Retiring from work is fine
No longer part of the work force
But retiring from life is not fine
What happens to your life force?
No longer part of this world?
That won’t do at all
We all have our part to play
Until the end of it all
If you back away from the world
What value do you put on yourself?
If you diminish in value
It will be bad for your health
Saint Paul had it right when he said
Though the body may weaken and fail
The spirit grows stronger each day
And that is the way we should sail
Today I am 75
Retired and widowed it’s true
But I’ll sit at this table and type
It’s my contribution for you
My brother put it quite neat
Aspire to inspire so he said
Aspire to inspire before you expire
That’s a posh way of saying you’re dead
My joy is my son and his sons
My treasure the family I love
My sorrow the girl that I lost
My hope to see her above
The pain of our world disconnection
Dissociate means we don’t feel
The joy of our world to associate
To feel what you feel makes us real
Family and friendship foundation
Fellow feeling important to feel
Your own contribution essential
To make this world really real
Brian Fahy
15 January 2022
Erris Poetry 