An ode to embracing your inner child.

I want to smile

all the while

I want to cry

squeeze orange peels

in my eye

I want to run,

go after a kite

under the sun

I want to jump

see the earth rotate, only to

come back to the same place

with a flump

I want to know

why do fireflies

in the night glow

I want to ask

how hot remains hot

and cold, cold

in a flask

I want to shout

from the rooftops

with my lungs out

I want to fight

like cats and dogs

Then reunite

I want to forgive

when you don't return

the comic books

that I give

I want to share

the last bubblegum

and the tattoo sticker, in-pair

I want to kick

stones on the way back

from school

a football trick

I want to sing

ding-ting, ding-ting, ting-ding

I want to dance

before the mirror

with my shadow

given half a chance

I want to hate

the first and last day

at school,

crossing the gate

I want to love

everything I do,

hand in glove

I want to promise

tomorrow means tomorrow,

mother-promise

I want to wish

upon a shooting star, ish!

I want to hope

even when you say

nope

I want to believe

Santa would come on

Christmas Eve

I just want to be a kid

as long as I can

last but not the least

make a bid

Written by: Rupesh Mandal