A time to reflect
Now, being a senior citizen,
Is it too late for me to reflect on,
What went wrong in my life?
Born and brought up in a family,
Where morals and values played their role,
I learned to call ‘a spade a spade’.
My straightforwardness, distanced me
From my relatives, and friends.
‘Tyrant’ is the title, I got from my kin and kith,
For I am a disciplinarian.
My dislike for servility, is taken
For haughtiness, by my employers.
My impartiality towards others,
Made me a foe of all equally.
To my pupils, I’m an alien from outer space,
Since I am a lover of perfectionism.
I drew a ‘Lakshmana Rekha’ for my children,
Wishing them to be on the path of righteousness.
They think by being firm towards them,
I have clipped their wings of freedom.
Now, as the most misunderstood man I remain!
To be a pet of all, should I come out of my domain?
Note: ‘Lakshmana Rekha’, in some later versions of the Hindu epic Ramayana, is a line in the soil drawn by Lakshmana. This line is drawn around the dwelling in the forest that he shared with his elder brother, Rama, and Rama’s wife, Sita. This line is meant to protect Sita, while he was away searching for Rama.
Copyright ©
Srinivas Veepuri
|