No longer a tiny tot,
A year into adolescence,
What changed was astonishing,
And not the least welcoming.
To those days of early nights and heavenly slumber,
I wave a solemn goodbye,
My body aches but I have to stay awake,
Lest in class I should fall behind.
My weekends filled with TV and fun,
Vanished behind my busy schedule
Filled with tuitions and coaching classes.
My beautiful eyes, under them
I see bags and dark patches,
Numerous wrinkles adorn my skin
All gifts of a few hours of sleep.
Every evening or at least every other,
Someone pops up with good advice
On how to deal with the impending board exams,
Looming over me like Goliath.
If caught reading novels or stories,
My mum and dad shoot me reproachful glances.
I should wind up now,
Lest they walk in and I get caught
Writing poems of my misery.
Lekshmy S. Nair , IX B, Mount Carmel Convent AIGHS, Kollam
