Claire Scott’s most recent poem to appear here was “Tipping Point” (February 2019).

Retirement
By Claire Scott

finally
sleep till nine or noon, snuggle in a flannel robe
eggs over easy with slices of sourdough
and jam, three cups of jasmine tea
time to learn Mandarin from Mr. Cheng Liu
at Westwood Community College
time to read the Odyssey, Moby Dick, Middlemarch
bake a Black Forest Cake
between afternoon naps

but
only
a few
grains left
in the hourglass
crows flap-step on
the front porch
black winds howl
no last minute miracles
from emeritus gods
soaking up sun in Florida
no Mandarin, no Odyssey
certainly no Black Forest Cake
I reach for my glass of merlot
the only god
left