in it.
Your measurements
are exactly approximate
not open for adjustment.
The first mark past each numeral
is the sixteenth you call close enough.
The halves you thumb
are why things fall apart
because they are too long for yes
and far too short for no.
You say at length that wanting you
is several inches wrong or off
and so I put my tape to it
and verify the adage,
measure twice, cut once,
and done.