Almost Falling Off a Cliff Safely

I’ve done this before—climbed out on a cliff

by the river and set my sandals on
the edge. It would be too scary to stand
there in them, the breeze pushing gently at
my back, blue water below me flowing
away, three brown Canada geese flying
by upriver to my right—challenging
my balance. What the hell, I’ll practice my
Tree pose: first, Airplane: left foot trailing, right
knee straight; then, rising, left instep to right
ankle, hands cupped. That would be grasping my
life with my two feet, trusting my body
completely. But now, three young lads arrive,
and I pull my sandals back from the edge.