Speaking loud into the ether,

hoping that someone will hear.

Shouting silent words of wisdom,

unwrapped from my mortal fear.

Know the history, heed its warning.

Find it waiting for you there.

In the winter, I will slumber;

liken me to bear and squirrel.

In the autumn, find me wishing

always to be have been a girl.

In the springtime, in the summer,

see me running, see me whirl.

Time arranges itself poorly.

Youth with beauty, age with pain.

Let’s instead label as “pretty”:

withered, wrinkled, gray and wane.

Unblemished skin is oh so boring.

Youth, something we push away.

Why so afraid to see time passing,

learning more and living free?

Where’s the profit in persuading

youth that they perfection be?

What would be gained from rewinding

to what you’ve already seen?

Now stop your dreaming, regretting, scheming.

Stop your pity, anger, excess.

I fought my way through expectations

that no body should possess.

To be patient with the young ones

does not lessen my success.

But I won’t tell them they are perfect

or cheat to look like I know less.

I earned my right to stand here solid.

I don’t have to beat my chest.

But I won’t put up with their boasting.

This elder deserves respect.

Spoke I loud into the ether,

hoping that someone would hear.

Shouting silent words of wisdom,

hoisted on my wooden bier.

Know the history, heed its warning.

Find it waiting for you here.