Reply to Emily Dickinson’s ‘Because I could not stop for Death’

I’ll dodge death till I can’t

while driving
the other day,
I was careful,
I stopped
when the lights turned red.

people crossed-
when the light
turned green and
I started to move,
a young child crossed.

I know it was you,
I know you dodged my car
but wanted me to swerve,
swerve to follow you.
I know it was you!

why did you change
from coming as a woman?
one day, I’ll lose the race
but I know it’s not time yet,
so why do you taunt me?

Tomide Abdul