There's a lot of peculiarity about my becoming a dad;
While others revelled I cant say that I was not all sad.
It felt like a setback to my carefree happy go lucky days.
I knew not why but everybody felt I should mend my ways.
No more rambling in the wild on a hot and sunny week end,
No sudden trips out of town for now there's a kid to tend.
No more allowed to be like before, bohemian and wild;
A single argument from everyone, “What’ll you teach your child?”
Unlike the times that I could go out and enjoy in the night;
I cant now for a toddler needs to be always kept in sight.
Autumn it was, in late October the date was twenty fifth;
The baby chose to come, and all looked eager for the 'gift'.
Beside my wife in the labour room seeing her huffing and puffing;
Tears trickled down her cheek amidst her writhing and roughing;
I waited in fear holding her hand as she kept crying out in pain;
Debating inside why this was necessary, “what do we have to gain?”
A little child in the house meant giving up on my capers;
Oh what a life I saw ahead, with me changing wet diapers.
An hour long labour later when the baby hit the ground'
“A boy it is,” said the doctor hearing which I frowned.
For all the hoop la our parents made, l’d hoped for a little girl;
Sweet and colourful was what we wanted; a boy becomes a churl.
The nurse carried the boy away as I met the new born mother.
Relieved to find that all was well; my girl was out of bother.
The sister rubbed and cleaned the boy and put him on a scale.
“A Big Boy there,” the nurse declared,”4 kg, hearty and hale.”
“A big boy just like his Father,” I beamed inside my mind.
Wonder from amidst all the fear, ‘pride' how I did find?
I had my first look as they cleaned him and laid him on a tray;
“Innocent lil bugger,” I said without any sugary display.
Wishes and blessings from all around came fast pouring in;
Lil did I realise when my face had changed into a happy grin.
When the baby was brought in for its first ever little suckle;
I prodded him and probed him from his head to toe to knuckle.
While tickling on his tender legs I found in there a mole, “Oh!
This boy will travel a lot,” I named him Marco Polo.
A day later when we came back home with the new born child in tow;
Since then I have not found time to ponder on my woe.
No weekend wilds no unplanned travel no eat outs as before;
But feels all cool, the home feels good, I go out side no more.
A would be father I was then, my heart was full o' reluctance;
The story however is not the same now its almost ten months hence.
Its true that he has reined his heart from every outdoor venture;
But in his son this Reluctant Father has found his best adventure.
