The Best Friendly Advice Poem by Ananta Madhavan

A popular Journal ran a column
On the Best Advice a reader had received,
Without being undeceived.

Some sent in spoof quips, common or solemn,
"Trim your finger-nails before you touch her",
Or sermons within the hundred word maximum.

Some tried jesting: ‘Tuck up your napkin, my pretty,
Before tucking into that slithering spaghetti'.

As an amateur I tried my prentice hand
At proffering some really useful counsel;
But editors declined to give it space.

I said what I had to say; so here it is:
"Never give advice to anyone
Who, as you know, will not take it",
Or even pretend to fake it.

Especially refrain from saying this:
"If I were you, I would do such and such."
The other will think it is too much;
Even if too polite to retort,
"If so, follow your own counsel for a start."