A Smile Would Not Help

Once a week it is my habit to take a moment to scrutinize my physical self from head to toe, and in particular to look into a lighted, magnifying face mirror, to see what physical onslaughts of age might be dealt with, and which must simply be endured. I will be a septuagenarian in half a year. I never thought that I would be frightened of old age, but I am.

Caption: Put On Any Smile You Like, Old Age Is Still Ugly

self-portrait by Annmarie Throckmorton 2018