Retirement, My Friend.

Scrawled on a menu in best "Starving Poet Tradition" at the Goshawk in Moukdsworth which is in the middle of Delamere Forest.

 

Retirement, My Friend

 

A sunshine day

Not one to stay at home,

We’ll lunch at the Goshawk,

I think, then perhaps

A forest walk in Delamere?

 

A sunshine day

Watching the bowlers play;

Drinking bitter beer on the veranda

And eating roast salmon and a -

Caesar’s salad (us – not the bowlers).

 

This is our place of delight;

We’ve loved it since we first found it;

Oh the wonder of choosing our own day

No work, free to play,

To sit, to watch and, Oh so simply to say,

Let’s forget the forest, Hey!

Let’s just idle

      The day

             Away.

 

   John L. Berry,    16 June 2009

Reviews

[An owl on the moon]

Your words so beautifully express a most delightful day, just being peacefully idled away. Here you share a most vivid vision that soothes the heart and mind so deeply. I was so intrigued by your story behind the poem. I have done similar when something awakens (airline napkins, graduation bulletins, movie tickets)! Wonderful insights, John. Thank you for sharing your experience!

[Ed Hart]

Most creatures on the planet are born into retirement; and enjoy its benefits daily, as soon as they have done the duty of the nest or shaken of that dose of seasonal hormones or have finished with their daily bread. But for us to reach this pinnacle of days we can call our own, that's a matter of duration, as well as art... Ed

[Craig Bates]

There are times, particularly early in my childhood, where I remember finding the ways of my grandparents to be quite odd. Whenever we went on holiday, while we roamed the streets to see what we could find, soaking up the village with our senses, or played in the sea and sunbathed and drank from frosted glasses (a drink from an icy glass remains a favourite of mine) they would often sit on a bench. It didn't really matter where the bench was; on the harbour, in the village, by a taxi-rank. They would spend all of that money to go on holiday and sit on a bench. And why? Because they liked 'to watch the world go by'. It was something that I couldn't really understand at the time.
What I'm trying to say is, this poem captures that same sense of just wanting to relax and let the world in. When we're young we want to go out, impose ourselves on the world and make sure it knows we're there. Sometimes we just need to let the world in.

[Phibby Venable]

your words are always beautiful & have a precision of image that I
admire and envy. You place people in your work. Excellent.

[Emily B]

beautiful, beautiful lines, dear friend! it sounds like a wonderful way to spend the days . . .

[LJW]

AH, is it really like that?

Sounds like a good life you've earned, John.

[emmajoy]

What a lovely piece of writing, it's like a song hovering in the air..

There's no doubt in my mind that retirement is something very precious, it gives freedom to live and not watch that dreaded clock!

You describe places so well, John, but here you've really magnified the atmosphere and the joy you feel and .. the peace of just being.

Thank you, thank you for sharing.

[J]

Mmmmmmm, truly a moment of utter joy in living ~ I can almost feel the bursting heart of gratitude for such a gift as time, energy, health, beautiful surroundings and ....... bitter beer! My own heart smiles FOR you, dear John, to have this reality available to you! One could not ask for much more after a lifetime of toil. Smash that dang alarm clock and follow your sun!

I love that you were inspired to write this piece on a menu -- a glorious tribute to the day!!

Lovely piece of whimsey, my friend. Thanks for bringing me along.

Hugs,
j

[Belator Books]

This I enjoyed heartily; 'tis like strolling a park avenue and catching a few notes of an old, beloved song on the breeze. I liked the line about sipping the bitters; it contrasted nicely with the pleasant tone, as a thorn-bearing rose does to the eye. 'Since first we found it' fit so well, I think a better line could not be found to replace it.

[vandana]

beautiful........well written poem.