Ph: Memorial: Remembering Neethu Panicker - Chapter 3 Rev 3 Poem by Brian Johnston

Chapter 3

A real turning point came when her school year resumed,
A new boy forced unwanted attention,

Declarations of love! He would follow her home,
With his friends also urging him on her,

Saying, 'He's a great guy you should give him a chance, '
But with recent loss she still felt crippled.

'Though he seems a nice guy, ' she asked, 'What can I do? '
'He is already talking of marriage! '

'Then just say you're too young, ' I said, 'Or you like jocks! '
'Say your intellect can't meet my standards! '

'Better let him down early than give him false hope,
Best to nip this boy's flame while it's blooming.'

'He's the top boy in school, ' she said, 'Soccer team's star, '
'It is only my heart that he can't understand.'

'But this isn't your fault, ' I said, 'He needs to learn, '
'Love requires space or else it's disaster.'

I was stumped I'll admit till I got an idea,
'You should go now to see the headmaster! '

'But I could not do that, the headmaster's his dad, '
She said, 'What could I possibly tell him? '

We decided to let matter rest for a while,
Were surprised when his friends ask forgiveness.

He had found out it seems they were pressuring her
And this never was something he'd asked for.

'Dear God, what can I do, am I crazy to doubt? '
'Now he's asking I come meet his parents! '

'I can't possibly go, I'm not ready for love, '
'There's no way this could make my plight better.'

July 10,2016