Stop Being You And Start Being Me. Poem by Supriya Prathapan

Everybody keeps telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me!
Please ensure that you smile a little more.
It is important for the world to know, you are not a big bore! ”

Everybody keeps telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me!
Work less, talk more, every now and then, throw an anecdote.
It is important for the world to know, you are not reserved and remote.”

Everybody keeps telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me!
Flirt a bit with men of every kind,
It is important for the world to know that you have a sane straight mind! ”

Everybody keeps telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me!
You work too hard and party too less,
It is important for the world to know that you are not a damsel in distress! ”

Everybody keeps telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me! ”
You big big bullies, please understand,
Like you, I too inhabit a free land.

So darling nobodies, stop telling me,
“Stop being you and start being me! ”
I choose to disagree, with every worldly advice, you generously throw at me.
The world’s opinion, is important to you, but not to me.