Oh, To Not To Follow Instructions! Poem by Prathibha Nandakumar

Oh, to not to follow instructions!

Remember how you instructed me not to
Follow you to the bus stand?
How you did not want to see me again?
How you made a rule that your mother
Should not invite me for the farewell?

You never wanted a line from me
Or even a phone call
And burnt all things embroidered
Painted, sketched, cooked, smuggled
Into your room.

You advised me to go look
for someone matching my age
that you are too old and destined
not to die in the arms of someone half your age

Just imagine if I had taken you seriously!