Do I? Poem by nithya john

To chat with my friends
To hum my favourite tune
To get up a little bit late
To skip my breakfast
Just for a day
Do I need your permission
Dear Dad?

To let my hair loose
To sleep in my pretty dress
To jumble my clothes in the cupboard
To wear a wrinkled top
Just for a day
Do I need your permission
Dear Mom?

To read something outside the syllabus
To visit the canteen in between
To murmur once during the lecture
To play a prank on my friend
Just for a day
Do I need your permission
Dear teacher?

To laugh aloud in company
To wear black or red or blue
To stand hand in hand or face to face
To frown deeply
Just for a day
Do I need your permission
Dear classmate?

I hope I don't need your permission
Dear reader
To love my sister
To care for my brother
To delight my parents
To comfort my friend
To share my tiffin
To pat a dog
To buy a pen
To tear a paper
To wear a bangle
To scribble down
To be myself
As HE moulded me....