Grown Up

By Navita Mathpal

When I was a little girl,

I had a pretty pet,

She died, I cried.

In my teenage years,

I had a furry friend,

He died, I cried.

When I was 24,

My cat had kittens,

They died !!

but grown-ups don't cry?

So, I lied.

"I am fine, I will survive."

When I was dying inside,

They were 'just kittens' after all,

I am a grown-up, not a child anymore!

My daughter is 11,

She brought home a kitten,

Poor Sick thing died,

She didn't cry.

'You don't have to hide,

Cry if you like,

He was your friend,

He deserves your good-bye.'

So she dropped on her knees,

and hugged me tight,

with tears in her eyes,

'but I am a grown-up now,

Grown-up's don't cry!'

By Navita Mathpal