Last Day of School
Discovery in Rhyme
She questioned her teacher, “Please, read just one more?
Today’s my last day and I’ll never be back
No free play or dress up or midmorning snack.

I’ll miss the big rug where we do lots of things,
The playground outside where I swing on the swings,
I’ll miss all the teachers who just make me smile,
And the friends that I’ve known for such a long while.”

Her teacher said, “Lauren, I know how you feel’
Your last day at school is a very big deal.
You’ve been here three years and we’ve all watched you grow
But new things await you, you’re ready to go

So instead of a book, I’ll speak of one day
When a young girl like you was off on her way
She encountered a man, a stranger, but nice
They shared with each other this piece of advice.

When you leave a special place there is something you will find
You bring with you the stories of the past you’ve left behind
This place you leave will miss you and although you know it’s true
As you move on remember we will keep your stories too.

The man held a book with yellowish pages
All stained by the years that matched their old ages
He flipped the book open to page 909
And started to write down a couple of lines.”

“While passing a school on a path made of bricks
I see a young girl, I think almost six.
She carries a backpack and moves cautiously
Then stops for a moment and looks right at me.”

“What are you writing?” said the girl to the man
He said to the girl, “Everything that I can.
This is your first day but today is my last
So I’m writing it down before it’s the past.”

“I know how you feel.  But I’m sure that you know
There are new things ahead, wherever you go.
I just left a place of which I was fond
And now I’m excited for what is beyond

When you leave a special place there is something you will find
You bring with you the stories of the past you’ve left behind
This place you leave will miss you and although you know it’s true
As you move on remember we will keep your stories too.”