POEM - A Better Retirement Plan

Now well into my life

I see that there may be a day

When I am past my employable age

I am deadweight

Expendable and ousted

And the subject comes up

What are we going to do in those years

If we both make it

And are not bedridden

Besides sit and stare at the tube

Casually pass the hours in leisure

Eat small discounted meals at the Waffle House

I become a regular at the barbershop

            Only to get a haircut every third visit

You with your knitting circle

With its hushed gossip and tittering confidences

And we complain all day

            About unpleasant weather

                        Or persistent aches and pains

I never thought of going quietly

Abhor the retirement communities

And their categorical retention

Of factory raised geriatric stock

No, we have other plans

When we leave the 9 to 5

It will be on the back of a Harley

With a camper in tow

On the trail of our favorite band

We are going on the road

Following Cake around the country

Selling sandwiches in the parking lot

To make the ticket price for the next show

In the off season I think we will hit Europe

Pay our stowage as greeters

Work the cruise ship circuit

Get paid to see the great ports of the world

Maybe get jobs as porters on the railways

Dressed up snappy

As the venerable old wait staff couple

With a kind smile and stories to tell

Anything to keep the bones moving

To make the juices flow

We learned from Neil Young

From the song heard in our youth

It is far better to burn out

Than it ever could be to rust