I would not have gotten in this boat with you.
I would not
except
where else was there
at the dock's end
to go?
The water
was cold.

I would not have let you row the boat.
I could see
what kind of man you were.
I would not but
who was there to choose
between
you and me?

I would not have let you throw away the oars.
I knew what would happen next,
except
what else was there to do,
struggle
in a boat with a leak
over cold water?