Giggles in Xanadu

Into Xanadu came Kubla Khan,
So did Olivia Newton John,
Aparna’s nose quivered
As we settled down with the herd
"Another word for incense?"
Asked Ms De Souza.
Perfume, I said to please her
She shuddered and turned away
"Fragrance would’ve been so much better."

At 18, we were at Stella Maris College,
With all the decorum that we could manage
Any passion strictly suppressed, at the nuns’ behest.
A woman wailed for her demon lover
But we were deep in conversation
Not bothered about the maid or her dulcimer
Aparna's hair was cut like George Michael's
She'd channeled Wham and Careless Whisper
Or was it Imran Khan who made me swoon?
To cause all that consternation.

There in class, laughter bubbled
Mouths stretched wide with no elasticity.
Faces turned up to us in the top row,
We found we had become the show.
Sharing one quick giggle,
We finally came to grips
When we heard the shocking dictum
As if a guitar string had snapped mid-strum
“Put your fingers to your lips!!”