Mental Movies
by D. K. Sterling

It wasn't concern for
growing older that scratched
at her conscious,
rather fear of the disease
bumping around in the back
of her mind.

The fast-forward button
that would spin her straight
into oblivion;
it was the intimidation of
losing her collection
of mental home movies.

Although she knew in time
it wouldn't be a bother;
each day would repeat
with introductions of
familiar people and places
she'd seen before...

(only couldn't recall)

in the here and now,
it was more fretting
over friends and family
(a husband, and two sons)
wondering how they'd come
to cope with the presence
of her absence...

and the loneliness
sure to crawl over everyone
seated around the cherry wood
table in the kitchen

when the time would come
Maxine would be a stranger
sharing dinner.


(The Word Rind, issue #2)