Retirement

It came upon me suddenly; I was unprepared and surprised. They met around my drab sick bed, “Retirement” they advised. As I sat with my boss and peers as my future was foretold. No more praise or prize for me. My illness had knocked me cold. It took six months to learn to walk. Three more to remember a thing. I became discouraged with my life and my muse no poems would bring. I sat in a chair for two years watching re-runs on TV. I watched news daily for hours not knowing who to believe. Two weeks ago, it all changed. I suddenly got back my soul. The stupor that draped me blew off. I woke up each morning with goals. As bad as the path to here’s been, I managed the fog to survive. My heart now is filled with poems. I feel lucky to be alive.