On Being a Child

By Nidhi Arora

Sleep when we want to play,

Wake up when we want to sleep.

Keep things that mom likes,

Throw things we want to keep!

If we like it, its ‘unhealthy’,

Veggies and fruits, they’re aplenty!

If God intended us to eat

Broccoli, he’d make it neat.

Pink cake with icing

But the Good Lord chose us to say,

“Cake is good! Let us eat, I pray!”

The parents’ heart is made of rock

It melts not for the sweetest flock!

On studies! Oh! Words fail us

We’re thrown under the bus!

When am I going to use,

The rate at which, heat we lose?

Why the Greek alphabet,

When English works just fine?

Why the history of Mughals,

Are they coming to dine?

Mom is always busy,

Dad is always right.

This is a No-win battle,

Try as we might.

It’s not all bad,

You’re right about that.

But being a child,

In my mind,

Is not a thing of much respite.