| What's Bad About Being Good ? |
| By : Padma Rajasekharuni ( Posted on :07 Feb, 2009 ) | Total Views : 624 | Previous | Next |
They said, "You are good as good could be
And cannot be otherwise, you see !"
At ten, I went late to school, and my teacher said, "Why this delay?"
I wanted to tell a lie that I had sprained my leg.
But being branded good I had no words to choose but utter the truth
"Sir, I got up late."
And my teacher said "You are so honest!"
They said, "You are good as good could be !
And cannot be otherwise, you see !"
At thirteen, my dad lost a hundred from his purse
He ransacked the house and out came from his lips, curse after curse
For everyone in the house, but, for me he had no words
I owned it up and he said "See, you cannot hold it long
Since you are so very true."
They said, "You are good as good could be !
And cannot be otherwise, you see !"
At seventeen, my mirth knew no bounds
Watching the pairs go hand in hand in the grounds.
Some one said, "How can an angel like you bear the devils like those?"
Taking the caution, like a holy saint I did pose.
They said, "You are good as good could be !
And cannot be otherwise, you see !"
I glowed in the pride of my goodness throughout.
Till the warmth of it grew to a scorch so hot.
I simmered ,I sizzled, I tanned and I burnt.
Till one day, I longed not to be good,
because being always good didn't do me any good!
Still they said, "You are good as good could be !
And cannot be otherwise, you see !"
On my death bed, I wished to go to hell, and see what do the bad do there,
Down came the angels and took me instead to heaven
And made me watch the bad from those heights
They said, "Your thought did not match with your deed
So you are good indeed!"
And I rested assured that I am good and I CANNOT BE OTHERWISE
Written By : Padma Rajasekharuni
