My oldest friend reported yesterday
anxiety she never felt before
(I always sensed it, but I couldn’t say
as much – she cherished laid-back image more).
It’s now progressed too present to ignore,
and seems to me from cognitive decline
endured without resistance, save a whine.

Two hours later, in our weekly talk,
my daughter (middle-aged) confessed to me
anxiety that tends to make her balk,
before she starts a fresh activity.
She’s “what the fuck?” but I think it might be
that mating young let processes get tabled
she’s facing now her partner is disabled.