Jeppesen Terminal West, Denver International Airport
by Nina Bennett

From the top of the escalator,
the security line below resembles
a cattle chute, people lowing
as they herd through.

I glance at the bins on the belt.
Dusty name brand hiking shoes, local.
Unscuffed cowboy boots, tourist.

TSA agent smirks, motions
me to the advanced imaging
booth. I spread my legs, raise
my hands over my head, resist
thoughts of agents snickering
as my petite frame is revealed.
I am in the junior high locker
room again, without a towel.

Nina Bennett is the author of Forgotten Tears A Grandmother’s Journey Through Grief. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals including Requiem, Tipton Poetry Journal, San Pedro River Review, The Summerset Review, Bryant Literary Review, Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, The Broadkill Review, and anthologies such as Spaces Between Us: Poetry, Prose and Art on HIV/AIDS. Nina is a contributing author to the Open to Hope Foundation. www.transcanalwriters.com