"Dear student, as you leave this place" 2013

A poem for this year's Upper 6 leavers.

Dear student, as you leave this place

Allow me to send

you off

with some thoughts,

hopes, and dreams,

I have for you.

                    

I have seen

and heard

and felt

your pain, your joy.

You have brought me

tears and laughter.

From the depths of where you have come from

what you have known

here

May you know

now and always

that within you

is power--

power to determine, to choose

who you will be

who you will let others be

Be peace

Be strength

Be grace

Be love

And let others be

peace  --  strength  --  grace  --   love.

I hope

as you go out into the

big wide

that you, dear student,

never forget the

power of words

to determine

you,

to determine

others.

Do not let

anyone use this power over you

-without your permission-

again.

I hope that words will

instead

move and inspire

you

to be more

than you ever thought possible

I hope you use words to

instead

move and inspire

someone else

to be more

than they ever thought possible.

                                      

I dream for you

the best that I have seen in you.

May you find

the good

the truth

in others, in yourself,

in this place.

And when you do, dear student,

Cling!

Hold fast!

With---all---your---strength.

May you know

everyday

everywhere you go

that

you

can

be

more.

Miss Bell, October 2013