Walls or Bridges?


I had given you an option,
I asked," walls or bridges?"
You chose walls instead,
And surrounded yourself with in.
Carrying all the burdens,
You decided to give me relief.
You cried alone, I know.
Though you may deny.
I know you did,
With those silent sobs,
And hidden tears.
You never gave me a hint of,
What was going on in your head.
You just wanted to prove,
After all, you were my father.

I knew ,you wanted me to be perfect.
I should not commit,
Any follies or mistakes.
I must be good enough to be your daughter.
You felt ashamed of
Me being yours after all.
For better or worse,
You were stuck with me for whole life.

Those hugs and encouraging words,
That I needed when I had failed.
I needed you that time to tell me,
That it didn't matter after all.
You never told me that there could be,
Another way, time and another try.
And that day when I succeeded,
I wanted to hear that I did well.
And my ears craved for
Those sweet words,
That you were proud of me.

But I have learnt my lesson,
Though very hard way.
Now, I am used to failure,
Without any regrets.
Now I am used to success,
Without any happiness.
Yes, I am hard as a nail now.
As tough as you, my very own father.

But emotions do betray me sometimes.
My eyes just fill with tears.
And my heart cries out with bitter sobs.
Oh! The day to talk with you apart from weather,
To communicate with you apart from money matter.
To converse with you apart from my mistakes and failure.

And after all these years,
It seems as if you want to.
Your eyes, I see them flicker with emotions
Yes, after all these long, long years,
You want to know how I feel,
Rather than how I should.
After having built walls all around you,
You want to know how to reach me?

But Father ! Walls can't be turned into bridges,
It is not possible.
I am used to closed doors
And tight windows.
I am safe enough behind these walls,
In my own room of gloom.
No, you can't enter!