by Kushal Poddar
Member since:
January 19, 2008

Retired

April 01, 2009 10:30 PM EDT (Updated: April 02, 2009 10:40 PM EDT)
views: 205 | comments: 50

 

Retired

 

She almost has said, “You are retired, remember?”

The old man of course cannot read her mind

nor he can draw lines; forgetting the affair

that last month he has cleared out his drawers, cabinets;

has received the gifts and flowers- now long withered.

 

Still he comes with his arthritic pair of legs;

tells the new boys the proper working process.

His face has always borne some uncanny whiteness;

now he resembles a ghost if there are such things.

And they cannot tell anything to a past’s man.

He’ll come at ten; spread the ancient wisdom.

The office whispers; buzzes past; there’s no takers.

 

One day

he dies.

The office still waits.

They all know

he still will come.

=© 2009 - All Rights Reserved Kushal Poddar


 

link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 50

Lisa Frost Apr 1, 2009, 10:32pm EDT
wow, I don't know what to say. Good write.
Bard Constantine Apr 1, 2009, 10:40pm EDT
Great storytelling, you created a memorable character.
Jo N. Apr 1, 2009, 10:45pm EDT
very nice, thanks for sharing.
Christine G. Apr 1, 2009, 10:52pm EDT
Thanks for sharing.
EDWINA (MISSIE) B. Apr 1, 2009, 10:53pm EDT
nice writting
Kerrell g. Apr 1, 2009, 10:55pm EDT
Well done, P!
Jenysie Jane Apr 1, 2009, 11:01pm EDT
very well done, once again! I bow and say wow!!
Kimberly Ripley Apr 1, 2009, 11:02pm EDT
Bittersweet. Sometimes people live for their work and all else is pushed aside.
Dana W. Apr 1, 2009, 11:03pm EDT
Thank you for posting to VRC
Alison H. Apr 1, 2009, 11:05pm EDT
Great insight!
Cheryl W. Apr 1, 2009, 11:08pm EDT
This is so true for many people, Poddar. Well done!
Jennifer N. Apr 1, 2009, 11:16pm EDT
Wow, such a sad but touching poem. Well done, Poddar!
Nancy Biri Apr 1, 2009, 11:35pm EDT
Very nice
Kathryn E. Apr 1, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
The night is on a theme, here, this is at least the second piece dealing with retirement I have seen tonight. Yet retirement is as you say, a time for renewal, too.

Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Georgiana S. Apr 1, 2009, 11:38pm EDT
What one creates lives on
JOHN BECK Apr 2, 2009, 12:24am EDT
"And they cannot tell anything to a past’s man." Innovative way to state that, Kushal. This is not just about the retiree--it's also about his coworkers and the way they see him--perhaps especially about them. Good one, Kushal.
Granny Janny H. Apr 2, 2009, 12:48am EDT
It makes me sad...and it rings true.
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Apr 2, 2009, 12:52am EDT
Great job
Linda T. Apr 2, 2009, 5:26am EDT
I like this one.
Terry Collett Apr 2, 2009, 7:34am EDT
A story in a poem; a excellent story and poem.
lena k. Apr 2, 2009, 7:36am EDT
very nice
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Apr 2, 2009, 8:49am EDT
Thanks for posting on Getting to 3000 Together
David W. Apr 2, 2009, 9:57am EDT
Well played, touching and on the mark.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Apr 2, 2009, 10:06am EDT
This is a stunning write. You have an extraordinary empathy for people whose lives are different from yours. I love the phrase "past's man" (as opposed to "man's past").
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Apr 2, 2009, 10:07am EDT
Thank you for posting this to The Surreal Circus. Congratulations on your well-deserved feature.
Elizabeth H. Apr 2, 2009, 10:21am EDT
Very well done.
Angie O. Apr 2, 2009, 11:10am EDT
The memory lingers on, very nice Poddar
excellent dive through a everyday man's mind~
Nikki S. Apr 2, 2009, 11:15am EDT
thanks for posting
Angela A. Apr 2, 2009, 4:45pm EDT
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting

Sorry for the short comment but, my medication from my root canal is making me drowsy.
Sharon P. Apr 2, 2009, 4:54pm EDT
My grandfather was that type of man. Always faithful.
Howard b. Apr 2, 2009, 5:14pm EDT
WOW! I liked this one. I do believe in ghosts.Thanks for sharing . Have a great day.
blaine d. Apr 2, 2009, 6:07pm EDT
very well done!
Chuck L. Apr 2, 2009, 6:49pm EDT
Damn, Poddar! That's downright...
Well, it is!
maryce w. Apr 2, 2009, 8:23pm EDT
This was good Poddar, however, I would correct the line 2- "cannot read the her mind".
brynn holt Apr 2, 2009, 10:06pm EDT
The ghost in the office. Fun idea. I like the implied inertia. There are some technical problems. Thank you for posting to D, D &S
Jennifer Lee Apr 3, 2009, 12:03am EDT
Intriguing and haunting. I never want to live to work. Great write, Kushal. Thank you for posting to our group.
Elsie Duggan Apr 3, 2009, 1:44am EDT
Wonderful Poddar, I have been retired for twenty years last December, and I have to say, I dream about working all the time, I keep thinking I am late, but then think why worry, I am retired and not working, I wonder if I am walking the halls or that place, possibly,
Poddar,
It feels like someone inspired this, but I could be wrong. If so, I wonder who? I know of these people, and am related to one. You hit it dead-on. Perfectly.

Marilyn
Dana W. Apr 3, 2009, 9:08am EDT
Thank you for posting to VRC
Chas Andrews Apr 3, 2009, 11:29am EDT
thanks!
William Dotani Apr 3, 2009, 4:21pm EDT
The scene you paint seems to give a sense of things dwindling from verse transitioning to the next verse. I must say I like your verse construction for it gives us a glimpse of a melancholy soul that wishes for things to stay the same, but he fools himself to thinking he is needed, but isn't. The last part is a bit haunting because he arrives at death unprepared as are others, even those who don't care about him.
regina k. Apr 3, 2009, 4:54pm EDT
your words ring true
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!
Stephanie S. Apr 4, 2009, 2:35am EDT
very heartfelt piece.
Shelbia C. Apr 5, 2009, 11:01pm EDT
Thanks for posting to Writing Reservoir
tonya brown Apr 7, 2009, 3:56pm EDT
very nice
Michelle W. Apr 10, 2009, 6:05pm EDT
I recently lost a friend, a former coworker. It was a very unexpected death, and he had only retired 2 yrs ago. And he does return, in conversation, in dreams, in images ... he does return.

Superb!

Thanks for posting in Journey Into Poetry !

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.