‘Whatever you are’
said my father
‘whatever you will be’
said he
‘will be solely because
of things you enjoy doing
therefore’, said he gravely
‘it will bode you well
not to neglect these’
as I leaned closer
he murmured
‘Read, read more and more
write, write more and more
speak, often and in measured words
teach because you receive much in giving
read because you need to know more to speak less
write because you share and learn as you express yourself
speak because you need to know what you clearly don’t know
not the gadgets, nor the likes, nor the accolades, nor the brickbats
nor you yourself will sustain on your own
most importantly do, go out and do what you can whenever you can wherever you can!’
said my father before he returned to his morning newspaper.