WHILE IN ROME, BEHAVE AS……

WHILE IN ROME, BEHAVE AS……


No doubt, lady, you look rather charming,
Exercising in fresh air calm and clear.
Though you are holding the rope quite tightly,
I still think that you have reason to fear.

Supporting yourself just by five fingers,
Perched precariously on the railing;
Limbs apart, the skirt floating in the air,
In controlling yourself, you are failing,

You have come to India from the West
As a tourist, and you are welcome too.
But such a scene that you are creating
In this public park is just a taboo.

While in Rome behave as the Romans do.
Be sensitive to others I beg you.

Join a gym for your mood acrobatic.
Indoors, it won’t be so problematic.


• Written in pentameter with abcb rhyme in the first three stanzas, followed by two rhyming couplets.
• Written for the "Project Write World" , Project Write World contest, 10th round, in response to a picture prompt showing a young lady in a precarious position.


M C Gupta
7 June 2009