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Description
when I was six,
I was told to put my toys away,
bury my head in books
to be happy, they claimed.
so I obeyed.

when I was eighteen,
I was told to stop dancing,
attend university
to achieve success and glory.
to be untroubled, they claimed.
so I gave up my passion.

when I was twenty-one,
I was told to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer,
anything but a choreographer.
to be secure in life, they said.
so I threw my dreams away.

when I was twenty-eight,
I was told to sacrifice my job,
bear him a child to avoid divorce.
this ties him down, they said.
so I kept my marriage.

when I was forty,
I was told to let my daughter marry,
respect her decision,
even when I knew she would be like me.
to be a good mother, they convinced.
so I gave in.

when I was fifty-two,
I was told to pray for my daughter’s pregnancy,
but I knew her pair of eyes all too well.
it was like my eyes
staring right back at me.
and I turned away.

when I was dying,
I was told I shouldn’t leave them yet.
I heard their cries and tears for me to stay.
to be a legacy, they conveyed.
but this time,
I didn’t want to obey.

Maybe, just this once, I think I found my happiness.

Description
when I was six,
I was told to put my toys away,
bury my head in books
to be happy, they claimed.
so I obeyed.

when I was eighteen,
I was told to stop dancing,
attend university
to achieve success and glory.
to be untroubled, they claimed.
so I gave up my passion.

when I was twenty-one,
I was told to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer,
anything but a choreographer.
to be secure in life, they said.
so I threw my dreams away.

when I was twenty-eight,
I was told to sacrifice my job,
bear him a child to avoid divorce.
this ties him down, they said.
so I kept my marriage.

when I was forty,
I was told to let my daughter marry,
respect her decision,
even when I knew she would be like me.
to be a good mother, they convinced.
so I gave in.

when I was fifty-two,
I was told to pray for my daughter’s pregnancy,
but I knew her pair of eyes all too well.
it was like my eyes
staring right back at me.
and I turned away.

when I was dying,
I was told I shouldn’t leave them yet.
I heard their cries and tears for me to stay.
to be a legacy, they conveyed.
but this time,
I didn’t want to obey.

Maybe, just this once, I think I found my happiness.