Contrive

Spreading joy is thy seeking

Why your cup within is leaking?

You want your loved to be fulfilled

You toil for their happiness to be tilled

They invariably figure out their path

Your misplaced love invites their wrath

They bring their unique ways with destiny

Why are they owed responsibility?

You take on “to make them happy”

Partner, progeny, relatives, friends

Each hold place of importance

Yet - not to the extent

That you drain yourself of zest

Put yourself through hardships test

They asked not for you to shrink

You habituated them to this kink

As per malady of warped think

Bending, flexing, aspiring

Dimming own light for other's glowing

Thankless, unacknowledged, unappreciated

Drained, dissatisfied is your undertaking

When you put yourself ahead

It’s not a replacement, nor "instead"

Make your cup overflow, pour it full

Nurture strings of self-heart-pull 

Self-care equals not selfish to survive

Tend to your needs, live it up, and thrive

Draw from joy-well within, not self-deprive

Sprinkle self-attention, strive

Create self-celebrations, contrive

Bio

Rupa Rao owes her love for poetry to being a captive listener to her father’s reciting of poetry through her childhood in his sonorous tinkling tone which still resonates deep though he is long gone. She loves her daily long nature walks, gardening, meaningful exchanges, spiritual experiences with scenic beauty, changing seasons, traveling, new countries, cultures, traditions that teach her the meaning of life. Her cheerleader mother is her inspiration and she is supported unconditionally by her sister, twins and husband in her quest to be a better version of herself.