Ooooooops! Poem by Raj Arumugam

oops! I might have said something amiss
wandered into un-chartered territory
unknowingly mentioned a subject that’s taboo
unwittingly mentioned things
better left in the unknown depths of the mind
oooops! I might have picked the wrong subject
not deliberately, but really innocent
and everybody looks the other way
and some have their anger suppressed
and some laugh within
at how foolish the innocent ones can be;
and some despise the newcomer
so awkward and untutored
oooops!
I must have chosen the wrong topic
one from the secret list of avoid-these-subjects
and anyone who picks one of these
is as sore-thumb as one who digs his nose in public;
really
otherwise how I do explain this awkward inconvenient feeling?
just me, maybe?
feeling strange when everybody else
didn’t notice
or no one feels feel anything out of the ordinary?
what’s wrong with you?
oooops! I’m socially inapt
and low in EQ and incompetent in social skills
and everybody round must be laughing
at this nervousness, this Mr Bean clumsiness, this silliness
donkey amateur in the context; childish, foolish and downright silly….
OOOOPs! I think I’d better be quiet
and sit down unnoticed in a corner with my coffee and pretend to read the papers
till it all blows away or I don’t feel out of place
and feel again normal ……
oooops! I made so much noise dragging this chair and dropping my drink,
be a bit more discreet, you silly bug,
be wise, adult-like;
be grim and quiet
and make wise pronouncements
with a definitive
that’s the end-of discussion look
once in awhile……
oooppss! no…who me? no…no…I didn’t say anything….
it’s just an old tune from my village
I’m just humming to myself to keep me awake...