Leaves dance with the fall breeze
The sun steals the early frost
The moon waits in the wings

I shiver in respect of nature
I shiver in respect of my age
Eighty years young

I am beyond the age of expectation
for women according to the insurance
companies age calculations

Charlotte McElroy is an 80-year-old retired teacher. She is finally following her dream: writing! Thank you for giving her this opportunity.