Sunday, January 20, 2013

Retirement

One waits in anticipation for years
The day will dawn, have no fears

But in the meantime slog along
Do your own thing, and press on

Time and space hurtle past
Slowly in the beginning but then just

Amidst responsibilities are testing times
Are governed by targets and deadlines

Time spent with co-workers and friends
Are often at the expense of quality time

Surviving and striving are part of the journey
To fend for themselves are woes of the family

Cruel but a necessary element of change
Open to failings on occasions of pain

Mistakes and blurred decision-making
Rampant in an environment of working

Of mistakes not material, a consolation
But rectification can restrain advancement

All in chasing and overcoming odds
The rat race is often an unforgiving lot

Looking forward to days of retirement
To be rid of all the pressures and deadlines

Ironically though, retirement can be boring
The experience of those before us is telling

Unfortunately wisdom comes a tad too late
Nonetheless one ought to be more prepared

Fortunately some very clever ones to the fore
Prepared for retirement and are busier than before


Written for One Single Impression #256 with prompt - retirement- and Mary's Poetry Pantry #133 at Poets United

30 comments:

  1. Oh yes, wisdom always comes too late.

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  2. I was in teaching. I used to think that you should come out of college into a headship and work your way down to class teacher. You need the money more early on and the class rooms would have the advantage of the more experienced teachers. The more you think about the more obvious it seems. A much easier journey into retirement for one thing!

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  3. i look forward to retirement thoguh i accept the reality i may never reach it...i have list though of things i would do should i get there...

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    1. This intrigues me, what do you mean, Brian...

      I take it you mean you will never retire?

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  4. Retirement is quite the change of life style. People don't always think it through. As you say they get bored. Some even return to work. Now that's a scary thought.

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  5. I want to be pretty active and mentally busy even when I am older and retired. I'm happy to say that in Ontario, there is no retirement age, you work for as long as you like ~

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  6. Interesting, Hank. Seems so true that so many work so hard for retirement and then when they actually reach it they don't know what to do with their time. They haven't developed enough interests, it seems. My dad was one of these people. He lived to work; and when he retired he had no interests to replace what he truly LOVED to do. I bet YOU would never be bored, with all the interests you have.

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    1. Time is the same for everyone. I suppose it's a matter of being organized. Since we're done with deadlines, with time in our hands we're lost. Blogging helps a lot! Yes, so also others that can sustain interest. Thanks Mary!

      Hank

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  7. Fortunately, I have My Beloved Sandra, who has already planned each and every day of our impending retirement in great detail.

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  8. Retirement is comes when you really want then its really good.People don't get bored they have more things to do.But its like once you've retired you get used to it and don't prefer going back to the job life :)
    following :)

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  9. Would be nice to get there one day. But i don't think I ever want to stop working, or at least working at something like a hobby, as it would get far too boring. Although being able to be free, is what is most wanted by me.

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  10. You, Sir Hank, surely do not have a problem with so many varied interest!

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    1. Ninot Ma'am,
      Have yet to double the efforts. Hopefully '13 is a lucky number! Thanks a lot!

      Hank

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  11. I am still loving this. How true that 'Mistakes and blurred decision-making Rampant in an environment of working'!

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  12. I'm retired and I love it. Though I had a very rewarding job, now I do as i p[lease and it feels great. I hope everyone gets to retire happily, if that's what they want.

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  13. Ah, that wisdom thing. Comes through error, I think.

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  14. Oh yes... The Good Husband and I often talk of those retirement years, no longer so far off. Of course, they do not mark the end of labor, only a shift in motivation and focus.

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  15. Well, Hank, I am in utter agreement with you - that working consumes too much of our precious time. Retirement, for me, has been the gift of time - to wake in the morning and let my day unfold at its own pace. And let me reassure you, it is NEVER boring - there still arent enough hours in the day. Luckily, we are writers, so we can keep ourselves endlessly occupied with our craft. My sister says my blogging is like a full time job. Hee hee.

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  16. I hate to tell you, Hank, but retirement is a big myth, At least, for me it is. I'm way to busy but it's because I still set goals, only they are related to what I love: writing! The difference--if I don't meet them the only one who berates me, is me.

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  17. Ah retirement... you remind me of how much I look forward to it but fear I may be too old to enjoy it properly! I agree how work can get in the way of quality time... I don't mind working, not at all, but it's the amount of time spent working versus living life that I have a beef with... by the time I get home I'm too tired to truly enjoy my passion, which is yes, writing. Great poem Hank.

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  18. Lots of truth and good lines here!..

    Pareng JJ

    Ps... Happy new year oareng hank! Im back!..

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  19. Hmm, 10 months into retiement and I cannot find time for all I want to do, including writing and reading all day through. Your poem strikes many familiar chords, but worries will pass as we each step forward into our own thinking. It takes a while to get there. I cannot imagine being bored!

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  20. and some of us are "retired" before our time... chronic illness is strange the way it thrusts you into that space of not working midlife... questioning one's purpose... perhaps this gives wisdom an edge... like forcing a bulb in the warmth of a house while snow is deep outside?

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  21. Nice poem, Hank. I wish you a happy retirement. Mine took 47 years to get but it is nice. Only wish I have and it can' come true, is that my retirement income was more. It now doesn't meet my standard of living requirements. :)
    ..

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  22. Oh yes, wisdom has that nasty habit of being late!

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  23. There's not a lot of choice, is there? We need to work and earn our livings - and when finally we can enoy our leisure.... There must be a better way, but we haven't found it yet. You have expressed this common dilemma well.

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  24. I have to say that you are really good with words, Hank. The essence one's lifestyle is beautifully captured in these lines.

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  25. I am afraid that at this point none of us will ever be able to retire. To busy supporting my three grown sons.

    Melanie

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