if we sat on the ground

in the road 

face to face, cross-legged

and a big red truck came barreling down 

came rumbling fast

would you stand us up and move?

if the train came speeding

singing toward

us perched on the balls of our feet

on the rails 

would you you push us safe 

from the whistling weight?

if we stood 

hands held eyes locked feet forward 

in the crowd 

when the guns came cracking

would you pull us from the crush?

would you grip my sticky fingers

and drag us 

through and over bodies

til we landed in the fresh wet grass

or would you grip my knees

and touch my face 

and sink me in the asphalt

would you look at me 

square 

under the boots and wheels 

would you tug on the string

tied fast around our necks 

and bid me close my eyes