The Boy Who Collected Goodbyes

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In my Primary Five class was a boy
named Boon.
Who stored goodbyes
In a box.

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He brought it to school —
Glass —
And filled it with coloured notes
When someone left.

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We found it strange.
I laughed with others
At him
Louder than needed.
But I once asked –“Why glass?”

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“Because cardboard tears.
Forgets.
Glass recalls. Even when
it cracks.”

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When our teacher died
He filled the box
So full it made
His desk
Sink.

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When Jia Le transferred schools,
He wrote “See you soon”
And sealed it — it meant something
to him.
He wanted to recall people
And their steps.

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Their voices.
Their hugs.

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But one day,
He left too.

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No box.
No note
Just his empty seat
And blank coloured paper.

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Time went on.
My father passed.
I stood by his bed
With a swallowed goodbye.

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Then I thought of Boon
And how he gave Sorrow
A proper seat
The way we do
For people.

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He wasn’t odd.
He just knew what it meant
To remember.

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