With my satchel at back
And smiles hidden behind the books,
Dragging my feet,
I left your warm embraces,
Behind the silver gate.
Yet, my heart still lingers
At your doorsteps;
And my mind runs
Along the corridors,
Where we played and had
Our own girlish talks.
And the evergreen playground,
The place we had
Lots of fun and played
Cricket, a boys’ game,
Little unusual for the bygone era!
How eagerly we waited for the bell
Announcing the time of interval;
Still, I cherish the sweet smelling cheese cakes,
Ice-creams and mouth-watering burgher buns
At the school canteen,
Where we lingered often
And was scolded much.
Hand-in-hand we wandered around
The school premises, and tiptoed
When passing the Principal’s room
Many may have their sweet memories
Of you and your family of Visakhians,
And the guiding lights,
Our beloved teachers!
I salute thee with much respect
For the century you’ve scored,
In the field of education.
May you be blessed
With strength and determination,
To walk through the unending destination
Of life’s journey,
In moulding the young generation,
Of our beloved nation.
Nilu Anushka Jayasuriya,
Gampaha (1990 A/L batch Visakhian)