To retire or not to retire

There will come a day to leave the temple

of work behind,

stand outside and say 

adieu, 

to the god

that rules within

blessing the faithful

with identity and purpose

however real, apparent, 

or perhaps,

surreal.

If you don’t,
there will still come a day

they will carry you out

on their shoulders

directly to the pyre

so you can return 

the atoms you borrowed
back to the universe.

Between the two 

- to retire or not to retire -

It is hard to pick

one over the other,

but so easy to dawdle,

and feel blue.