Makeover Poem by Prabhakar Subramaniam

My distant kin

Suddenly warmed to me

Discovered nice things

In me, my family

The book-worm became a book-lover

Likely to win a Booker

(Do they have one for readers?)

Called me smart, affable and gregarious

When I used to be uncouth, grumpy and reclusive

After 40 years praised my crooked smile

Said my 90-kg,5-ft. frame

Was just right for my age!

And they should learn from me

How to age gracefully!

Remembered our birthdays

Our wedding anniversary

Enquired about my recovery

Even if I caught the common cold

Now kept inviting us for lunch

When not once during those years

When we could well have starved to death

Who should I thank?

For this surge of attention

For this shower of affection

Who else, but my offspring

For landing a green-card groom.