Elva Burke Poem by Francis Duggan

On her last birthday she was seventy yet her dark hair free of gray
And if you did not know what age she was in her fifties you might say
She doesn't use hair dyes or makeup or anti ageing cream
And her secret of eternal youth beyond me it would seem.

An easy going and laid back sort her life is free of stress
And perhaps Elva's key to looking young is her gift of happiness
She loves a joke and she loves a laugh and she loves to dance and sing
And the few like her are the lucky few for they have everything.

Her husband in an accident died he deserved a better fate
A real good bloke by all accounts he was her true soul mate
And Elva and her children left to grieve for their heart-breaking loss
But she refused to buckle under her heavy cross.

Whilst others might have pined away and felt all hope had gone
Brave Elva found the strength to cope the will to carry on
And she found happiness again can't keep a good one down
One of the real great characters of old Wonthaggi Town.

She doesn't use anti ageing creams she age in the natural way
And she looks young for seventy her dark hair free of gray
And the inspiring Elva Burke is one who doesn't feel old
And she would only help you if she could for she has a 'heart of gold'.