Retirement

Retirement

You save and spend

not knowing

which is enough

or

too much

You just hope and pray

before the end

that you get to see that day

Will your body and mind

survive

or did you just play it save 

only enough just to stay 

alive

I tried to live each day

as if it was my last

no regrets

no do overs

so they say

I hope to continue

till the very last day

The average black male lives 

until 74

my dad just turned 94

so how many days do I have 

left

time will tell

Did my open heart surgery give me

more or less

I was an aviator

a manager

I am a motivator 

and marathoner

none of this is factored in

Just our genes

they say

but who are they

Does it all matter 

on judgement day

time now to play the actuary game

this where I only collect my pension

for 5 years

they hope 

my plan is to take after my dad 

and make them pay and pay

I have lived to start my

new chapter in my life

so many have or will not

they will work till

they die

not I

I often say

I worked to damn hard and long

not to see this day

and not have it be the one that got

away

I lived my dream as a pilot

to see the world

but now 

on my own terms

to come and go

as I see fit

and not wonder if I did not

stay in one place

long enough 

you can't do and see it all

But as I slide into home plate

all bruised and weathered 

I will at least know that

I had one hell of a ride

nothing to hide

This is not the road to the end

but a new beginning that

has no end

I might either find that I did not

save enough

or

spent too much

but one thing is for sure

I will never say

I did not enjoy 

my stay