Ode to Goodbyes

Oh goodbyes
thank you for giving us
a reason to celebrate
and cry
or hold back tears
while celebrating
the ends of things
one door shuts
another one opens
somewhere
down a long hallway

Without you, goodbyes,
would we think
to stop
to appreciate?
to give each other
gifts and cards
and kind words?

Once I sobbed on the last day of school.
My second graders were very confused.
Once my sixth-graders sobbed on the last day of school
I stood back and watched them say
Goodbye.

I’ve said goodbye to friends
a man I thought I knew
countless children I called
“my class”
And now I say
Goodbye
to
you

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by An Ode to the Unworthy on Ethical ELA…