No more cacophonous alarm clocks
Piercing my REM-laden brain,
Demanding full attention—
Driving me insane.
No more pesky emails
Piling skyscraper high,
Awaiting and anticipating
A scintillating reply.
No more obnoxious phone calls,
Hours on the line,
Saying “Please address this issue NOW!”
The problem’s YOURS, not mine.
No more maniacal schedules
Hungrily chewing up time.
Another day of watching the clock—
Criminal, but not a crime.
No more tedious afternoon meetings,
Pretending to be inspired,
When all I most acutely feel
Is increasingly exhausted and tired.
No more stagnant dress codes,
Wondering what on earth to wear…
Back to sandals, T’s, and shorts—
And anything with a bit of flair.
Think this new retirement thing
Is settling deep inside of me
Worked many years, then worked some more—
And finally, I am free.
To walk myself toward sandy shores
And stroll real nice and slow,
To savor that long-awaited state of bliss
With nowhere — and no place — to go.
Absolutely love the lines: "No more tedious afternoon meetings,
Pretending to be inspired." Cracked me up. Perfection description of being free from working!
What a fun poem! Love it!