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Poetry
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retirement
By MikeMorris
18 July 2006
Achieved some of these objectives. Not all yet, but, keep trying, hey?

Retirement
When all this is over, said the soldier
I mean to retire where
Nobody knows how to strip a Kalashnikov
And people only wake at night to the sound of the wind.

I intend to learn how to tango like an Argentinian, speak Konkani
And build myself a boat.
I want to hear Tibetan prayer flags
Flapping in The Himalayas
And a whale blowing in The Azores.

I want to see my grandchildren’s children
Swimming with dolphins, sunset on Ayer’s Rock
And my wife reach her full beauty.

Reviews

Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3434 comments posted) 18th July 2006
A very life affirming and inspirational bit of work and that last line is perfect,just perfect 
cheers 
BBS
Dia duit!
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 18th July 2006
A tad sentimental, Mike. Needs a glint of steel. But mawkish it is not. Well worth the read and very well crafted. Words. Always nice words. Well done.  
 
Slan! And my warmest compliments to you.
Retirement
Written by Buchan (42 comments posted) 18th July 2006
Excellent words from an honest soul. Very well expressed.Thank you for writing...All the best..Buchan.
retirement
Written by maipenrai (784 comments posted) 19th July 2006
I think this is an excellent piece mike

Written by MikeMorris (106 comments posted) 19th July 2006
once again, thanks to maipenrai,buchan,ged and bbs for very kind words.Have thought a lot about your comment gerard and will try a new approach. i took a risk with the last line but meant to imply that the narrator felt his wife would be more relaxed when he was out of a danger zone and then could be more her true self, 
Grateful thanks to all, 
Mike
My wife reaching her full beauty
Written by Josie (2823 comments posted) 14th August 2006
From a woman who has lived in Yorkshire for one third of her life: (therefore not a YORKSHIRE WOMAN): (and I hope your wife is not a Yorkshire woman), note this quote from the film "Calendar Girls:: "The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire. Every stage of their growth has its own beauty , but the last phase is always the most glorious". Pity that they added: "Then very quickly they all go to seed."

Written by Phil (6832 comments posted) 26th September 2006
Came across this on the blue 'Work awaiting review' bar. Wonderful. Can't better BBS above - especially the last line, which I too thought was perfect. 
 
All the best, 
 
Phil.

Written by MikeMorris (106 comments posted) 27th September 2006
Thanks Phil. If you're happy with the last line, I'll leave it alone.I value your comments very highly. 
Mike

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