Skittishly as an unblinkered racehorse
Careering towards an arbitrary end
Satisfying others, not self (of course),
Destination, though clear, by another penned.

Advice from school and university,
Parents, siblings, class-mates, colleagues and friends.
Childhood fantasy or tacit perversity,
Ambition, pressure, sociological trends.

Falling into a “good job” with prospects,
Little structure, vague possibility;
Career presents through hypothetical aspects –
Fluke not occupational ability.

In later life nostalgia takes over;
Although rosily clear in retrospect,
I know I never quite lived in clover
recognising the need for circumspect.

Of course, knowing does not equal feeling
Comparing the now with the ideal then,
The past steals into mind, e’er appealing;
Something seen as lost, then sought once again.

That chance job, employment fallen into,
Now seen as successful strategy
Guiding worklife… I suddenly see through
Veiled mem’ry, obscured circumstantially.

Another long gap after my last post. Perhaps the only explanation and context required here is that last week I retired, starting a new adventure after my ‘career’ as an academic (though hopefully my vocation as a scholar will continue).