RETIREMENT POEMS

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
~ J. Lubbock

Everyone deserves to celebrate his or her retirement. Your working days are now a thing of the past and you can look forward to dictating your own schedule. Consider the things you always wanted to do but never had the time.

My wife said "watcha doin' today?"
I said "Nothing"
She Said, "You did that yesterday"
I said "I wasn't finished."

Behind Every Retired Man
Is a Wife,
Wishing He Would Go
Back to Work

Retirement poems are an excellent way for you to celebrate all that someone has contributed and to join them in their anticipation of the future ahead.

Some poems on retirement for you, this one is particularly humorous.

It's called Warning and it's written by English poet Jenny Joseph

It starts with a very well known line:-
"When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me."

and finishes:-
"So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple."

You can find the full text at Poemhunter

And something a little more inspirational:-

TERMINUS

It is time to be old,
To take in sail:--
The god of bounds,
Who sets to seas a shore,
Came to me in his fatal round,
And said: 'No more!
No farther spread
Thy broad ambitious branches, and thy root.
Fancy departs: no more invent,
Contract thy firmament
To compass of a tent.
There's not enough for this and that,
Make thy option which of two;
Economize the failing river,
Not the less revere the Giver,
Leave the many and hold the few.
…
As the bird trims her to the gale,
I trim myself to the storm of time,
I man the rudder, reef the sail,
Obey the voice at eve obeyed at prime:
'Lowly faithful, banish fear,
Right onward drive unharmed;
The port, well worth the cruise, is near,
And every wave is charmed.'

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you're giving the retirement speech, these simple, meaningful words can be a great way of wishing them well in their new life:-

May you have enough happiness to keep you happy.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you thoughtful.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish depression.
Enough wealth to meet your daily needs.
Enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday.

Congratulations on Your Retirement

Here's to your retirement...
with a whole new world for you -
a world of pleasant happenings
and things you like to do,
a world of bright, new interests
and friendship by the score
and more deep-down contentment
than you've ever known before

Retirement

Time goes by so very fast.
It's so hard to believe.
It's time for your retirement,
Time for feeling free.

You've worked so very hard
To make this dream come true,
And no one deserves it
Anymore than you.

You have had some rough times.
You've made it through them all.
You've made the best of what life brings,
And, today, you're standing tall.

I wish you days of happiness
Not filled with any strife.
I hope that your retirement years
Are the best years of your life.

Teacher Retirement Poems

Thank you teacher
You're the best
Now it's time for
You to rest!

Now that you're retiring
After so many school years
It's now on to pastures new
With new hopes, dreams, and fears.

You taught me well
You gave so much
I have so many memories
I wish you good luck.

Have a happy retirement
With many fulfilling years
So I say goodbye teacher
Before I fill with tears.

Now That You're Retiring

Now that you're retiring
We can tell you how we feel;
Our heartfelt admiration
Is deeply felt and real.

You've been a great role model
For teachers and each kid;
You showed us how to be
In everything you did.

We'll miss your fine example;
We'll miss the things you gave;
Our pleasant memories of you
We'll recall and carefully save.

We wish for your retirement
The best of all your days;
May you discover sweet fulfillment
In new and rewarding ways.

~ Joanna Fuchs

Funny Retirement Sayings for Professionals

• Golfers never retire, they just lose their drive
• Accountants don't retire, they just lose their balance
• Teachers never retire, they just mark time
• Beekeepers never retire, the just buzz off.
• Watchmakers never retire, they just wind down.
• Farmers never retire, they just go to seed.

For more resources, free poems and ideas for retirement, visit Special Moments.  For teacher retirement poems, visit our teacher poems

Do you have any suggestions for additions to this page, please email us with your ideas for a poem for a retiree.

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retirement poems & retirement poetry