If You Should Die Before Me Poem by Gloria Kim

Me:
Cautious sniff, pat the ground, look around, take a step.
Tremble.
Freeze.
Wait.
Breathe.
Sidle skittish to the river for a scary little sip.


You:
Tumbling, roaring, splashing, laughing,
dipping slide, swish and slip—
white-water raft craft
plunging, bucking, shouts the water!
trembles on the lips, on the tips
of successive, fast horizons.


So:
If you should die before me,
ask if you can bring a friend.