‘Leaving Behind’: Poem by Tayyaba Rehman, Apeejay School, Noida

I was crimping all of those mementoes,
Reminding me; why I lived, why I cried and why I smiled?
Through the walls, still, I could hear the echoes,
Of the laughter, of the wholeness, of the cries.
I drifted the dull curtains for the last time, to watch the sunset glow,

And then dear, I smiled, for not everything I was leaving behind.
I wrote our name on one of the walls, between the words and scribbles,
Whosoever shall find it, will know what it means.
Also beneath some desks and in the drawers, 

are some long written anonymous letters,
And whosoever shall read them, 

will now feel the place, so tranquil and so clean.
And I hope, if I’ll be coming back, everything will seem better than ever
I don’t want to go, but I know I have to leave.
Whenever, if someone opens my closet,
Under a long doily, will lie some scattered sticky notes.
They have some emotions, hopes and goals, which all this
time, were kept hidden in my pockets,
And then lastly, in the corners, will be diaries, lyrics and quotes.
And I promise, once you shall know, turn around and you’ll see me; I bet
But for now, I don’t want to leave, but I know that I have to go

 Poem by Tayyaba Rehman

Apeejay School, Noida