as you retire
we acknowledge your
years of achievements
fancy paper, fancy
words, fancy frame
but heartfelt gratitude
we wish you
well with a
cake bidding adieu
signed a card
wishing you much
happiness, success, contentment
keep in touch
see you around
this not goodbye
as the days
weeks, months pass
your memory neglected
there is no
keeping in touch
seeing you around
we return to
the reality of
work until retirement
and once again
we will repeat
the fancy goodbye
I love how you portray the cycle of working until retirement, and of course keep-in-touch promises aren’t kept, and appreciation is hollow, and of course the people still working will face “the fancy goodbye.” Excellent, thoughtful poem–thanks for sharing.