Ohhhhhhhhhh PT!

This post is a dedication to all my friends and many other students that I may not know of, who are struggling to get their OPTs. If it is any respite, with just about a few months to go, many more of us are surely gonna join this wagon. With two of my room-mates also involved in this struggle to get work authorization, the cunning writer in me needs to go no further than Boston to seek a few more examples, and there you have it, yet another post. Through this post though, I want to convey that I shall pray for the people that I know of, and send out a few anonymous requests, for there is no shortage of takers. It's also a request to all the readers of this post to wish good luck to our budding desis. When things work out eventually, we are all gonna laugh it off some time in the future, then why not try it now. Hope this brings a smile on your face, which most often is 'optional'. For once, the choice is yours.....Peace!


I thought my life took a turn,
banks on the road, banks by my side, secured
that it was time to let the rubber burn, rest assured.
A card in my pocket, jacketed heart, all hands off guard.
Rickety Honda gone long, my Jag was on the road again,
even a blind soul could dig it; my life was on the fast lane.

I thought I had hit the freeway, so I took the GPS off,
and just before she died, she uttered slyly : "exit right!"
Now I am back on the road again, with directions all,
with nowhere to go, on roads to take me where I want.
Shaking my head, I stare at the map again,
even before I could realize that I was lost.

Looking back is never easy, so I took the rear view mirrors down,
like begging to a beggar for a quarter, life's made me a clown.
I never asked for a red carpet underneath my feet, only ground,
then you tied my legs and asked me to clap,
only on my hands when I walked around.

My teacher said in school, that I had a long way to go,
only little stood between me and the elusive dream,
my choices, a piece of paper, and my fire within.
I chose it, racked my brains, got my offer-e- joinin',
I burnt, ash is what's left of my competition,
I stomped the paper then, and it has come to haunt.
I hate it, when she is so god damn right, her taunt!

My vivacious self through a boulevard of flowered streets,
I was made to stretch out my arms, to hunt for my charms,
and just when I thought a petal came down to peck me on the cheek,
I found a thorn with no rose on.

Now this is a situation like never before,
Like I know what's 911, but don't have a phone to call,
I know what needs to be done, just don't ask me how.
Walking on the street, a poet saw my mind on my face,
he stooped low, slid his glasses on to his nose, to say,
"You know how to shoot a rifle, just don't know how to take an aim!"

They call it 'Optional' , and you 'Practically Train' for it all,
Now the 'Option' ain't there no more,
and here comes the buzzer: duty's call.
With nowhere to look, I look up to see who sees it all,
"I wanna go to Vermont, but couldn't you wait for the fall?"