it took me some time
to get over the shock of
your early retirement
drop by now and then
if you miss the office coffee
now the audiologist
has confirmed that
I've no hearing loss
I send you my sincere congrats
on your well-deserved retirement
I'm sorry, I'm too late
I've got all kinds of excuses
but you'll understand me soon
now you're boarding
this new life of slowing down
I've deliberately
waited to congratulate you
on your deserved pension
so that you'd realize
how life feels without deadlines
it took me some time
to find the perfect retirement gift
so I bought you an extra diary
because this chapter of your life
promises to be very busy
traffic jams, sick colleagues
additional meetings
the phone ringing off the hook
finally I've found a second
to wish you a happy retirement