AN ODE TO MALE RETIREES

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=215 BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="0440eb82ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <div> ''JUST AS I AM''</div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-495/Just_as.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> SOUND CONTROL  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK">GUESTBOOK</A></div> <bR> <div> BACK TO :</div> <div> <A HREF="ideals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ideals"><B>''IDEALS'' SELECT</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="ideals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ideals"><B>PAGE''</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>*****</B></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="food for thought 3 homepage"><B>HOME PAGE-3</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>*****</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85f1ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B>FOOD FOR THOUGHT IDEALS</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>AN ODE TO MALE  RETIREES</I></div> <div> From out of his past flow memories that last,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> a retiree's daily trend;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> for he becomes blue </div> <div> with nothing to do,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> so he pours out his past from within.</div> <div> He recalls all his times and always defines<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> a million things that he's done;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> It gets very old </div> <div> as the stories are told,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> just adding another re-run.</div> <div> In the yard and the house<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> he bothers his spouse,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> where he putters around all day;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> she can scarcely hear </div> <div> his comments clear...<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> as he mutters his words away.</div> <div> And from the yard he gets soiled<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> where he piddles and toils,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and into the kitchen...tracks<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> the mud on his shoes,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> his wife's not amused,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and scolding she did not relax!</div> <div> Now he has those old clothes,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> which he will not dispose,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> some carry an ancient decor;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and when he undresses,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> the hamper he misses<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and clothes are strung on the floor.</div> <div> And it seems all the days<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> that he's set in his ways,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and never does he alter his mind,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> but never the less, we all can attest,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> that no one is ever so kind.</div> <div> But he never will win </div> <div> if we show doubt in him,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> So please try hard not to fuss,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and be good to him<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> when patience grows thin,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 'cause someday it happens to us!</div> <div> And because after all, </div> <div> he has met God's call<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> while paying his life's long fee;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and when he is gone we'll all feel alone,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> and we'll miss the old retiree!</div> <bR> <div> William E. 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