My Own Poem for leaving the Company...Hurrah!

I've written many lines before
For colleagues walking out the door
Of Walker books when they had left
So why is it that I'm bereft
Of finding any words to say
When it's my turn to go away?
Maybe it's 'cause I lack the rhymes
To fully sum up all the times
I've had of laughter and of folly
(you try dressing up as Wally
In woolly hat and nylon jumper
In the middle of the summer
It's not much fun when after dark
You get strange looks in Regents Park.)
Apologies for that digression
But it left quite an impression
On my mind I have to say…
Now where were we anyway?
I guess I'll start on my introduction
To the world of book production
My first day in two thousand 3
Finds me smoking nervously
standing under a leafless tree
On a rainy day in February
There I was all full of fears
All green and wet behind the ears
And after a run in with a hairy scot
I felt quite under collar hot
But Kerry took me under her wing
And showed me many useful things:
Packing film and postage strife,
That life of proofs is proof of life
How to order film for printers
How pass time in the winter
In the basement with all the books
With just the sound of Canteen cooks
Flutie and Suzanne upstairs
Clattering their kitchenware
(you guys have my heart felt gratitude
For the ever increasing latitude
Of my belt-size and my waist
And I only went down for a taste!)
Then one springy sunny day
Came the lovely Simpson, J
That was March 2 thousand 3
And since that day she's managed me
I guess the expression is more looked after
For though there was fun and often laughter
I cannot have been the easiest person
To get along with that's for certain
Especially first thing in the mornings
Having our run-throughs with coffee and yawnings!
So thank you so much for everything Jayne
I hope I was never too much of a pain!
And the same thanks too goes to the rest of the team
Working with production has been like a dream
And I guess I shall list them all to be sure:
Nicola Linda Jane and John Shaw
Michel our director and then there's Avril
Who sadly can't be here for she is unwell
I hope you get better as well as my thanks
And come back soon to their weakened ranks.
Those are they who've been here since I
But there are others to mention, least have a try:
There's Katrina and coral and Gavin Bradshaw
Sarah, Alyssa, Ros and then more
That have come and gone since I first started
And should not be left out just because they have parted.
Kirsti, Paula Julia and more latterly
Richard and Kerry and Amy and Natalie
Then there's Paul and young Anna Redway
All of who left to make brand new headway
To all of these people I owe heartfelt thanks
(Oops…I left a name off…it's Tristan hanks!)
This listing of names is becoming a bore...
So as I was saying it was not long before
I managed to work my way to promotion
To production controller and all it's commotion
And since that day not a moment I've rested
For the job's Like a Doctor's- Your Patients gets tested
By sales teams designers editors all
Writing you emails and giving you calls
The life of a controller can get quite frenetic
So apologies all if I was sometimes splenetic.
Since I've been here I have learned oh so much
From Elise and Caroline- cryptic crosswords and such
From the various members of the Social Committee
-Planning a do in this lively city
From Nicola, Gen, Lorraine and then Caz
-How to write copy that really kicks Azz
From young miss Angelina
-How to sing like a ballerina
Yes I am aware Ballerina's don't sing
But Neither I feel should she that's thing!
I'm joking I'm joking thank you so much
For this lovely party I'm really quite touched
And finally From Beautiful Georgina upstairs
I've learned to keep schtum about love affairs
I'm sorry if I've missed out some names
Truthfully My mem'ries would not be the same
Without each and every person here
To work with, chat with, and share a beer
So thank you too to all those unmentioned
To leave you out was most unintentioned.

If feels there's so much more to tell
About my 3 year 8 month spell
And though I've given you all my thanks
Why does this page still seem so Blank?
Well, I hate to come off like a yob
And Start demeaning all your jobs
Since printing books is what we do-
We deal with words and writing too
But perhaps there just are not the words
To clearly make my feelings heard
Maybe there is no perfect rhyme
To adequately sum up the time
That I have spent and I've enjoyed
All the while I was employed
So I'll leave you all with words instead
That someone else this morning said
To me as a kind of farewell greeting:
"Leaving is the start of our next meeting"
So if his wisdom's right and Zen
[Then] I can't wait to leave...to meet you again.

Thanks very Much for everything!