| myōōz |
MUSE the source of inspiration for a creative artist
OUR MISSION The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine is a collection of original, creative content produced by students of Archbishop Mitty. The purpose of this magazine is to support students’ creative expression, to allow students to share their words and experiences in an imaginative way, and to establish a community of artists, writers, and thinkers. By creating an outlet for student voices, The Muse hopes to foster a culture of self-expression and interconnection throughout the entire student body.
DEAR READER… We are proud to present the first edition of The Muse for the 2023-24 school year. High schoolers often feel time slowly churning as we beg classes to end. Our seniors feel time slipping through their fingers, their careers at Mitty starting to come to an end. As we embrace time — our theme just a year ago — and nostalgia, we editors felt it was important to recognize another aspect of time, as it always seems to linger in our minds: “Dreams and Memories.” Dreams weave threads of imagination and hope in our lives, offering us glimpses of what could be. As teenagers, dreamers by nature, we are at the precipice of shaping our futures. The dreams we hold today are the blueprints for the lives we wish to lead in college and beyond, guiding us toward futures currently unwritten. Amidst our dreams, we encounter memories - fragments of our pasts that shape the contours of our present. In our memories, we can find laughter, challenges, and growth. Our time at Mitty will soon be a happy memory, filled with new knowledge, joy, family, and a second place to call home. With all this in mind, we decided to depict our theme through the cycle of sleep; this is portrayed through the chapters “Drifting Off”, “Dreams and Memories”, “Falling into Fantasy”, “Nightmares”, and “Back to Reality”. As you turn the pages of The Muse, I hope you can reflect on your past and dream about your future, just as the creative students who submitted their work did. Thank you for reading.
next edition coming in May
OUR EDITORS + ADDITIONAL THANKS
JULES BANUCCI ‘24 | Editor-in-Chief In The Muse, I adore seeing all of the creative works of our talented students; I also enjoy directing editors, creating art pieces, designing posters, and editing itself. In my free time, I love hiking, photography, and listening to jazz.
CHLOE LOU ‘24 | Head of Advertising
I love promoting The Muse submissions with poster designs. In my free time, I watch The Good Place and shop for earrings.
MR. KEVIN BRAZELTON Moderator
KYRENE PINEDA ‘24 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is the community and the fact that we’re able to showcase everyone’s work and talent! My hobbies are jewelry making, songwriting, and fashion.
YARELY MORENO ‘24 | Editor To make The Muse a reality, I like being able to work collaboratively with amazing and creative people. Some of my hobbies are hiking, art, and collecting mugs
ALLISON MAU ‘24 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is being able to look at what everyone has created and slowly piece it together to create something greater. I really like to go on hikes and bird watch with my family.
GWENYTH TRAN ‘24 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is creating stories through the pieces paired together and the page arrangement. I also design robots on our FRC robotics team at AMHS!
RIA SUDHIR ‘24 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is witnessing students’ unique voices shining through through their submissions. I enjoy reading and baking brownies!
ARABELA DAMARILLO ‘24 | Editor I love seeing all of your wonderful creations when editing The Muse! I like baking bread and perfecting the sourdough craft.
MADISON LIN ‘25 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is getting to read and see everyone’s submissions—always very inspiring! In my spare time, I enjoy photography, specifically of birds.
ANISHA MAHARJAN ‘25 | Editor I love being able to showcase the artistic talents of our Mitty community in The Muse. I love creating art with mixed mediums and playing the guitar, ukulele, and piano.
KATHERINE WILCOX ‘25 | Editor The Muse allows for people to express themselves through art, which is something I really appreciate. Coaching and practicing speeches for our speech and debate team is my favorite thing to do with any free time.
VINCENT KWAN ‘25 | Editor
My favorite part of The Muse is putting together different pieces of art, photography, and poetry. I enjoy drawing on Procreate and writing Chinese calligraphy.
LEN TRAN ‘25 | Editor I like seeing the art that is displayed in The Muse. I like to draw, listen to music, and look at my Pokemon.
LAUREL WILLIS ‘26 | Editor My favorite part of The Muse is collaborating with other editors and planning the types of advertisements we’ll be using to promote each issue. In my free time, you can find me drawing or taking pictures for fun and for the AMHS yearbook.
MEGAN KELLOGG ‘26 | Editor I enjoy coming up with themes and marketing strategies for The Muse. In my free time, I like to do archery and sketch.
SPECIAL THANKS TO… MRS. JANELLE KROENUNG PROOFREADER MR. KEITH MATHEWS ADMINISTRATOR
chapter 1: drifting off Float, Jonathan Chen 20 Day Dreamin', Leo Guo 20 Bubble, Haley Han 21 Japanese Utopia, Vanessa Chang 22 Stars of the City, Lucas Watson 22 Slipping Away, Audrey Florit 23 Summer Beech, Ryan Rulkens 23 Hoping on a White Christmas, 24 Eva Sullivan Untitled, Cole Topping 26 The Seed, Ryan Rulkens 27 Infinite Time, Sudeep Mangam 28 State of Time, Maddy Spada 29 Horizon - 2, Alexandra Nguyen 30 The Majestic Ray, Mason Liu 32 Cats, Espen Callahan 33 Silent Fears, An-Po Chen 34 Marie Antoinette Syndrome, 35 Nailah Cannon Summer in Big Sur, Josie Vida 36 Nostalgic Emotion, Mandy Corkey 37 Luca's Photography, Luca Centola 38 Summer Memories, Emma Nguyen 39
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter 2: dreams and memories 42 girl from the past, Alanna Warner 43 A Moment of Reflection, Maria Anisimova 44 Denial Blindfold, Malia Martin 45 Untitled, Siyona Kher 46 October Soul, Ilinca Pandelea 47 Horizon - 1, Alexandra Nguyen 48 One Summer's Day, Alanna Warner 48 | 51 | 74 | 75 Untitled, Siyona Kher 49 A Berry Happy Life, Chaith Mittal 50 Childhood's Departure, Devin Regan 52 | 66 Summer Memories, Emma Nguyen 53| 62 Untitled, Juliana Bernal 54 Across the Sea, Chaith Mittal 56 Horizon - 3, Alexandra Nguyen 57 Silver Ring, Jacob Park 58 floating, Kaylee Wibowo 58 Balance, Tomas Bergines 59 Blue Moon, Ishaan Ahuja 59 Great Grandma's Labor of Love, Nathan Hsu 60 Ode to My Dog, After Pablo Neruda, Nathaniel Tirado 61 Reminiscent Clouds, Vanessa Chang 61 Time, Ishaan Ahuja 62 Lighting Up Our World, Eva Sullivan 63 Dreams, Dylan Breiten 63 | 68 Luca's Photography, Luca Sentola 64 we migrate north, Claire Kim 65 Distant Foreground, Nicole Tsioutsioulikli 67 Late Night Drives, Xavier Lun 69 sunset by your side, Amber-Thy Huynh 69 dream, once, Amber-Thy Huynh 70 A Hazy Night, Madison Lin 72 old habits die hard, Angela Vu 73 To Be Amongst The Clouds, Xavier Lun
chapter 4: nightmares chapter 3: falling into fantasy Field of Dreams, Melodie Lee 78 Luca's Photography, Luca Centola 79 To Dream, Xavier Lun 80 The Sweetness of Dreams, Jasmin Tautges 82 Summer Memories, Emma Nguyen 84 phantasmagoric, Kyomin Kwon 85 Childlike Wonder, Claire Kim 86 Electrowave Pool, Azure Livingston 87 puffy clouds, Amber-Thy Huynh 88 What Lies Beneath, Oscar Ortega 90 Dream to Reality, Sashank Balusu 92 Cathedral Blues, Hannah Ying 94 Speaker Lights, Taylor Cabrieto 96 Carousel of Dreams, Claire Kim 97 Birthday, Felicity Chung 98 Padmé Amidala, Felicity Chung 99 A Flicker of Brilliance, Jay Lee 100 Bus, Arya Dandawate 102 Nocturnal, Alexandra Nguyen 103 Untitled, Kaitlyn Altmar 104 Dreaming On a Star, Eva Sullivan 105
108 Novaturient, Kyomin Kwon 109 swing set, Alanna Warner 109 the peace undone, Kyomin Kwon 110 Childhood's Departure, Devin Regan 110 Six Word Story, Amber-Thy Huynh 111 Rain: A Friend, Xavier Lun 111 Another Family, Dasha Nikuliak 112 A Prayer for World Peace, Deepika Sujay 113 Let Schools Be Schools Again, Dylan Breiten 113 Mother's Mercy, Arabela Damarillo 114 Victor's Memory of a Modern Resurrection, Nailah Cannon 115 Bro & Mickey, Chaith Mittal 115 Wonderland Consumerism, Caitlin Molsberry 116 Luca's Photography, Luca Centola 117 Six Word Story, Chaith Mittal
chapter 5: back to reality 120 | 126 | 127 | 132 Untitled, Juliana Bernal 121 Untitled, Kaitlyn Altmar 122 20/20 Vision, Laurel Willis 124 Summer's Day, Joyce Gao 128 Cool With You, Amber-Thy Huynh 129 My Best Friend is Taller Than Me (And I'm Okay with That), Arabela Damarillo 130 Gold Blooded, Leo Guo 131 Winter's Orange, Mary Pham 133 Summer Memories, Emma Nguyen 134 A Raindrop's Journey, Deepika Sujay 135 | 140 Untitled, Siyona Kher 136 Untitled, Cole Topping 137 Six Word Story, Sashank Balusu 138 Stunned by the Sky, Eva Sullivan 142 Luca's Photography, Luca Centola
............
THE FALL SEMESTER COLOR PALETTE
CHAPTER 1: zzzz
:_
DRIFTING OFF falling asleep gradually and peacefully
Float Jonathan Chen ‘26
Day Dreamin’ Leo Guo ‘27 20
Bubble Haley Han ‘26
21
Slipping Away Audrey Florit ‘27
Stars of the City Lucas Watson ‘27
22
The stars of the city Light up a life Living in space With a solar system of time Each planet a moment To your universe of life The solar flares of hate The shooting stars of hope And the eclipse of enlightenment All for the connection of your environment And to just go back to work The next morning What a pity
Japanese Utopia Vanessa Chang ‘25
Slipping Away Audrey Florit ‘27
Summer Beech Ryan Rulkens ‘24 What is made of summer beech? The leaves grow crisp, yet bark turns weak As ravens preach and screech—in sleek, Cacophonous speech—all perched up on their summer beech. And to the choir they preach— Those lovely birds of prey; On joy, on light, on all of day Til’ heat swelters to night. Home, homeward we go For nothing is to show On steamy, sleepless summer nights With naught but jet-black snow.
23
24
Hoping on a White Christmas Eva Sullivan ‘26
25
Untitled Cole Topping ‘27
26
The Seed Ryan Rulkens ‘24
I am the seed When I sleep I die And when I’m born It all looks a bit wrong Doesn’t it? Take me back To the seed I am the life Without living The World is spinning Yet cuts still bleed It’s not real Bring me back Home is the seed Of potentiality— Am I alive? 27
Infinite Time Sudeep Mangam ‘26
28
State of Time Maddy Spada ‘26 As Calico Critters and Lincoln Logs roam my mind, I forget the current state of my time. I remember the plastic, hexagon shapes, That would always fall once you misplace. Kind of like my life in this time, When around every corner is a new wall to climb. I wish I could just sit with my sister, once again. Not worrying about how much I'll miss her, when she leaves in the end. Off to college she’ll go, As I sit and remember the Calicos. We’ll dream together, in separate worlds, About the Lincoln Logs we built long before. As I come back to this state of time, I try to make sure every moment is mine. Forgetting how I used those plastic shapes, And create new memories with the ones who take their place. Still remembering the toys of my past, I sit in a class with a D etched on my back. I try to forget, and remember the times before, And return for a moment, back to the Calicos. 29
Horizon - 2 Alexandra Nguyen ‘27
30
31
The Majestic Ray Mason Liu ‘26
32
Cats Espen Callahan ‘27
Abby and Mr. Biggs, The two cats, One who snuggles, one who appreciates belly rubs, One falls, then the other, Nothing to do. Longing for more, Find a place, Find a group, Adopt the crazy kittens, Loving Parents, Luna and Caspian, Brave and skittish, Always friendly, Key to the house, Office House Move All the craziest, All the love, Thankful, For my cats.
33
Silent Fears An-Po Chen ‘25 Never too soon to start—too late. Practicing, studying, repeat. In ten years, I want to have succeeded, But if not, that’s okay. Working, competing, complaining— Silence drives me crazy. (Maybe not just the silence?) —But I tell myself it’s alright To keep going Because I fear stopping even more.
34
Marie Antoinette Syndrome Nailah Cannon ‘24
35
Summer in Big Sur Josie Vida ‘24
36
Nostalgic Emotion Mandy Corkey ‘27
A soft whisper, a petal that falls. Morning dewdrops, rolling down the sides of his face. Shadows of glass hide the redness of eyes, painting pictures of puddles, and pooling with regret. Collapse to the ground, his own hand must now hold, the trigger of dying embers burns bright with a fierceness So sad as the life that used to spread joy now holds his own pain and the pain of those he loved who came before. Holding so dear the past of no fear, releasing the breath, and finally letting go.
37
Luca’s Photography Luca Centola ‘27
38
Summer Memories Emma Nguyen ‘27
39
CHAPTER 2:
a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal
DREAMS AND MEMORIES the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information a recollection of the past
though the glass is pristine my vision is distorted while searching her eyes my vain mind is transported when she was but a girl meaningless was perception radiance ever present though not worth a mention glances were garnered but never abundant with one look, a smile compliments redundant assured in her beauty both inside and out young mind not corrupted by incessant doubt right now in the present this girl is not there she hides in the past when she gave not a care however, she wanders appears in deep slumber in dreams of fulfillment life aglow with wonder therefore when i sleep i wistfully pray for permanent dreams where the assurance stays and that girl from the past is the one here today
girl from the past Alanna Warner ‘26 42
A Moment of Reflection Maria Anisimova ‘26
43
It was me who was content with keeping the denial blindfold on It kept me from addressing truths that were too honest and raw. It was you who caressed my heart and massaged my temples. Your convincing, along with my reluctant will forced my shaky hands to untie the denial blindfold.
Denial Blindfold Malia Martin ‘26
It was you who already adopted similar truths—honest and raw— for yourself. You made a quilt out of them and used it for warmth when it got cold. It was me who was afraid of these truths who tried to make them lies, falsities. The truths didn’t provide comfort as they did for you. It was me who had to knead these truths slowly, in hopes to soften them. That way I too could find comfort in them. It was you who left me. It was me who was left to wrestle with my truths.
44
It was you. It was me. It was us.
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27
45
October Soul Ilinca Pandelea ‘26 On autumn nights I lie and dream I breathe and paint her hazel eyes The way her face looks up in beams Of sunshine and eternal skies My record skips, I hold my breath The golden day draws to a close Slowly facing her striking death A figure on the duvet rises She raises her broken hand And I hold it with my troubled soul The amber room fills up andThe piano keys like maple leaves smile She leaves me like a child
46
Horizon - 1 Alexandra Nguyen ‘27 47
One Summer’s Day Alanna Warner ‘24 I recall one summer’s day We never thought someone would fall Life was just a slip away The path led us astray Heat consuming one and all I recall one summer’s day Tired feet stumbled to shade Griping voices merely stalled Life was just a slip away Wearied bodies walked, afraid The side beginning to grow tall I recall one summer’s day The peak was reached to none’s dismay Though one decided to appall Life was just a slip away
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27
48
On the edge, a carefree sway Turned into a desperate call I recall one summer’s day Life was just a slip away
A Berry Happy Life Chaith Mittal ‘26 49
Childhood’s Departure Devin Regan ‘26
50
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27
51
Summer Memories Emma Nguyen ‘27 52
Untitled Juliana Bernal ‘25 53
54
55
Horizon - 3 Alexandra Nguyen ‘27 56
Silver Ring Jacob Park ‘26 When the silver ring slipped onto your finger, You vowed to keep it perfect. When you slid it onto her finger, You promised to hold it forever. But how impossible it is, To keep it from ruin, To cease the scratches, the drops, Or even the cracks. It is ring-nature; It is bound to happen. No use weeping, nor trying to fix it; only dust it off and slip it back on. The scratches, the dents, reshape the silver, The blemish, the chips, reveal the shine. And so dear friends, Do not be in dismay, For our ring now shines like no other.
57
Balance Tomas Bergines ‘24 Life is but a dream. You can’t see inbetween. What is sleep and what is life Question marks in the night. I don’t sleep sometimes. I don’t live either I’m a live receiver For what’s beyond rhymes. In life or death, I don’t know. There’s light beyond the snow. I’m a clear star in the dark night. Watching angels fight.
floating Kaylee Wibowo ‘24
58
Great Grandma's Labor of Love Nathan Hsu ‘24 In dreams, I saw my great grandma's fervent toil, Within a canned fruit factory's sweltering coil, Her brow adorned with sweat, her heart so stout, In wretched heat, she never did give out. Her hair was shining 'neath the scorching sun, Yet she, undaunted, labored, not undone. The sweat upon her skin like liquid gold, A testament of strength, a story told. Her calloused hands, they counted coins with grace, The tokens of her labor, hard-earned grace. With just a few, she forged a path of joy, To buy a simple toy for her dear boy. In dreams, her sacrifice became a song, A melody of love, both deep and strong. Her son's bright smile, a treasure to behold, A testament to love, more precious than gold. But then I woke, her presence slipped away, Yet in that dream, her love will always stay. A vision of her strength, a heart so fond, In dreams, her legacy forever beyond.
Blue Moon Ishaan Ahuja ‘26 59
Ode to My Dog, After Pablo Neruda Nathaniel Tirado ‘27
60
He was kinder than all dogs I had met he had a big dopey smile you could never forget a gentle giant I wish to see again he is not dead but far away although sometimes good things must end almost how eventually we will be sent out On our own yet we must never fear because fear left untamed will control you it’ll play you like cards so you can’t Back down you always must find a way to truly succeed but that makes one think that one can be successful but never happy money can corrupt even the kindest of souls like Bacteria rots the apple yet calm
You must stay in a uncertain future as if in a rocky stream through a river yet time waits For nothing it speeds like a car keep a steady head and shoot further then the stars be brave when you explore You’re own uncharted path be loyal to friends don’t argue just listen when I say all of this there is only one thing that comes to mind my loyal companion who stuck by my side although he is not with me I still remember the lessons he had taught he never spoke yet said a thousand words with his actions to show he cared he wasn’t just a dog no he was like
a second brother and now I feel he made me a better person with his obnoxious barking and his heart pure as glass
Reminiscent Clouds Vanessa Chang ‘25 world of wonders, a heavenly echo, that devours my worries, and gently clasps my thoughts. grassy meadows upon silvery lakes i float on, no one to perceive me, and settle in a flowerly bloom, hugged by the unseen familiarity. my blind eyes, forever open.
Time Ishaan Ahuja ‘26 Time is endless Time never dies Time is senseless And yet time just flies Time is everlasting Time is forever Time isn’t stopping And yet time can be whenever Time will last for eternity Time will last for infinity Time is ageless and sublime And yet there will never be enough time.
61
A gentle sun That greets us all A gentle sun that walks us home You shine your light and don’t look back You lighten up a heart a school a city and the world
Lighting Up Our World Eva Sullivan ‘26
Untitled Julianna Bernal ‘25 62
Luca’s Photography Luca Sentola ‘27 Dreams Dylan Breiten ‘27 Fleeting thoughts that come close and go far, Tastes of what we want to experience and feel, Glimpses of the heart and spirit through slumber, Guiding us towards our goal.
A world we can touch and comprehend.
The colors and images wander in our minds, A canvas of imagination that unravels The impossible becomes a reality,
So let your mind roam free in wonder, For in your dreams, you can explore The depths of your person and mind, And find the path that makes you one.
Dreams, our doorway to the unknown, A place where our fears are nonexistent, Where hope and faith intertwine, And possibilities and hopes take their place.
63
we migrate north Claire Kim ‘26 from our waking hour to death’s devour we dream and it begins when we first see the light gleam, when we’re born, some dream of unicorns others dream of soccer players and others of mayors but these are childish dreams for we don’t yet know life’s extremes when we reach teenage years and our daily routine is filled with tears we dream to be free like birds perched in the trees, we dream to have wings, to do great things but we spend so long dreaming of the future that we barely realize we’ve become mature in the blink of an eye, we’ve learnt to fly we’re off to college to learn some knowledge but soon as we know it we get hit– hit with the realization that we’ve graduated and those painful all-nighters and exams we hated are now over and we’re free from our enclosure
64
but now that we got older we somehow got less bolder we don’t volunteer anymore– that was just for college apps, now they bore we quit our sport we stopped our hobbies short we let our bosses yell in our face, hurling insults at an alarming pace the words we want to yell back are unspoken and our wings are broken we’re no longer humans with lives we’re bosses, doctors, husbands, wives we no longer find joy in the small things every day and “I’m tired” is all we seem to say in these years of hardship and dullness we look at our childhood years of fullness and we don’t know where to fly– to when we were born, or to when we will die? we reminisce about the time we were born, when we dreamt to be a unicorn, a soccer player, a mayor but those dreams never seemed to last because we’re still stuck in the past and we’re bosses, doctors, husbands, wives instead of the childish dreams from our mind’s archives we miss when our parents and teachers would reassure we miss our enclosure
Distant Foreground Nicole Tsioutsioulikli ‘24
so as our lives continue to unfold, create more dreams, make new stories to be told there’s no use missing what was and there’s no use trying to find out the because, find those childish dreams and stories in the present:
in the moon’s crescent in your mother’s smile in the autumn leaf pile in the sunshine or rain in the happiness or pain because to seek the warm spring and once more flap our wing, to see what life will bring forth, we must migrate North
65
Summer Memories Emma Nguyen ‘27
66
Late Night Drives Xavier Lun ‘26
67
Luca’s Photography Luca Centola ‘27
68
sunset by your side Amber-Thy Huynh ‘26
dream, once Amber-Thy Huynh ‘26 I had a dream, once, that one day I would find you. Among the stars, maybe, or among clouds, I figured I would find you. Like a bright light, you know, behind the silver lining, I thought I would find you. I would reach out to you, and I would find you. I had a dream, once, that one day, I woke up—and I lost you.
69
A Hazy Night Madison Lin ‘25
70
71
old habits die hard Angela Vu ‘24
when i was little, i was convinced that the clouds were just a bunch of jet-puffed jumbo sized marshmallows floating up in the sky. so every time i looked up, the taste of powdered sugar would linger on my tongue. i’m older now, and i know that clouds aren’t marshmallows, but that doesn’t stop me from opening my mouth, and tilting my head back every time it rains.
72
To Be Amongst The Clouds Xavier Lun ‘26 73
74
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27 75
CHAPTER 3:
an idea with no basis in reality
FALLING INTO FANTASY the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable a fanciful mental image
Field of Dreams Melodie Lee ‘27
78
Luca’s Photography Luca Centola ‘27 79
To Dream Xavier Lun ‘26
80
81
The Sweetness of Dreams Jasmin Tautges ‘26
82
Dreams in any way, shape, or form appeal to at least one of the five senses: sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell. For blind people, sound may be the most appealing; for deaf people, sight may be the most appealing; for the average hearing person, taste may be the most appealing—to each their own. Either way, each sense is unique. Sight seems to be the sense appealing to most, so it remains at the center of my piece. One prominent thing that appeals to all five senses is candy–the crunch of a wrapper, its smell, taste, texture, the colors… Some are sweeter than others, some are more vibrant than others, some taste better than others, etc. Dreams are exactly the same; dreams vary quite often—one night you may have a dream that isn’t so sweet; it is rather a dream you wouldn’t care to revisit and another you may have one that is sweeter than ever. Dreams can last like taffy does in one’s mouth… they can have a lasting effect on our perception of the world and reveal so many things about ourselves we weren’t aware about beforehand. Many have favorite candies that they wish they could taste forever, similar to how one may want to hold on to a particular memory that came up in a dream. Whether it’s a childhood memory, appealing to wonderful experiences like the first taste of your favorite candy, or something dislikable appearing in your dream, it is important to take dreams to heart…who knows, maybe a dislikable dream will turn out to be sweeter than you thought, full of surprises in pursuit of the future.
Comment from Jasmin Tautges ‘26
83
Summer Memories Emma Nguyen ‘27
84
phantasmagoric Kyomin Kwon ‘27 the unimaginable wispy clouds drifting over the lightening azure sky fluffy and moist, rain dropping as the airplanes pass by the sky’s ablaze, full of light the hues dancing and entangling birds flying, what a sight scintillating, buzzing, dazzling a tangy, sickeningly sweet flavor you can almost begin to taste the decadence you savor and all the beauty encased running all around, abliss feeling the joy simply surge as your sorrows fall into the abyss and your true self begins to emerge you reach, your hand tentative scared it’ll all wash away you’re hesitant, sensitive you don’t want the iridescence to turn gray because life has felt like a dream and, maybe, just for an instant it was just that what it seemed but then the illusion turns nonexistent the phantasmagoric dream has reverted back to life the joy was not as it seemed feels like a stab with a knife what a shame those wonders weren’t real; instead, figments of the imagination, but what if you could personify them, and feel? then, you could have your own creation.
85
Childlike Wonder Claire Kim ‘26
86
Electrowave Pool Azure Livingston ‘26 87
88
puffy clouds Amber-Thy Huynh ‘26
89
What Lies Beneath Oscar Ortega ‘24
90
91
92
Dream to Reality Sashank Balusu ‘24
93
94
95
Speaker Lights Taylor Cabrieto ‘25 96
Carousel of Dreams Claire Kim ‘26 97
Birthday Felicia Chung ‘27 98
Padmé Amidala Felicia Chung ‘27
99
A Flicker of Brilliance Jay Lee ‘25 A glittering castle, Affixed in gold and silver tassels Forged in a desolate land eons and centuries past In a red velvet room Flowers and vines abloom A girl gracefully basks In a light warm embrace A subjective cruelty Vast, unmatched beauty Betraying few, nurturing many Seasons forever changing Donning an illuminating dress Befitting of the noblesse Fresh leaves falling on every step Life without lament Dreams of an Arcadian kingdom Life through the lens of wisdom The maids and butlers enchanted Clutching onto ancient twine Eyes gleaming, vision hazy, dress brilliantly ashine
100
Lush grass expanding Bright waters crashing Clement forests nourishing Looming mountains piercing Cruel deserts seething Bitter tundras suffocating Infinite sky stretching The harsh and inviting light The frigid and embracing dark All go in tandem Life and death Hang in a perfect balance Now back to a paradise failing A lord and lady of the palace Overflowing with malice Sought greater treasures Betraying with avarice In a dark chamber of the fortress Harbored by gazing portraits Cultivating a plague For the nobility have fallen As her sanctuary expanded The blight had been neglected Decaying away the foundations Poisoning a throne beloved Whisperings of power Lands to devour A promise of wealth Nations to slaughter Covertly washing the populace Lies shrouded in opulence The aphotic tendrils Almost bottomless
On that day A worldwide decay Greed-fueled calamity Set the castle ablaze The hubris of the masses Caused lasting gashes Primitive creatures conjured of bountiful land Forsaked the dress they relied on The beat of life slowly fades Strings that once embraced torn away Breaking the bond to their earthly planes Sparing not one glance at their birthplace In her little haven Away from the graven She arose from her slumber Now endlessly abandoned The cloth, now shredded Threads blackened, essence ascended The curse of illusion Splits bonds once thought timeless Still, there was a glimmer Fighting to recover In gasping breath A final image Of a doomed realm’s desperate pleas
Lifeless grass withering Abyssal waters polluting Ominous forests devouring Colossal mountains crumbling Rigid deserts eroding Fading tundras melting Bleak sky plummeting Gray death buries the light Artificial glare stifles the dark The world becomes foreign Progress divided And ignorance runs rampant here As the empire's prophecy foretells: A disintegrating castle Affixed in blank and dreary tassels Rotting in a desolate land Apocalypse encroaches at last In a room stained scarlet Wilted flowers on a scorched carpet Completely barren And devoid of presence That radiant dress Now torn and oppressed To never be freed Upon the hollow world again A flicker of brilliance A flicker of brilliance A flicker of brilliance Forever buried and lost
101
Bus Arya Dandawate ‘27 102
Nocturnal Alexandra Nguyen ‘27
103
104
Untitled Kaitlyn Altmar ‘26
Dreaming On a Star Eva Sullivan ‘26 105
CHAPTER 4:
NIGHTMARES a frightening or unpleasant dream or experience
Novaturient Kyomin Kwon ‘27
108
the peace undone Kyomin Kwon ‘27 The crowded city’s way is to laugh, joke, and play. The children scream and smile, stacking toys in a pile. They run around and talk, drawing rainbows with chalk. “Tag, you’re it!” they cry out; there is much fun, no doubt. Then the shouts grow louder, the air filled with powder. They try to escape their pain, but they don’t know it's in vain. All the fun is long gone Blood splatters on the lawn The grenades, planes, and guns Do all the peace undone.
swing set Alanna Warner ‘26 eyelids flutter and i’m there morning wind and messy hair as we’re pushed into the sky i believed that we could fly a thrilling sense of vertigo accompanied by twin shadows never a day that we’d outgrow the silent fear of letting go but now i stand without you there in chilling wind with matted hair my despaired gaze reaching the sky sorrowed as i watch you fly 109
“Well, when will you wake up?” Amber-Thy Huynh ‘26
Childhood’s Departure Devin Regan ‘26 110
Rain: A Friend Xavier Lun ‘26
Another Family Dasha Nikuliak ‘27
He had promised her that he would get them out, That they would start over, some place quiet, perhaps in the countryside of England, That the people who kept them there did it for their own safety. But the world outside did not know what exactly happened, To them, they were cowards, running away from a fate that they deserved, While the people were fighting in a war of red and white. Yet he still allowed himself the fleeting fantasy that they could be a simple family. Just another boring family.
111
A Prayer for World Peace Deepika Sujay ‘27
In a world where chaos often reigns, Where discord and strife leave deep stains, I offer a prayer for peace for all, Wars drag us down - peace makes us stand tall. In the darkest corners, let hope shine bright, Dispelling the shadows of endless night. Let hatred and anger be swept away, So that we may live to see another beautiful day. In this prayer, we will all unite, To make our world a beacon of light. With open hearts, we shall cease, The battles that rob us of our peace. So let us pray with hope in our eyes, For a world where harmony never dies. With this prayer, peace will prevail, Let the ship of humanity finally set sail.
112
Let Schools Be Schools Again Dylan Breiten ‘27
Innocence is lost far too soon, Innocent children, gone too soon. A tragedy that haunts our nation, And leaves us with no explanation.
Schools should be a place of safety, Where children learn and grow with glee. But guns have shattered this illusion, And left us with too much confusion. Our hearts break for those we've lost, Their futures taken at such a cost. We mourn the innocence that should be theirs, And hope for a world where it's not just “thoughts and prayers.” May we find the strength to stand together, And fight for a world that's better. Where children can grow without fear, And innocence is always near.
Mother’s Mercy Arabela Damarillo ‘24
113
Victor’s Memory of a Modern Resurrection Nailah Cannon ‘24 “The date was Thursday, May 14… Or… wait, perhaps it was Tuesday? Look, I don’t exactly remember. It’s not important. I was walking down the road that evening. An already long day’s work and my perfectionism had kept me at my job past overtime. There was a cool, crisp breeze. It was cold enough that I was shivering, but hot enough for me to sweat. It was perfectly twilight, the most perfect time; neither night nor day, a time of only beauty. There I was, trudging back to my car parked outside the office when it hit me. While I was walking, I opened the car door. I’d heard something that night. Suddenly, my suit felt too tight, as if I were suffocating, yet I wasn’t. I unbuttoned my dress shirt carefully, being sure to only unbutton the first two top buttons. My hands were shaking violently. I swallowed hard. I started fidgeting with my wedding ring. I wasn’t quite used to having one. Yes, I distinctly remember it, now. Something had to be so 114
important for me to turn around. I looked over my shoulder, off into the sunset… when it hit me. And I heard the most painful blood-curdling scream escape from my own throat, but ironic how my blood seemed to curdle at my very own scream. Long silky ribbons of scarlet unraveled and intertwined in the night, but the colors weren’t from the sky; they came from my eyes. I could feel the warm blood that once coursed through my veins pouring out of their sockets. Funny how it was at this moment that I could see everything and nothing all at once. Everything was so quiet, yet so loud simultaneously. Like Twilight, in a way; I was not alive nor dead, just as the sky was neither day nor night. And the pain was excruciating. Yes, that's precisely when it happened.” “When what happened?” “When I died.”
Bro & Mickey Chaith Mittal ‘26 Wonderland Consumerism Caitlin Molsberry ‘26 On the blackest of days I chased the crowds, Fell through the long halls thundering so loud. I followed the signs to food and drink, And prepared myself for my wallet to shrink. Madly I joined the nonsensical people, Singing at the party as though under a steeple. Hearing the echoes of influencers on their stools, Inhaling their smoke so I believed their tales too…
“These shiny things here are desperately needed! And those things there too,” I plaintively pleaded. Wondering which signs I should next go and follow, Even as my heart wasn’t full, still quite hollow. If queens and their kings should direct me to play, Wouldn’t my not doing so cause disarray? Finding folks in reality who could use a quick lift, These baubles and books will now become gifts. 115
116
Luca’s Photography Luca Centola ‘27
“When I pass, will you cry?” Chaith Mittal ‘26
117
CHAPTER 5:
BACK TO REALITY as opposed to the imagination
120
Untitled Juliana Bernal ‘25
Untitled Kaitlyn Altmar ‘26
121
122
20/20 Vision Laurel Willis ‘26
123
Summer’s Day Joyce Gao ‘27
124
Comment from Joyce Gao ‘27 While I can’t remember where I took this photo, I recall it was somewhere in a zoo in China, where there was a massive lake filled with water lilies, lotuses, and vegetation. Since we visited during the summer, the flowers and lily pads were in full bloom, so it was the perfect opportunity to snap a photo. I remember crouching down between the tall grass and quickly taking a picture, which I didn’t think much about at the time because I was trying to avoid the swarms of mosquitoes. Looking back on it, the carriage-looking structure with the white tarp in the background (which was actually an observation station of some sort) looked like a small cottage to me. Along with the blur of the background and plants, the scene looked straight out of my dreams something I could pluck from my childhood memories. It was especially nostalgic to me because it was the last summer before my brother would leave for college as well as the first time in four years I visited my grandparents, due to quarantine.
125
Untitled Juliana Bernal ‘25
126
Untitled Juliana Bernal ‘26
127
128
Cool With You Amber-Thy Huynh ‘26
My Best Friend is Taller Than Me (And I’m Okay with That) Arabela Damarillo ‘24 She’s over 5’5” and that makes me mad. Even in heels, I can’t understand. Why the HECK is she so tall??? I have a running joke I tell to all To explain this most curious oddity. “My parents most likely Loved her more, And, by Clifford logic, That made her tall!” But my sister is not a big red dog. She IS a dog lover, and especially fond Of the King Charles Cavalier— A fitting dog for her, for they, too, have no fear! My sister is the explorer While I am just the map. She stared at me once with a giant frown While I (almost!) burnt my kitchen down. I think about her more than l can possibly say. That mole on her lips, how she gets taller every day. She made me strong when I’m a natural quitter. I’d be nothing if she wasn’t my sister.
129
Gold Blooded Leo Guo ‘27 130
Winter’s Orange Mary Pham ‘26
131
Untitled Juliana Bernal ‘25 132
Summer Memories Emma Nguyen ‘27
133
A Raindrop’s Journey Deepika Sujay ‘27
From skies so high, I begin my flight, Embarking on a journey oh so bright. A tale of elegance and simple beauty, A small joy for all to see. I’m born from a cloud, my source of strength, I’m a droplet with tiny width and length. I’m my own entity, like a little creature, Like a new iPhone with special features. I feel so happy in my little world, I can swish and swash and splash and swirl There’s nothing I feel except pure delight, Because from up here, everything’s such a sight. And down I drop from the highs of the sky, Falling so fast it feels like a ride, The thrill of dropping mixes with fear, Hoping that this journey’s end is near. I merge with a stream of other drops, Like a market with a thousand other shops, There’s so many drops around me, I feel a twinge of anxiety. I make my way into the vast sea, And see so many entities just like me. I marvel at the way the world somehow works, And I’m glad to be part of it with my little quirks.
134
And now look at me - how far I’ve grown, I’m surrounded by friends, and I was once alone, I’ve seen how much anything can progress, Being a raindrop doesn’t make life any less.
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27
135
Untitled Cole Topping ‘27
136
“Parallel lines have much in common.” Sashank Balusu ‘24
137
138
Stunned by the Sky Eva Sullivan ‘26 139
140
Untitled Siyona Kher ‘27
141
Luca’s Photography Luca Centola ‘27
142
143
Thanks for reading this issue of The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine! Our creative ventures can have a profound impact on our understanding of the world around us. It is our sincere hope that the content within this issue has inspired you to think, write, and dream. Please be on the lookout for more issues in the future. We hope to see you again as we publish more fantastic work created by AMHS students. – The Editors