I DON'T ADVISE CHILDREN NOW

I don't advise children now;

Quite often I'm talking to a wall.

I give them my love and silence,

Hoping that they will learn

From life and myriad situations

Strategies for life and living it well.

Less heartbreak and ill-will now;

For nothing is obnoxious as an old man

Telling you, “ I told you so oftentimes.

If you had heeded me, all this” blah blah.

All must go through life discovering

For themselves truths buried in tomes!

Impulses, I hope, will lead to final wisdom.

But I wonder if books will be written for posterity!

For what use are books when each and everyone

Wants to learn for himself from experience,

From life and not from teachers and hoary sages

As we did when we were curious little children!