I Never Wanted to Die   Dorianne Laux It’s the best part of the day, morning light sliding down rooftops, treetops, the birds pulling themselves up out of whatever stupor darkened their wings, night still in their throats. I never wanted to die. Even when those I loved died around me, away from me, beyond me.  My life was never in question, if for no other reason than I wanted to wake up and see what happened next.  And I continue to want to open like that, like the flowers who lift their heavy heads as the hills outside the window flare gold for a moment before they turn on their sides and bare their creased backs. Even the cut flowers in a jar of water lift their soon to be dead heads and open their eyes, even they want a few more sips, to dwell here, in paradise, a few days longer.