I was just sitting here, watching The Weather Channel with the sound off, contemplating writers’ block and watching this guy standing on the hood of his pickup, in the midst of a flood. He’s obviously waiting for rescue, and perilously close to being washed to his just desserts, truck and all, but the raging torrent.
A thought occurred: That would be a bad way to die.
A second thought: What’s a good way?
I used to think I could think of a few preferable ways to meet one’s demise. But over the years I’ve forgotten all but one, because I never actually heard of anyone going in those ways.
So I put it to you: What would be your end, if you could chose it? And have you ever known of anyone to depart in that manner?
My remaining druther, for the record: Having gone to bed in full possession of my faculties, of a painless cerebrovascular accident, in my sleep.
Metaphor 
Maybe (Life) itself is parenthetical, an aside in the (greater) essay (or poem). Which might help us read (understand?) e e cummings. (Which is worth a try.)
Yeah, going to sleep and not waking up sounds good, but best after about a week of painfree foreknowledge ("The tumor is malignant, sir, but won't be felt until the moment it kills you–next Tuesday.") so that I could have some (but not too much) time to reflect on the meaning (or meaninglessnes?) of life and maybe write something significant about it. (Or maybe explain why I've used so many parentheses in this comment).
Most, I hear, would like to just go to sleep and not wake up. One could do this under anesthesia insurgery also or take a special cocktail when terminally ill.I knew 2 elderly women who died sitting in a chair next to their bed reading.From the appearance, it was assumed to be swift and gentle. I used to think a sudden massive heart attack would not be bad, but trying hard to live a healthy life sort of contradicts creating that. Have heard that we choose the way we die by the way we live. Have also heard from the Swamis of Hindu that they can teach us how to die, but not how to live.Knew a guy that put antiquegun from the civil war in his mouth.