Papa

I am sorry, I ran away that day

When you went off to buy vegetables after school

I was so sulky.

I thought I did not matter to you

And I wanted to get lost somewhere;

So that I would matter.

For the first time I realised,

How big a small town could be!

And how scared I can be,

When you are not around.

I did not want to get lost;

I wanted to exist to matter.

And when I found it later

That you kept searching for me,

Leaving aside all your works;

I realized, I matter.

Since then, I have tried to follow you,

As my world has turned bigger and I feel smaller.

And though at times you do not show

I know that I matter to you.