Rod Morris - Retirement

Have worked and toiled, am now shop soiled after nearly fifty years.
Have seen some sights, had sleepless nights and also shed some tears.
Had many laughs, some overdrafts, bought things I could ill afford.
When times were tough the going rough, no time for getting bored.
I met my wife, this changed my life, and the things I used to do.
Became a buzz; and all because of the effort shared by two.

We raised some brats, not many spats, our lives became laborious.
But things got done, we had such fun, rare holidays were glorious.
The fledglings flew; what shall we do; a house with room to spare.
Read more books, improve our looks; we really didn't care.
We crossed the sea, my wife and me, on Australian shores we landed.
A mobile home in which to roam, the outback we meandered.

Red sunburnt sand in timeless land, cold nights and morning air.
Such friendly folk who love a joke, they seemed without a care.
Back home again memories remain of people on far shores.
We think a lot of what we've got, our family friends and more.
So to those of you now almost due, to douse your work life fire.
Be sure you've done what you begun, no time when you retire.

Rod Morris

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/retirement-38/