On His Retirement
/Everybody crowded round Derek’s desk
On the day we was retiring.
The office manager said ‘a few words’
Thanking him for everything over the years,
And handed him the over-sized card
which everyone had signed.
He was presented with the silver watch,
A token for all his efforts.
His colleagues clapped and whooped
And called for him to make a speech.
Derek gushed that it had been a pleasure working here
And would never forget the friends he’d made.
He wished them all the best for the future
And said he’d keep in touch.
In the days that followed his retirement
when his old phone would ring,
the telephone conversation was always the same.
I’m sorry, Derek has retired, he doesn’t work here anymore.
Yes, he was with the firm twenty five years, he really will be missed.
But all too soon the replies would change.
I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone who works here by that name.
By Chris Platt
From: United Kingdom