Long Shadows

He waited Under fluorescent lighting The kind that highlighted His salt and pepper hair It was almost 5:30 Quitting time But he didn’t have to worry about that anymore Today was his last day The people in the office took him out to lunch Had a round of drinks Opened a few cards Hugged one of the secretaries Felt pretty good about himself But what next? Adjusting his glasses he looked straight ahead The tools on his workbench Grimy Cold metal After twenty years still usable and dependable Pliers, screwdrivers Lined up in front just the way he organized them Some lost Some borrowed but eventually all returned He wondered if he would miss holding the hefty hammer The one with the smooth maple handle? There was nothing more to do Would he bring his tools home? Or come back for them later? Rubbing his hands To keep his fingers moving He lingered at his bench Until it was time to leave A day’s pay for a day’s work That what his father told him Back when. Put off the final decision To retire as long as he could When he signed the papers It felt like somebody lifted him up And put him in another life Careful with money Saved all these years With Social Security He and his wife hoped it would be enough To see them through. Enough thinking It was time to leave Waving to a few co-workers He walked out The shop door closing behind him Brick building Casting its large shadow behind him Outside it was the usual scene Busy streets Crowded coffee shop Sounds of buses and traffic In a hurry to get somewhere. This time it was different A cold chill of exhilaration Gripped him in a vise of uncertainty He couldn’t believe he Was walking away From decades of What was once familiar And part of him.