WHY I WON'T

I wrote this poem a few years ago for my daughter Shaina.  Once in a while, the teacher asks kids to learn a new poem of their choice and recite it in class.  After frustrating attempts of downloading Robert Frost poems and asking the child to learn one of them, I gave up and just took the easy way out.  I wrote a poem for her to learn and recite.  In my opinion the poem reflects her nature quite well.

The poem is a thought process that me and my wife have gone through.  The poem is inspired by the thoughts of Mr. Arvind Gupta (http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/) who has been a mentor to me in the area of bringing up children.  I don't believe Mr. Gupta is aware of the fact that he has mentored me :-)

WHY I WON’T

Why must I

Go to school

When I could be

Splashing in the pool?

Why wake up

Early in the morning

And suffer my way

Through all that learning?

The book of History

Is a great big mystery …

Shivaji killed Afzal

Though I didn’t ask him to

And that’s why I

Should know his birthday too?

The book of Science

Is such a sorry old nuisance …

What, they’ll ask

Is Newton’s Law?

I care two hoots

That’s my big bad flaw?

Six and something

Is Avogadro’s number

I don’t give a squat

Ain’t buzzing ‘im even in my slumber

Math I like

Mom says I’m smart

But won’t learn no Tables

By rote and heart

Books, note-books, worksheets

Thick and mean

Brick by brick

They WALL me in

Set me free

I try to shout

Shush! they say

Take your brother’s route!

My brother is him

And I am me

He don’t skate

And I don’t read!

Give me my village

And give me the sun

To play with my animals

And have a lot of fun … !!!

Amlesh – for Shaina (written in 2012)