mammograms 
colonoscopies 
or bone densities 
trying to see old age 
with the glass part full 


my hunky PT 
works me in the pool 
wet tee clinging 
memories surface 
of skinny dipping days 


in the faded photo 
mother is four years 
ahead of me 
I thought she was old 
but she was only a girl, too 


last cousin 
gone by my age 
I wonder 
if the frail family heart 
will take me too 


however delayed 
death still takes us 
a chill falls 
from the waning moon 
feeding my fear 

Pris Campbell’s

writings have appeared in numerous journals, such as Acorn, cattails, Frogpond, and others. She took first place in the 2021 Sanford Goldstein International Tanka Contest and in the 2021 Marlene Mountain Memorial Haiku Contest. She makes her home in the U.S.

Author’s website: www.poeticinspire.com