t h e
a m h s
six • one
m u s e
s t u d e n t
l i t e r a r y m a g a z i n e
muse \ ˈmyüz \ noun a source of inspiration; a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction
Cover: Deepan Shah
d TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Editors 4 FICTION My First Long Distance Friendship 14 Christa Rios The House in the Forest, Nathan Elias 17 TGIF, Stella Park 42 ART Coleman Imrisek 5 | 38 Annabelle Barbazette 6 | 45 Heart for the World, Alexandra Wong 18 Spaced Out Goat, Alexandra Wong 18 Hannah Cheng 23 Alina Mathias 30 Christa Rios 37 Alexandra Wong 45 Joanne Park 47 PHOTOGRAPHY Coleman Imrisek 5 Christa Rios 7 | 25 | 48 Kelly Ilmi 8 Fionnuala LaTourrette 9 | 16 | 29 | 39 | 43 Rachel Meyer 10 | 19 | 41 Erica Cardozo 11 | 13 | 35 | 40 Abigail Galiotto 21 | 40 Mia Yamagiwa 26 | 28 | 40 Bailey Phoenix 32 Alexandra Wong 40 Deepan Shah 40
POETRY 6 In the Eyes of a Child, Erica Cardozo 7 Fallen King, Hannah Cheng 10 a point of view, Rachel Meyer 12 salt, Christa Rios 18 twinkle twinkle, Jassen Yep 20 Am I Smart?, Paige Rosckes 22 the terrible irony of being a woman, Emilie-Anne Roxas 22 Matchbox, Jassen Yep 24 Words, Joy Barsoum 26 beautiful destruction, Emilie-Anne Roxas 31 Silver Spoon, Arnav Mishra 33 Fire vs Animals, Jennifer McDonald 33 The Nature of Elements, Danielle Slaughter 34 The Spotlight, Paige Rosckes 35 Glittery Pavement, Alexandra Wong 36 No, Jay Morrison 37 Christmas, Kelly Ly 38 Appreciate Each Moment of Today, Kelly Ly 39 Cliff Haiku, Fionnuala LaTourrette 46 turning from the West, Bailey Phoenix 48 I’ll settle, Jules Glahn 49 when we find love, Annabelle Duflock 50 Fragmented Thoughts, Lauren Vu SIX-WORD STORIES 9 | 29 Kelly Ly 23 Christa Rios 35 Alexandra Wong JOKES 11 Paige Rosckes
Dear Reader... “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein Put simply, nature is magical. Trees speak secrets to those that inquire; their foliage provides solace to those that need it the most. The smooth waves of the ocean wash over our fears, effectively awakening us to the beauty of the surrounding world. Even the darkest, deepest canyons open our souls for quiet observation. Art is nature manifested. Truths are revealed through the shortest of poems. The grandest of paintings breed contemplation and in odd chance, inspiration. Art and nature free the soul and define what it means to be human. Without those, life, frankly, would be colorless. As you flip through this magazine, we hope that you absorb little bits of color from each work of art so that you too can feel the warm colors of the world that sometimes slip out of sight. Whether it be the deepest of blacks or the color of a limitless sky, we hope that you connect with your soul, and truly feel what it means to be human.
The following works are the intellectual property of Archbishop Mitty students. All ownership rights reserved.
Coleman Imrisek ‘20
Annabelle Barbazette ‘23
In the Eyes of a Child Erica Cardozo ‘21 In the eyes of a child, so much is new, open and free. In the eyes of a child, even a small rue is a wonder to see. In the eyes of a child, the other kids playing are all potential friends. In the eyes of a child, sun shining or hiding, the laughs never end. But it seems the more we grow, everything turns to foe. Where once we were bright and bold, only our tire and wear have showed. The laughs and smiles falter, as the fun and games halter. Why can’t we act as happy as the tiny feet that pitter pat? Why can’t we be as loving as innocent children we see?
Chri st
a Rio s ‘21
Hannah Cheng ‘21 Fallen King His golden curls flow in the wind Running into battle His more experienced opponent runs alongside him Racing for the prize My King is small, yet fierce; soft, yet strong Catching the cup before his rival I remember my King Yet fallen, his immortal memory lives strong He lifts his sword up in the sky A leader of love up in the clouds
Kelly Ilmi ‘22
Kelly Ly ‘21 Summer is approaching. Not so soon.
Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20
a point of view Rachel Meyer ‘21 Daughter of an unlikely pair from opposite sides of the sea. Learning from my roots, growing from my diverse culture, building my foundation for life through my family. I strive to improve myself throughout my lifelong journey. As I walk upon this planet, you also create your own footsteps. As I walk the fields of the earth and wade in the water of the ocean, I feel at peace, relaxed, and optimistic. As I breathe in the fresh air, I watch all the life around me grow, as I grow with it. I see the beautiful blue sea and all the life it holds within. I hear the voice of those who have passed before me through the crash of the powerful waves. I feel God’s comfort through the warmth of the sun and sea. I know my family watches over me through the plants and the trees across the seven seas.
You see, the earth has much to offer, though it is hidden by a shadow. The shadow of darkness and depression, the shadow of lies and social media, the shadow of expectations and standards. And behind this all, is the beautiful earth we have forgotten to take in and appreciate. There are no longer laughter and love, only likes and comments. We are living in a simulation I no longer want to be a part of. If only I could go back in time and watch the film of the centuries. To watch the innocence of a newborn— only to be stripped from her happiness by bullies. I wish to speak to the brave veteran— though he came home to debt and no home. I dream to see the glimmer in a child’s eyes as she views the scales of a mermaid, only to lose her sense of wonder by the old man in a white van. If only the world could be seen for its beauty and be wiped of its pain.
I visited the old man as he took his last breaths of life. He wished that the world was different. He prayed that the rays of sunshine would overcome the withering, cold darkness, But the old man never lived to see the earth, for what it is truly worth. And all I can do is hope, that the world will come to realize the beauty of our planet, to look up at the stars above and appreciate what the Lord has created, before I reach my time of the old man. But until then, I will walk along the beach, take in the sight of the setting, scarlet sun, feel the warm sand between my toes, and live my life outside the shadows.
Rachel Meyer ‘21
Paige Rosckes ‘21
Why are frogs so happy? They eat whatever bugs them.
Nature is so resourceful it can make dew with just water.
Why is Peter Pan always flying? He NEVERLANDS!
Erica Cardozo ‘21
salt Christa Rios ‘21 witnessing our friendship breaking is as if sodium chloride compounds are powerfully crushing into molecules. hearing you speak is dryer than that pile of salt. each grain of guilt peppers like fairy dust to the roaring, vast ocean. above the crisp, airy, sapphire paint, the blinding white marble shines luminously. its laser rays shine to the ocean that rises up to my frail eyes as crystalline tears keep running, racing down, and dripping dreadfully like honey. it's too salty to handle. my eyes are painfully itching and burning, so i shut my eyes in a flash. i see pervasive colors of red, blue, and green dancing delightfully in the darkness. the silence uproars while i am sitting alone as my fragile mind is running from this seasoned chaos. i can't foretell if this salt will reach its limit for this savory friendship of ours. it shall not be a wasteful source to make the recipe spoiled.
Erica Cardozo ‘21
My First Long Distance Friendship Christa Rios ‘21 “Hi, my name is Christa! Do you want to be my friend?” She replied, “Yes. Actually, let’s be best friends!” Do you remember the first time you met your best friend? Well, I clearly recall the day I met mine. She was the new student in my first grade class, Trina Makalintal. Going back to the day I went back to elementary school from summer break in August 2009, I will never forget the day when I opened up to offer a warm welcome to her. I, a girl who did not have too many friends from kindergarten, wanted to step out of my comfort zone. Little did I know that Trina was going to become one of my best friends forever. After all, my school years were perfect with her by my side, until that moment came. Let’s go back to August 2009. It was the first day of first grade. I remember how she looked on the first day of school. She had short black hair and big brown eyes. Her uniform was clean and neat. Her Disney Princess backpack shined with bright colors. Most importantly, I will never forget her countenance: blushing red and a timid smile. After introducing myself to her, I showed her around the school as I made her feel comfortable on campus. As time went by, we soon became best friends. We had fun playdates, swam in her backyard pool, went to church together, stuck together in Girl Scouts, and much more. You can say that we were pretty inseparable. One event that affected me tremendously took place at the end of our fourth grade year: something alarming happened. During recess, Trina ran up to me, crying harder than ever. I thought one of our classmates ridiculously teased her or she received a “missing assignment” slip, but it was not that. What could it be? “Dude, what’s wrong?” I asked. “Christa, I wish that this was not happening to me, but I have to move to Missouri,” Trina replied, crying. My heart froze for a second: Oh, my God. Please tell me that you are kidding. Surely, I was full of curiosity and asked her why she had to move. The reason was that her family wanted her to be closer to her mother’s side of the family. Perhaps it was rather unusual for me not to cry after hearing that news, but deep down, my head was spinning. My stomach was doing somersaults. It was hard to handle this burden throughout the whole day. My best friend moving? Unbelievable!
In July 2013, Trina threw a farewell party at her house. There were tons of people! I saw my classmates, her relatives, and her friends from Sacred Heart. At first, I was free from sadness because I was too busy playing with Trina and my other friends. Just like what people say, time flies quickly when you are having fun. Soon, the party ended. Trina and I were out in the backyard, while we both hugged one another for five minutes with tears rolling down our faces. It was very difficult to say goodbye to my best friend, but we both had to move on. I was silent throughout the car ride home. When I arrived at my house, I ran to my room, slammed the door, and cried again, throwing a tantrum. Numerous questions popped up in my mind: Will our friendship be over? What if Trina is not happy in Missouri? When will we meet again? I was not sure, but that was the type of reality I had to go through. Well, that was what I thought. Fast-forwarding to seventh grade, before my Christmas break started, a classmate asked me if I missed Trina. With confusion, I replied, “Yes.” “Okay, I will give you her phone number after school,” she said. Keep in mind that in middle school, I did not have social media. I supposed that my classmate and Trina kept in touch on Instagram. So, when I got Trina’s phone number, I was beyond excited. However, I had some doubts: What if she does not remember me? What if she is not interested in talking to me? There was only one way to find out. On that evening, I texted her—a rather long message—telling her how much I missed her and hoping that she would reply back. Five minutes later, my phone buzzed. Her name appeared. She was as excited as I was! After our “reconnection,” it felt like first grade again. I was so proud that I reached out to talk to Trina first online, just like how I introduced myself to her first on the first day of school. Later on, in eighth grade, we decided to meet up and have our little reunion at Santana Row. When we saw each other—for the first time in four years—we were full of happy emotion and cried tears of joy. Our hug lasted about three minutes. That feeling of having one another around made us so happy and filled with relief. The day we met again was truly unforgettable and will always make me smile whenever I think of it. What I learned is that good friends never say goodbye, they simply say “see you soon.” My story of friendship with Trina did not come to an end when she flew from California to Missouri. That moment, when we reconnected in middle school, was just another chapter in our lives. As a matter of fact, I count our friendship “revival” as an everlasting blessing. To this day, I am grateful that Trina is still one of my best friends. No matter how far she is from me, she will always be kept in my heart.
Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20
Nathan Elias ‘22
The House in the Forest One day, a young man took a walk in a nearby forest. He walked for a while but stopped once he discovered a spectacular patch of grass filled with the most wonderful trees. The spot was so spectacularly wonderful that he decided to build a house there. He carefully planned his house, then chopped the trees in order to clear up space. After hours of chopping, the man grabbed his trusty hammer and was ready to build the house. He hammered and hammered and hammered and hammered, and just as it seemed the house was finished, he hit his hand, stopping abruptly. Losing his confidence, he gave up his plan to build a house and wanted to go home. It was dark, however, so the man slept in the slightly unfinished house until the next day, when he would go home to his real house. The man woke up the next morning and began his journey home. He walked for a few steps, took a left turn, and walked some more. He walked for a while until he finally admitted to himself that he was lost. Dismayed, he sat down and complained that he was lost. He complained and complained and complained and complained until he became tired and fell asleep. The next morning the man woke up and noticed that he felt surprisingly comfortable. He stretched out his arms and opened his eyes to see a roof over his head where trees used to be. He had woken up inside the house! The man ran away from the house in horror and confusion, then remembered he had no idea where to go or how to leave the forest. He thought for a moment and soon concluded that if he climbed the tallest tree, he could find his way out. The man went to the tallest tree he could find and climbed it. He climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed, but just as he reached the top, he grabbed a weak branch, fell from the tree onto the ground, and fainted. He arose refreshed after the devastating fall and just as he turned to climb the tree again, he saw that he was surrounded by walls. He had woken up inside the house! The man jumped from his bed and ran as fast as he could away from the house. He figured that if he ran in a direction for long enough, he would eventually escape the evil forest and the evil house, so he did. He ran and ran and ran and ran, but just as reached the end of the forest, he became exhausted and fainted. He woke up later with renewed energy, determined to escape the fierce clutches of the forest, so he leaped forward and ran straight into a door. He had woken up inside the house! The man became frustrated and decided to burn his house to the ground in order to end its terror. He lit the house on fire and smiled, knowing that he would never wake up there again. The house burned and burned and burned and burned, but just as the man took a breath to let out a celebratory cackle, he inhaled the smoke from the fire and fainted. He woke from his long slumber and took a series of deep breaths to clear his lungs. He opened his eyes, feeling better, to see that he was lying in his bed. He had woken up inside the house! The man at this point was filled with rage. He found the hammer that injured him a few days prior and attacked the house with all of his fury. He hammered and hammered and hammered and hammered, and just as it seemed that the house was destroyed, the man hit his hand and died.
Jassen Yep ‘20
twinkle twinkle o’ star above, o’ lofty, lofty star how I wonder where you are how close, how far, the distance be, for o’er land and ‘cross the sea the distance I would sail for thee— twinkle twinkle, shining bright, illumination in the night to reach, to grab and take your hand to hold, to hold until the end— o’ wand’ring, wondrous star so bright, fairest maiden of the night, to hold, to hold in arms so tight if only I could reach thy height— o’ star above, on a lone cloud, how much I wish to be there now, but reaching, grasping, flailing arm, should I fall thy claimed no harm, should I fall thy claimed no ill, from lofty sky to earth I fell, from sky to lowly earth I fell.
Spaced Out Goat Alexandra Wong ‘22
Heart for the World
Rachel Meyer ‘21
Paige Rosckes ‘21
Am I Smart? Sometime I wonder, Am I Smart? When the only thing I can do is art. Tests and Quizzes should not define me, But my standardized testing is what colleges see.
Am I smart if I am not top in my class? Am I smart if I failed this unit? Am I smart if I only take regular courses? Am I smart if I don’t understand school?
I question my brain although I recognize my intelligence. However, people cannot judge my skills when my scores are not evident. Why was I not blessed to have a perfect brain? Reality is that I am always in pain.
I want to quit school because my self-esteem is low. I am so miserable why do I even go? My life is short and I don’t want to waste my time; But skipping school is committing a crime.
Abigail Galiotto ‘23
the terrible irony of being a woman Emilie-Anne Roxas ‘21 the same thing is said by two people. the difference is people commend the first and jeer at the second. the difference between the people is the thing between their legs.
Jassen Yep ‘20
Matchbox Little matchbox Sticks lined like Sardines, in a tin Each bearing a red soldier’s hat— Brilliant toy soldiers Awaiting their turn to battle Unscathed soldiers, excited ones— Unaware of the bombs, the falling flak, Shell shocked years of strife in cold unwelcome trenches For almost no reason at all. They wait their turn To give the world a little warmth.
Christa Rios ‘21 Time's ticking by. Make your decision.
Hannah Cheng ‘20
Words Joy Barsoum ‘22 You can use them, twist them, mold them, craft them. Create a tool of logic to guide a person into your trap of thought. They can open eyes, create dreams, strengthen hopes, share love, connect life, relieve trouble. They can break down, confuse the most brilliant, deceive, bring darkness, shut down joy, share death. They are immensely powerful in the most miniscule way. Someone decides to read and opens their mind to what they say. Someone decides to listen and opens their mind to what they say. It could be anything. It could be amazing. It could be devastating. What a tool is in our hands! The power of manipulating a person's thoughts. And now I have manipulated your thoughts. I have seized your mind and guided it through my maze of logic in hopes of reaching the pot of gold, the place where my own thinking has stopped. Perhaps I have led you to the conclusion that words are powerful. I hope that I have not deceived you or misled you. I pray that the words appear to you meaning what I meant by them. Sometimes I feel that I need to use more words and pour all my intelligent thoughts into them. Yet sometimes, I feel that words are overused. I feel they need to stop and give a turn for Silence.
Sacred Silence.
Christa Rios ‘21
Mia Yamagiwa ‘21
beautiful destruction Emilie-Anne Roxas ‘21 dressed in darkness it sits in a corner of my mind watching it is handsome no doubt with eyes as deep as the deepest parts of the ocean and sharp corners and edges accents of metal and wine-red like a toxic relationship it craves attention and it grew vines spreading across the colorful expanse its flowers dripping in ink no flavor to its fruit but its aftertaste changes with the rise and fall of the moon
i let it grow i helped to nourish the vines sometimes it would rise from the corner and take my arm leading me down its garden telling me the history of every flower so i walked away it was difficult when it held me but i did it it begged me to stay it took me into its heart every so often and showed me i walk back to it a better life and ask it to dance where it was its best self it always complies where i had all that i wanted and we dance i was tempted in spending time with it i learned who it of course i was was it was entrancing in dancing i learned to appreciate it and accept it but it was dangerous and desperate for it is a part of me and i knew that while i was with it the more it would tempt me and so we danced. to join it
Mia Yamagiwa ‘21
Best of luck, navigating the world. Kelly Ly ‘21
Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20
Alina Mathias ‘23
Silver Spoon Arnav Mishra ‘22 (Inspired by the book Black Boy) Had I been born with a silver spoon in my mouth I would have been Happy Loved Cherished Safe.
But for the whims of fate the luck of the draw which made my father seek comfort in the arms of another And I was left bereft.
Then lady luck smiled on me when I found sanctuary But for the whims of fate with family the luck of the draw a new guardian angel which dropped me to where I am today I thrived. Amid poverty Hunger Fear Hatred. Forced to grow up too soon and experience the dark side of humanity at a tender age. Had I been born on the right side of the tracks I would have had a protector, a provider, a safe haven in the arms of my father.
Coached to not trust my own happiness and believe in fragility of everything at a tender age.
But for the whims of fate the luck of the draw which snatched my savior away because of his color A testament to one man’s Cruelty Loathing Prejudice Towards another. Once again forced to grow up too soon and realize how vile this world is
I wonder if I had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth would I have been Happy Loved Cherished Safe? Or would I have been the one swimming in my feelings of Hatred Loathing Disgust Prejudice Towards another?
Bailey Phoenix ‘20
Jennifer McDonald ‘20 Fire vs Animals It waited for no one but me Racing itself, I can almost see The other side of the hill From noon ‘til midnight, still Continue in the morning Almost as if it was warning That if anyone tries to restrain The rage, the fury, the pain Will be judged by real power Be warned and see it turn sour I am just a meek little thing That needs to know everything Not be on a need to know basis Now that power is a metastasis. I am on the evacuation list But what of those helped last And what about my friend Who is at the list’s end
Danielle Slaughter ‘21 The Nature of Elements
In a world of elements, we do not blend; For the passion of fire yields a water’s end. But I warmed your molecules through my steady char, And you calmed my blaze with your stagnant heart. I grew weak with every caress of your tide; My flame a mere flicker as our bodies collide. Your rampant stream restricted the air I breathed, Hoping your flood was all I would need. But our harmony had not been endless, And soon your waves grew evermore careless. And as I had been left to lust for air, My true desires now lay—open and bare. I choked, I ached, I yearned to feel free, But I simply drowned as you looked on happily. I conceded to the hopelessness of my inevitable truth, Until my fire ignited through oxygen’s youth. Water, you are not the dependence I require, But oxygen—air—you set my heart on fire.
Paige Rosckes ‘21
The Spotlight Makeup on, hair done, show ready Butterflies in my stomach, my heart’s unsteady Lights shine upon me as I walk upon the stage The audience stares into my soul as I am stuck in a cage Music pours in from backstage and I begin to dance I turn and leap with delight and continue to prance A smile emerges as my heart hears praise I see the applause grow louder as I am holding my gaze I receive flowers and go to sleep Only to wake up in the morning and weep For I wish to perform on stage every day Sadly that moment cannot stay I wait for those moments for the spotlight to shine As I appear from the curtains and the stage is mine I am the star at last after waiting for years When I finish my performance my face is followed by tears I long to be a star in a world of prodigies Only to find that I don’t possess all the necessary qualities I want to say that my time will come Or I will be hopeless and glum with a sore thumb
Alexandra Wong ‘22
Glittery Pavement Car crash; glass path Walking to and running back Turn around and ponder Mind, one track Tow truck; no luck Fall asleep and don’t come back Screaming sirens Life, heart attack Fallen sun; people run Calling calling. Nothing back ... Farewell flowers
“Jumping Jacks”; why not “Jumping Jills"?
Erica Cardozo ‘21
Jay Morrison ‘22
No Young Hopeful i ask Society what it wants from Me It answers: Silence. I am Stunned Confused angry determined How do you expect Me to be Silent? The stories You have fed me Since before i could think Are anything but Silent Teenagers beautiful strong independent loud Teenagers Do so many things Except Keep Quiet Raised in an oppressive society They fought yelled loved the way to freedom i have always wanted to be them
I am tired of being Silent. Of voicing My opinion Only for it to be shot down Stuck up know-it-all brat I survived in Silence Stupid Ugly Child But the World will not Lazy Hopeless Snowflake We Cannot Be Silent Technology Obsessed Immature Baby We Will Not Be Silent Over— I am done with Silence—Sensitive No. It is our turn to take the stage. We cannot be Silenced. The world is not Ours But We will take it. If there is anything left to take
Christa Rios ‘21
Christmas Kelly Ly ‘21
A time to rejoice and sing A time to wait for the long awaited King Just like what the angels did Many years ago on their tiny, little wings
Appreciate Each Moment of Today Kelly Ly ‘21 Appreciate each moment of today Because it can never be taken back Time and opportunity will be lost forever And can only be part of our distant past
Coleman Imrisek ‘20
Cliff Haiku Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20 I stand on the edge What lies on the other side Of the precipice
Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20
Alexandra Wong ‘22
Deepan Shah ‘20
Abigail Galiotto ‘23
Erica Cardozo ‘21
Mia Yamagiwa ‘21
Rachel Meyer ‘21
TGIF Stella Park ‘22 We fled through the dark marshes, occasionally tripping over rocks and random tree roots, cursing every time one of us stumbled. Unfortunately, this Thursday night had a new moon, so no light illuminated our dangerous path. Behind us, I could hear the howls of those nasty creatures as they raced after us, fueled by their violent bloodlust. “Hurry up!” my partner demanded as she hauled herself onto a massive boulder obstructing our flight. “I’m trying, I’m trying,” I huffed, struggling to push myself onto the surface of the rock. I clambered over, scraping my hands and knees in the process, but the adrenaline rapidly coursing through my veins numbed the pain. “Obviously you’re not trying hard enough,” she retorted, gracefully jumping down and continuing to run without a hitch. I rolled my eyes and awkwardly fell to the ground, feeling pain shoot up my vibrating legs from the impact. I looked behind and immediately wished I hadn’t. I didn’t need another reminder of how grisly and painful being subject to one of our pursuers would be. There seemed to be a limitless number of them, each one a deadly weapon that could easily incapacitate a measly human like me within a matter of seconds. The monsters seemed to be a hybrid between a human zombie and a large, furry beast. From the chest up, they had the complexion of an incredibly decayed corpse. They didn’t get much prettier after that. The other half was a four-legged body, each leg ending in a massive paw with detracted talons that screamed of death. Looking ahead at my partner, I sprinted after her and gasped out, “Are you sure there’s no way to defeat those things?” “They’re mortal just like us, so theoretically they can die in the same methods that we can—although I sincerely doubt slipping in the shower would finish off one of those brutes. But, as we’ve both learned the hard way, it takes a lot to kill one of them. If you really went at ‘em with a tank, they would probably die,” she replied. “Probably is a bit generous, and they wouldn’t die as quickly as we would like them to.” “Correct.” “And the warehouse is supposed to protect us from them?” There was no reply from her. I didn’t know if that meant she was too tired to speak, or, as I had feared, the warehouse wouldn’t really keep them out. Those metal walls would be no match against the monsters’ endless savagery and those fearsome, razor-sharp claws. “The warehouse is supposed to provide temporary shield until help arrives,” she finally responded. “I know, I know, that’s what the leaders said before they sent out the squad to deal with them. That was supposed to be a last resort. Like, the Plan Z. You’re never supposed to come to that point!”
“Complaining won’t help them disappear. We’ve only got a quarter of a mile left. If you squint, you can see it.” Following her directions, I scanned the horizon for any sign of something that wasn’t a tree. The already fading sky, signaling the forthcoming dawn, helped a little. Finally, I spotted a dark silhouette with a clearly rectangular roof sitting among the trees. “Almost there,” my partner grunted, sprinting even faster along the now-present dirt path. We hurtled along and almost crashed into the door of the warehouse. Hurry, hurry, I chanted inwardly as I punched in the passcode with shaking hands. The doors slid open way too slowly for my own liking and we practically threw ourselves inside. I slammed the red emergency close button with a fist and lied down on the ground, panting. I could hear the poundings against the walls outside, reminding me that I wasn’t safe yet. We got up and ran past the piles of broken furniture and strange, twisted hunks of metal lining the walls. There was a smaller room at the far end, looking a little sturdier than the warehouse but of the same cast. I grabbed chairs and began to stack them in front of us and the door of the smaller room, creating a weak barricade. My partner quickly followed my example and added more to the barricade until a very pointy, misshapen wall was formed. I took a broken table leg and motioned for my partner to do the same. I punched in the passcode yet again, and this time, we both had to work to pull the heavy metal door open. Once inside, the door closed by itself. The room wasn’t much. It was dimly lit from the lightning sky, and was completely bare. The window shades, just sliding metal panels, were drawn and revealed the first shoots of red starting to come through. I assumed that the windows were bulletproof and incredibly hard to shatter, as most warehouse windows I had encountered were like that. An incredibly loud crash resounded throughout the room, and I winced from the reverberations. “They’ve already cleared the entrance,” my partner murmured, all color drained from her face. “They got the signal, right?” I whispered fearfully.
Fionnuala LaTourrette ‘20
“Yeah. The opening of the warehouse door itself should have triggered the alert.” I closed my eyes and prayed that help would arrive in time. Already I heard a loud clatter as our makeshift barricade was swept aside. There was a loud pounding on the doors accompanied by deafening snarls that signified our imminent death. “This mission must have been sent straight from hell or something,” I muttered. “Well, judging from that faint sliver of sun starting to appear, we’ve survived through this hellish day. Hopefully, we’ll live long enough to see it set.” I smiled, knowing that that wouldn’t happen. I extended my hand: “It was great working with you.” “Likewise,” she countered, taking my outstretched hand and shaking it. The monsters broke down the door with a large crash and streamed in. We backed against the wall, waving our very non-threatening table legs. The creatures closed in on us, now close enough for me to clearly make out the saliva gleaming on their bared fangs. One of them lunged straight at us. I made to swing my club, then stopped as the monster also stopped and crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. “What the-” I said, looking down at the fallen beast. There was a beam of sunlight shining on its body as it dissolved. More and more sunlight began to enter the room as the sun rose, marking a new day. Slowly, all of the monsters began to disintegrate before my eyes. Their roars were abruptly silenced as they died, leaving a silence that felt strangely hollow without their tumultuous accompaniment. “Are you believing this?” my partner asked me, her voice barely daring to go above a whisper. Her question echoed around the room. “No, but it’s happening!” A few straggling monsters burst through the entrance, only to meet the same fate as their peers, crumbling to dust underneath the rays of the sun. Now there was only true silence, with all the threat eliminated. “I can’t believe that just happened,” I finally said, dropping my club and sliding down the wall until I sat with a thud. I scanned the dust piles that appeared to sparkle from the sunlight. “We did it. We actually survived! I told you that we would live to see the next day,” my partner whooped. “This is probably the most terrible, yet also the most amazing all-nighter I’ve ever pulled. I still can’t believe we’ve made it to Friday.” “TGIF,” my partner responded. “What?” I asked, turning to her. She had a broad smile on her face as she declared, “Thank God it’s Friday.” Realization overcame me and I smiled back and repeated, “TGIF.”
Alexandra Wong ‘22
Annabelle Barbazette ‘23
Bailey Phoenix ‘20
turning from the West when i looked to the West as a child i saw nothing but a dark blinding light. the sun went crashing down in the West— forced to submit and obey to the endless night. growing older, the night kept increasing in size, the West swallowing everything it needed everything it wanted everything it desired— a house a car and money money money money money consuming the sun to push us into darkness, full of echoing thunder that kept demanding for more. too afraid to fight back. until now. the depressing damp darkness is not my home— should’ve never been my home— and i will fight until i can see the sun again. for the West can have as many men as it wants but it is losing its true treasures, too greedy to tell pyrite from gold. so i turn from the deceptive West looking to the east willing the sun to rise from its ashes and begin life once more.
Joanne Park ‘20
I’ll Settle Jules Glahn ‘21 Somewhere outside Snow capped peaks melt Into the sky I can’t see them But I know they’re there For now I’ll settle to watch fluttering birches And groaning oaks And dancing leaves pirouetting down To the ground I’ll settle to watch you smile At your hot cocoa And the cat Nestled in the blankets I’ll settle
Christa Rios ‘21
when we find love Annabelle Duflock ‘20 we have to remember darkness succumbs to the light even when we’re running out of reasons to fight because it’s hard when our world seems to be full of fear because there have been more mass shootings than days in the year and black boys see police and think don’t shoot with their hands to the sky and children are at the border in cages but we just ignore their cries in this country women are treated like objects for men paid 79 cents to the dollar and all we can ask is when? WHEN will we decide we’ve had enough hate WHEN will we decide that we get to change this fate because the voices of tomorrow are here today and we cannot lead the world astray love. we have to find the love love. it doesn’t come from above love. it comes from within love. we have to believe it can win so arm yourselves with a full heart because it’s time for the battle to start a battle to make our world a better place so let’s go…there’s no time to waste.
Fragmented Thoughts Lauren T. Vu ‘21 I’ve forgotten what motivation feels like. People aren’t real anymore. They’re just
No longer coursing through me
long exposures of saccharine smiles and
Like the crackling adrenaline of success
speed-walking legs. Amidst all the
Its sweet honey dripping from my lips
movement, I am the only one standing
Its grasp on my hips
still. Now I’m forced to move with the
Its hushed voice lilting in my ears
rest of them. Conform to the rules,
Its light touch on my skin.
squeeze inside the margins. My nose is barely above the water, and if I were to
I am
rest for just one second, I would be
Hiding in the shadow of who I used to be
pulled under. So I keep pushing myself
Pretending I am already who I’m meant
forward like the rest, and I can’t afford to
to be
look back.
Disappointment
But I still do.
Begging to seize control of the thoughts I
Their muddled faces and nonexistent
no longer hold
personalities are getting to me.
I’m only an image
I feel myself losing who I am;
Upheld to uphold my sanity
I’m becoming one of them, and that
But my insanity
scares me.
Is slowly killing me.
We’re all just kids
Amidst all this
But before we know it we’ve grown jaded
I hold onto the stories that raised me
and cynical
And the poetry that sustains me
Bone weary, unequivocal
I cannot succumb to the temptations that
Pessimistic, overcritical
threaten to pull me under
Climbing the stereotypical pinnacle to
Whispering its sweet nothings and
success
leaving me to wonder
Working 24/7 because we’re money
What it would be like to know who I
hungry
really am
Doesn’t matter if we’re happy, honey
Instead of blindly grasping for the light
When we spend our whole lives thinking
switch
about our future
In a room that I don’t know even exists
There will be no future left to prepare for
Or if it’s really a pool I’m drowning in Or a cave I am stuck in I don’t know anything anymore.
Moderator Kevin Brazelton Proofreader Janelle Kroenung Administrator Keith Mathews Editors Stella Park Hannah Cheng Tiffanie Huang Lauren Vu Annabelle Duflock Cailey Larmore Arnav Mishra Brady Koong Joanne Park Bailey Phoenix Deepan Shah Ishir Vaidyanath Jessica Hsu Matthew Burrows
Archbishop Mitty High School Literary Magazine
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Mission Statement The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine is a collection of original, creative fiction written 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.
Thanks for reading this issue of The Muse: AMHS Student Literary Magazine! The words we write can have a profound impact on our understanding of the world around us. It is our sincere hope that the words within this issue have inspired you to think, write, dream, and understand more fully. Please look forward to more issues. We look forward to seeing you again and publishing the fantastic work of AMHS students. – The Editors
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