Gains of Going Odd

When I was a child,
my parents said, "Don't play with this and that."
I played.
(Obviously. I also ate mud. No regrets.)

When I was a school kid,
the teachers said, "Work hard."
I listened not.
(I was busy counting ceiling fans.)

Now I am married.
She said, "Learn from others' husbands."
I closed my eyes.
(They buy diamonds. I buy onions. Same thing?)

When I have a child,
he will say, "Let me do this and that."
And I will let him!
(Then blame his mother. 

                                             

 Because

everyone taught me a lesson or two:

Playing taught me to learn
(like how to hide broken toys under the bed).

Laziness taught me to work hard


Comparison taught me who I am

So here's the truth, absurd but true:
Better to do wrong than have nothing to do.
I let lessons pass like a slow-moving train,
then stood in the rain and forgot them again.