Pinocchio

Fate, the absolute tyrant -

Brings me to my desk,

And I sit down to vent

This infernal night,

As prose or verse,

Or utter hogwash -

My wasted emotions -

Which some termed rhapsodic.

I promised myself not to cry -

As the day would dawn,

And I'd wheel down the aisle.

Making myself fall prey -

To another trade

Of cash and silver and solid gold,

A car and bungalow and so much more

- Of which in detail, I wasn't told.

Though I was called a beauty

Who could leave people dazed,

With two curvy dimples,

That lit my pretty face.

People never touched me

And would look at me with shame

Tell me I looked fragile

Once they knew I was lame.

I grew within four walls -

Comfy cushions and space

And it wasn't my legs, feeble

That restricted my pace.

It was love from parents

Siblings' scorn and care

That kept me from the wisely world

To go outdoors, I never dared.

I grew up crawling on my limbs

And seeing people walk

I never wished for them to stop -

Only prayed that they wouldn't talk!

For it was not their legs, I longed for

I reveled for what I was!

I only hoped they applied thought

Before pitying, how crippled I am!

I grew up watching the world go by

Each day and night would fly

Fantasizing with what I had been blessed -

My free and 'abled' mind!

I dreamt of a world - filled with trust

And friends who would 'walk' with me

Who would talk to me for who I was

And not offer sympathy!

I wished for love,

And found mine, divine

In a fairy tale -

Ironic indeed!

I sang love songs,

Wrote mushy poems

Painted wild dreams -

All to him, which would eventually lead.

You must have known this little boy -

Though a flaw, he did make history.

"Pinocchio", he was fondly called

And was known as a puppet with zeal!

It was not his quest for love that struck

Nor his zest to live

For it was his gait with wooden legs,

In which I could identify me!

But my dreams were thwarted

When to a man, I was entrusted -

(Or rather, on me thrusted)

One - with no love, but legs instead.

Along with blessings

For him to take along

Ample gifts were bestowed -

To keep us betrothed!

And now I await

To be proclaimed his wife

In the presence of a world

Which always kept me deprived.

It will be dawn

And I will soon be gone -

Yet I will yearn

For my Pinocchio to return!