Photo Mori

Photo mori

Gathered here in a group and sealed eternallyas a covenant, my young motherlaughs into the camera with youthful friends,accepting of the gifts which overspread- unthinking of the future that I know lies ahead, as one golden day duly follows from another.

The midday sun on the beach is dazzling - they look at methrough dark glasses, unafraid and with heads thrown up,oiled and tanned, comrades in youth; confident in their direct and level gaze,all else bleaching to white in the blinding haze;careless and passing the overflowing, overflowing cup.

Viewing that frozen high summer momentI think of the waiting bedpans and embarrassed sheets,the thermometer; proponentof harsher secrets, new regimes,and applying different lotions, different creamsbefore finally leaching away all urgency to defeat.