Have You Prepared For Your Death?

MJ Gomez

Snowdrop. Sandstorm. Rain,

fall. Sun, shine a little 

longer. Goodness, leave me

a little later. Tell me, 

what should I say 

when English

always leads to begging? 

When even the rain pleads 

goodness, please stay. 

Stay a little longer 

past curfew. This is a refusal 

to say goodbye, goodbye, 

to today,

& this is all we know, Lord, 

but I don’t want 

to admit it,

goodness, 

please stay, I turn to you

when I have no one else

to blame. You, slow dancing

with the sound

of lightning. 

You, slow dancing with nothing,

you, you, you, I still hear you 

in the maple’s

leaving. In the guitar’s breaking. 

I hear you as lightning 

strikes & it’s morning again.

Yes, I hear you. I, here, with you

again. Like lightning. Like snow.

I, hare, struck

with being your tomorrow.

Lord, take me

back. If you can

hear me now,

let forever be found

in our falling. Let the stormcloud

never become

groundwater.

Let this flight last

a little longer.

Goodness,

good lord, I’m not ready.