Years of My Life

A Journey from 1944 to … Now

1994–95 School Year

Harmon Middle School

Retirement looms. Not far from now

But Time just won’t speed up somehow.

I still work hard. I still have fun.

But hear a voice: Oh, soon you’re done!

(I hoped that voice was not so dire

That soon I’d die—not just retire!)

My final years the kids were great—

And gave me cause to celebrate.

To work with them—an honor I

Did not take lightly—I won’t lie.

A writer’s life was calling me—

To do it well I must be free

From all the labor teaching took.

But even then—I had a book

That soon a publisher would find—

And hopes for it just filled my mind.