fear of dying

the umbrella is gone
…
with my mother’s death
a year ago
i am the oldest
in the family
…
slowness
stoopedness
sickness
forgetting
falling
all remind me
of my age
…
i visit doctors
more than friends
…
faith is far away
fear is near

[stoopedness–yes]

-Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, Feb. 23, 2013