finding things to do after retirement

i see my neighbor

with a loaf

of bread

walking down the street,

he used

to be a doctor of some

sort,

or an Admiral in the Navy.

maybe both.

i stop

and say hello,

i ask him how retirement

is treating him.

he has

bags under his eyes.

his shoulders

sag,

it looks like he hasn't

shaved or washed

his hair in weeks.

his shoes

are mismatched

and his zipper is down.

how are you, i ask again.

good, he says,

good. but i have

to go now.

i'm going down to the lake,

to feed the ducks.