Still Waters 2023-2024: Vol V, Issue II

Still Waters

ABROOKSSCHOOL

LITERARYMAGAZINE

VOLV,ISSUEII

EDITORS

DeanCharpentier,EnglishFaculty

XimingGong'23

DESIGNER

JasmineShi'24

PUBLICATIONS

JenniferO'Neill,DirectorofDigital Communications

RebeccaBinder,DirectorofPrint Communications,EnglishFaculty

COVERIMAGE

ChengZhuang‘25

InnerPageImages

Contents-JasmineShi‘24

SectionHeads-DeanCharpentier

StillWatersiscommittedtopublishing original,excitingmaterialfromadiverse collectionofBrooksstudentwriters. Whileweactivelypursueshortfiction, poetry,andmemoir,wewillconsiderany formofwritingsubmitted.

Therearenorestrictionsonwordcount, andauthorsmaysubmitmultiple submissionsatatime.

I often recall these words when I am writing, and I think to myself, It’s true.

There aren’t any new words. Our job is to give new meanings and special overtones to absolutely ordinary words.

Haruki Murakami

1 Weary,theyoungnight

SilentSurrender|Eggleston ThePath|Yamatani Class|Fortenberry Trapped|Diaz Afraid|Yamatani

Inadeepcorneroflife 6

TheNightBeforeChristmas|Nagle TheyPlayforYou|Diaz PutItOnMyTab|Diaz TheHawk|Staniscia RedMittens|Palle Hometown|Nyondo

Aheartstillbloomsbright 19 Chaos|Fortenberry Change|Nyondo Deception|Eggleston FindYourself|Mireles Morning,Early|Pierre InDaysofInnocence|Correa JourneyUndertheStars|Palle Leader|Yamatani Dreams|Pierre

11 Special:SophieGenden BarnBurning|Genden GirlsAgain|Genden TheSon|Genden PorcelainDaughter|Genden InterviewofSophieGenden

Silent Surrender

May Eggleston

Inthestillnesswhenexhaustionhangsheavy, fogseepsin,veilingtheworld, wrapsus,softensedges, obscuresthepathahead,blursboundaries

Wemovethrough,eachstepaburden, eachbreathastruggle

Thoughtsdriftlikeghosts. Amidsttheweight,astrangepeace,aquiet acceptance

Sowesurrendertothemist, tothefatigue andaswedriftthroughthehaze betweenwakinganddreams, westaysilent.

The Path

Derek Yamanati

Ahead,onlygloom Blandbrickbuildingsinthedistance calltome readyfortheday

Itrotacrossgravel. Myfeetsplashinthecoldgrass atrailforotherstofollow waterbuildsoneachfoot

Coldairrunsthroughmyveins shiversdownmyspine theflagswavetome thelakesitsstill

Whereistheendof thisinfinitepath Icreateeveryday thatnoonewillfollow?

Class

Sofia Fortenberry

Theonewhosatwithmeonthecold,draftystairs

Brightbluewallsilluminatingourfaces, TellingmeIwasugly

AsIcried.

Theonewhowouldsneakoutofclasswithme

Tosprintbreathlesslyintothebathroom

Muralsofwomenoneachstall

Andtellme,aswestaredateachotherinonelargemirror, Thatshewasleavingtheschool.

Theonewhowouldinterlockoursmallhands

Anddraggedmethroughthefield

Mudoneverysidestickingtoourshoes

Toshowmetheblackspottedcows nexttoourschoolwiththebluetongues

Theonewhowouldsitinplasticbluechairs

Filledwithstatic

Andplaythesnakegame

Watchingitgrowlargerandlargerwitheachappleitate

Insteadofplayingchordsontheflute

Theonewhoroamedtheentiretyoftheschool

Everysinglelunchtime

Desperatelytryingtofindnewplaces, Passingtheclassroomsthathadnowalls

Andourfeetbegantoache

Andteachers’shoutsranginourears

Sitdownatlunch .

Theonewhosatonthosehugecoldrocks

Outsidetheelementaryschoolplayground

Andplottedforhoursabouthowtobuyahedgehog

Whilelittlekidssprintedthroughwoodchipsplayinggirlhunt.

Theonewhoplayeddressupwithme

Andcrownedmequeenwithasparklytiarathatglistened

Witheachmovement,eventhough Laughtereruptedfromeveryone

Sincehewasaboy.

Theonewhoshowedmetheriver

Thatrushedwithemily’stears

Underherwoodenbridge

Theonewhodrovethelongvoyagewithme

Totheonlystarbucksandtarget

Whenwehadnothingtodoeachsunday.

Theonewhopickedmeupwhenthesunwentaway

Andtherainstartedtoturntheskyadarkgray

Duringmyhikeonthedirtroads

Thatledtomyhouse

Theonewhobakedacakeintheshapeofastoplight

Forthecelebrationofthesingleone

Intheentiretown

(evenifitwastorndownonlyamonthlater).

Theonewhopainted

Heartsandarmations

Toplacearoundtown

Whencovidhit.

Theonewhowaspositivethatthesheetofwood

Wefoundlayingoutside

Musthavebeenamap

Leadingustoapotofgold

Theoneswhoshapedme. 4 StillWaters

Trapped

Mithayus Diaz

WhatamIafraidof?

ThatonedayI’llwakeuptothenewsof yourdeathandlosemychanceto addressyouproperly aboveandbeyondthathazygrave you’vebeensohappilydigging?

WhatamIafraidof?

Thatfortheremainderofyourlife you’llsitthereinpureignorance believingyoudidyourduediligence andbeleftwiththat senseofartificialcontentment?

Butwhat,what whatamIafraidof?

Well,I’mafraidthatwhileyou’rehere youmayactuallylistentomybrokenvoice andfeelthewayyou’resupposed tohavefeltalltheseyears.

Andthat thatfeelsliketheworstthingIcansubject youto foryoufeelIamyourlife. ButwhenIthinkofyou IfeeltrappedbysomeoneI owesomethingto

Afraid

Derek Yamatani

WhatamIafraidof?

Iamafraidofthepain, thedaggertotheback whileI'mnotlooking.

Iamafraidoftheenergy andpassionthatcouldrundown thedrainlikeatsunami.

Iamafraidthatitwillneverfeelthesame andtheheartthatisthebiggestpartofme willneverbefixed

Iamafraidtoanswerthephone onlytofindoutheartbreakiscalling ringingsoloudthelineshatters.

Iamafraidourplans oflifetogetherwillbe crushedlikevelvet. Doesthatansweryourquestion,Love?

The Night Before Christmas

Emma Nagle

Thesnowcaughttheglowofthelightsfrom insideandhelditupsothatImightlook clearlyuponmyrisingandfallingbreathand therowofhousesjustbeyond Therewere peoplelaughinginsideeachone,Iwassureof it

Mybrothermadeasnowball.Imadeanother, andwerolledthemabouttilltheygrewtoa stackablesize.Soon,therestoodasnowman intheyard

Weaskedhimhisname,buthestayedsilent. Hewas,afterall,asmuchsnowashewas person,andsnowhasareputationfor holdingitstongue

Evenso,hisstoneeyesseemedtoaskwhy therewasatree,ofallthings,intheliving room,andstockingsdanglingabsurdlyfrom themantelpiece

“It’sChristmasEve,”wetoldhimthroughour smiles.Hesmiledback.

***

Andthat’swhatIwouldrememberof Christmas:makingfriendswiththesnowona wintryNewEnglandevening Snowhasthe

extraordinarypowertothinktheway childrendo insimpleshapesandplainlines, yetwithanimmeasurablecapacityfor imaginationandwonder.Afterthefirst snowfall,allthatcanbeseenoftheworldis itsoutline,butafterthesnowdepartsinthe spring,anyfascinatingthingorcolormightbe revealed Snowiswhite WhitelikeNana’shair White likeherhospitalbedsheets.

Butofcourse,atfiveyearsold,nosuch thoughtcrossedmymind,andthusnosuch thoughthadtheopportunitytoliveoninmy memory.

Iremember,invagueechoes,sugarcookies andmarshmallowsandplayingRock'EmSock 'EmRobotsinawarmbasement Snowhad obscuredthestrainjustbelowthesurfaceof smilingadultfacesandmademeforgetthe reasonwearrivedatLoganAirportafew daysearlierthanoriginallyplanned

That’swhatitmeanstobeachildon

Christmas Itmeansnotseeingthefear,only thewhiteangelsfallingfromthesky.Itmeans rememberingthepresentsandthesledding andnotthewaymygrandmothercouldn’t seemtostopcoughing.

Ican’tdecideifit’sselfishorbeautiful the magicofsnowandyouth

They Play for You

Mithayus Diaz

Whydoyoualwaysjump?

Oneday,you’lllandon somethingasstubbornasyouare.

Justtakeiteasy!

Thisisamomenttorejoice Amomenttosavor

You’vedoneit. Youdidwhatyouhadtodo Anddiditwithgrace

Oh.

Igetit

Theynevertoldyouabout thispartofthejob.

Whenit’sallover, themusicwhispersthrough thestillofthenight.

Canyouhearthemplay?

They’replayingforyou,sokick otheshoes

Let’sdance!

Put It On My Tab

Mithayus Diaz

Adentedstool whereJohnalwayssits

Theusual?

Thewhiskeyebbsandflows, andwithtiredeyes,Johnwatches

Thetablesfill asthenightgrowsold, butJohn’sjustgettingstarted

Onedrinktotwo, twotofour,fourto… HeyJohn,that’senoughfortonight

Thebartendertowelsthebar asacabemergesfromthenight; Johndragshimselftothecar

Thebartendertallieseveryglass, thinksofhiswife. Headdown,headdsitall toJohn’stab

The Hawk

Alex Staniscia

Itglidesthroughtheair, observesthesurroundings: serenebabybluesky, greatcloudsdottingthescene, grandgreenpeaks.

Scatteredpreyhides,desperate; thepredatorwaitsfortheperfectmoment thenbeginsitsdive.

Red Mittens

Nidhi Palle

Inwinter'sicygrasp,wheneveningfalls, ontheedgeofthesnowyabyss Istandalone, Abeaconofwarmthinthebittercold.

Inmyembrace,handsareshieldedfrom frost’smight Iamred,hotlikeascorchingfire, knitwithcare,testamenttoamother’scraft Nomatterthewinter'sfiercesting, withinmydepthslivesagentlespring Mothersays,Puttheseon! Andyoulisten,evadefrigidwinter’sgrasp hoursofwarmthinthecold, butnow,abandoned,buriedinwinter'ssnow

Hometown

Lughano Nyondo

Cook.Eat.Sleep.IdreamoftheUSA.

5yearslater,IamintheUSA.

Inthewondersofmysleep

Idreamofbeingawake

Idreamofbeinghome

Afamiliarplaceofdelicioussmells

Mylungstesttheairofthedust

AsfreshasthewaterIdrink

Idreamofmyfamily

Sittingtogetherandlaughingtotears

Idreamofwalkingupthewavydirthilluntilthesunset

Idreamofadreamthatsuces

Idreamofadreamotherswishtohave

Idreamofahometownfullofthinkersandintellectuals

Whoreachtheirfullpotential andgobeyond.

IaminthedreamIdreamtbeforethedreamIamdreamingnow

Idreamofbringingthedreamalive

Socheertothedreamandthefuturewenosee

Barn Burning

Sophie Genden

ImissGrandmotherbutIdon'tknowhowtopray.LatelyIhavebeenwritingintheleatherbook Emmausedtouse She'salwayssicksoshe'sgivenittome Ithinkbacksometimestowhenshe usedtotakeitwithhertothehillanddrawthesparrows.Iusedtositinsilenceandwatchher sketchthethinblackfeathers.Theyallsatonthebigcrookedtree,thetreewepraynevergets struckbylightning.Whenshefinishedshewouldletmechaseaftertheminhopestheywoulddrop afeatherforme.Sometimestheydid,butmosttimestheydidn’t.IwonderifEmmathinksofthis, too Butshecan'ttalklately,soI’mnotsure

Beforeshelosthervoice,backinthefallwhensheonlyhadtwodots,Isworenottolookather sideofthejournalandsheagreedtoletmeuseit.She'sbeengivingmemanyofheritemsandI feelsolucky.It'snotevenmybirthdayyet.Ihaven'tlookedattheolddrawingssheusedtodobutI wishIcould.Iwishshecouldtalktome.She’ssickagain,andnowshecan'tspeak.Ihopeshegets betterintimeformybirthday.ShealreadymissedtheGreatHarvest.Ihopeshedoesn’tfallilllike SamueloftheDarsinfamily,theironlyboy,thestrongestI'veseen Hebecamesoweakhecouldn't cometotheGreatHarvesteither.Hepassedafewdaysback,hisneckwascoveredindots.Idon't knowwhyhediedforsure Iwon'taskyet

Motherwokethismorningwithtwomorereddots.Shehadgrownoneafewdaysbackbutsheis beginningtolookmoreandmorelikeEmma Sostrange IwonderifI’llgetreddots Idon'treally worrytoomuchaboutit,aslongasIcanstilltalk.MotherandEmmawenttosleepearlylastnight.I heardyellingoveronthefarmers’endandwalkedtotheendoftheroad Isawthebigredbarn, theMartin’sbarn,burning.TheMartins,thefarmersofourvillage Iwonderedwhysomeonewould dosuchathing. Twoblackcloakedfiguresstoodandwatched.Theycausedsuchamess.

ThismorningIwoketotheloudringingofthebell Motherwokewithmorereddotsallalongher throat Doctorexpectstobeinthevillagesoon Hewillgettousbysundownatlatest,hewillcure usall.MotherandIwalkedintothesquaretoseethereasonforthebell.Thegatheringlooked bleakandonthefarsideofthesquareInoticedMr.andMrs.Martinhangeddead.Ifeltnothing.I stillfeelnothing.Icannotunderstandthis.Whydidtheykillthemwhentheygrowallourfood, whentheyprovideallourharvests?Istaredatthem,thenIstaredbackatthecrowd Theyallhad dotslikeEmma,allaroundtheneck.

***

Doctorcamethisevening.MotherandDoctorspokeinhushedtonesbutourroofisonlysowide. MotherwasillandDoctorseemedtothinkshewouldlosehervoicesoontoo.Wearetoonlyeat grainsandbeans.Theyspokeofthehangingandtheyspokeofthevegetables.Somethingaboutan infection,somethingaboutitbeingtoolate Doctorleftasitbegantorain,theskybrokeinto screamingthunderandflashesoflightningandwewerejustgirlsagain Iprayedforthebigtreeon thehillandIprayedforthevegetables.

***

Iawokeearlyandmotherspokeonlysoftly.ItoldherIwasgoingtoseethetreeonthehillandshe washeadingbacktosleep.Thegroundwassoftfromtherainandmyfeetweresoaked.Ireached thehillandthevillagewasquiet,morequietthenithasbeen.Thetreehadbeenstruck,brokenand smoldering Smokerose Thetreewasdarkandthevillagewasdesolate Icriedstandingbythe brokentree.Noprayerwouldbeenoughtobringthetreeback.Thesparrowsweregoneforgood.

Girls Again

Sophie Genden

Iwasonceamother,butthisRoadiswhere femininitygoestodie;Iamnotawoman. Walkingwithher,wincingatthebrushofthe wind.Theywouldrapeus,theywouldkillus. WalkingwithherandIclenchwithonehand theguninmybelt,herhandintheother.Do youknowhowtoshootagun?Iask She looksatmeblankly.Canyoure-tiemyribbon first?sheasks.Sheopensherfingers,the smallyellowribbonrestsinherpalm.Ipause, lookingatthelittlegirl Mylittlegirl,mayshe alwaysbesoft Always,Ithink Iwakenexttoher,notwithher She’syoung andIwatchherthroughconditionedeyes. Herchestrisesandfalls,Isitholdingmy breath.Morning,Iexistinashatteredballof emotion Iwince,restrainingmytears She sleeps Iholdtheblackenedcrossrestingon mycollarbone.

WhereisHe?Iamawoman.

Wewalktogether,holdinghandsonlywhen theskyistoodarktosee.That'swhenIfeel herhandgettingcolder,herbodyslowing down Ipretenditisn'thappening Wesleep earlierthanusuallatelyandIhavebegunto tellhertopraybeforebed.Why?sheasks. Weneverpray,Mama.Ilookatherface,hard. Soakinginhercheeks,hereyes,herlips,her bigbrowneyes Please,sweetie,let'spray,I say.Wecloseoureyesandholdhands, praying.I’mthinkingofherbigbrowneyes

andherdustyyellowponytailribbon Iwant herhandstobewarmagain

Please WhereisHe?

Isleepnexttoher,holdingher,asshedrifts awayfromme IwakeandI’mholdingher tighterthanIremember.Iholdmybreathin aneorttostopallthinkingandallfeeling.I wanteverypainreceptortogoblank,Iwant everynervetodie Ithinkofherlaughing,us inthekitchen,andthat’salifetimeaway.I don'twanttomoveher,Idon'twant anythingtohappenyet,don'twanttowither away Iampuyeyedagain,Iamagirlagain chokingonamother’sgrief Ialreadyknow she’sgone.She’stoocold.Itouchherhand,I don’tmove,andmystomachdrops.Isitlike that,pretendingsheisasleep,pretending manythingsforhours Nightisfallingback intoadarkgrayandIpickherup,sittingin thedirtasIcradleher.Ihopedeathfeltlike beingcarriedtoherbedafterfallingasleep onthecouch Ihopeitwasmyarmsthat wrappedaroundher.Thatitwasmyarms whenshedied.Isitandholdherthrough nightfall.

Herbigbrowneyes.

Herweddingwouldbebeautiful.Shewould becoveredinroses,tulips,and chrysanthemum Shewouldwearmydress withthebuttonsdowntheback,thesliton theleftside.Shewouldbeabeautifulbride, ribboninherhair.Whenshewouldwalkto thealtarshewouldprobablylaughatmy crying,yellowribbonkissinghercurls She

wouldholdagoldenbouquet Thereisno grayandwearetogether

ShewouldbeabeautifulbrideandIlookat herandthinkofallthewayswecouldbegirls again.Allthewayswecouldbewomen,real women,nothinglikethis.

The Son

Sophie Genden

HeavenlyFather,allowmetoforgetallIhave seen.

BehindmyclosedeyesIseethemlookingup atus;Lordallowmetoforget.Iamageless andnamelessandIamsuddenlynothing,I wanttobenothing Myeyesadjusttothe darknessanditfeelslikealongtimecoming.I knowwhatwasgoingonhere,Iknowthe monstersundermybedaregone.Iknow therewasnomonstergreaterthanus Iclose myeyesandIpraytheygoaway,dyingin theirowntime.Nothingwillchangeand nothingisgood.Theoceantastesthesameas mytearsandmenhaveforgottenthewords oftheHailMary YousaidityourselfPapa, thisisaGodlessRoad.

Iwakeupinpalegray.It’salwaysthesame. It'salwayscoldandIalwayswaketoyou hangingoverme;youstoppedsleepingafter thehouse Iwakewithasickemptyfeelingin mystomachandIwaitformybraintoforget thedream.Youstareatmeforalongtime, yourmindmovesslowerandIhaveyour wholefacetolookatwhilewewait Youlook

scary,itmakesmesad,IwonderifIlook scary Yourcheekbones,anddeepwrinklesin yourforehead.Yoursmilelinesarenotso deep.Youwerelookingforme.Inyour dream,youwerelookingforme,youwere callingforme,yousayplainly Westareat eachotherforwhatfeelslikealongtime. Yourwordssitintheair,stingingmewhenI trytoopenmymouth.I’malwayslookingfor you,Ifinallywhisper NexttomeIwatchthe grayishdirtturnblack,andIblinkawaytears. Youwatchedmewatchmyselfcry.I’mbored withthisemotion.Thetearstastethesameas theoceanandnothingisnew WewalkandIthinkaboutyou,aboutus,and whattheRoaddid Ithinkabouthowyou changedandIthinkabouttheguninyour belt.Ithinkofuslayinginthegrasses,the fear,andthegunpushedagainstmy esophagus Iwonderhowitwouldfeel I wonderaboutwhatIloveyoumeansandI wonderifyoumightkillmeintheend.The devotionwouldturnviolentandinlovingme youwouldhaveaguntomyhead inloving you,I’dallowit

Ithinkaboutthosegrassesalot Iwonder whogaveusthosegrassesandIwonder whattheysee.Iwonderwheretheywent andIwonderhowfartheyletthegrasses stretchuntilhittingthedirtroadagain

Porcelain Daughter

Sophie Genden

Howdoesawomangrowaporcelainface fromafaceoffearandgrief?Howdoesa womanbecomethefaceofabillboardorthe faceofacover?Howdoesawomanbecome seen?Howdoesawomanbecomeawoman? Animportantwoman?ThegirlsandIsmoke cigarettesinthehall,linedup.Wewait.Iam drowninginfeathersasIwait,completely drowned,Iloveithere,inthisstateof breathlessness.Wearedolls,mymotherwas adoll,Iamadollandmydaughterwillbea doll Itisanhonor,Iambeautiful Thisred carpetismyblood,itfillsmylungsanditlies undermyskin,Iwoulddiewithoutthisred carpet.Mymother,Ashley,shewouldbeso proud Iwillbegreaterthansheeverwas I willlastsomuchlonger

Ashleywasbeautiful.Shemesseditallupand shecouldhavebeengreat Shegotpregnant andshemesseditupbecausetheynever wantsomethingdisgustingandruined.Her C-Sectionscarandthereminderofher breastfeedingmeforsixlongmonthsruined everythingtheyeverwantedherfor Shehad togo.Hervoiceburnsinmybrain,thosesix yearsIhadwithher,theyearsbeforesheleft, theyearsshewasallowedtobewithme.She beggedmenottoruinitlikeshedid,before shehadtogo.Hereyeswereglossyasshe saidthis,andIwonderwhatmyowneyes lookedlike,wideanddark,takingherin.My

mother,Ashley IwillbegreaterandIwilllast IdreadthedayIbecomedisgusting Iprayit nevercomes.

SinceIwassavedIspendmydayswalkingon glassuntilmyfeetbleed,showingeveryone whattheycouldhavebeeniftheywantedit badenough.I'velearnedthevalueofthe cigarettes,thedrugs,theimage.I'velearned howitwillgivemelifeforaslongasIhave whattheywant.Iambeautiful,butmypupils stilldilateinthebrightlightsandatthesight ofmymother.SheisnowAshley shecomes tomeindreamsandvisions Ilayawakeat nightandmyimageisgone,itisjustmeandI wonderhowIcanfreezemypupils,thesame wayIwillfreezethewrinkles,thesmilelines.I wishmypupilswouldneverdilateagain,I wishmymotherwasonlyeverAshely Eventually,Iwillturnintothoseothermouths thatreleasethecigarettesmokenexttome intheredcarpetedhall.EventuallyIwillbe nothingbutthefaceofwhatAshelywasnot, Iwillbeperfect,Iwillbeadoll.Iwonderhow longuntilIamporcelainandIwonderhow longuntilmypupilsfreezeontheirown.I wonderhowlongIwilllast

SophieGenden‘24hasbeeninvolvedinthe BrooksSchoolwritingcommunitysinceshe arrivedAnalumoftheStillWatersCreative WritingWinterTermworkshop,theStudent DirectoroftheBrooksWritingCenter,anda tirelesssupporterofherfellowwritershereat Brooks,SophieisheadedtoBucknell Universitynextyear,whereshewillmajorin EnglishandPre-MedSophie’scollectionof dystopianshortstoriesappearsinthisissue.

StillWatersrecentlycaughtupwithSophie totalkaboutwriting,dystopias,andlifehere atBrooks.

Thecollectionofdystopianflashfictionin thisissue whatinspiredyoutowrite thesestories?

Thecollectionisbothamixofinspiration gatheredfrombookswereadinmy DystopianLiteratureclass,aswellas dystopianperspectivesIdevelopeda personalinterestin.Thatcoursereallygavea fullunderstandingofthedefinitionof dystopiaandthereallypopulargenreof literaturethathasgrownuparoundit That ultimatelysparkedmyinterestinthistypeof fiction.

Oneofthestoriesrecallsinitsplotand languageCormacMcCarthy'sdystopian novelTheRoad.Whatwasitaboutthis novelthatstruckyouenoughtoexploreit inyourownwriting?

TheRoadisthetypeofbookyouneedto readmorethanonceinordertogetthefull experience HavingreadTheRoadpreviousto takingtheDystopianLitclass,Iwasableto

appreciateMcCarthy’sworkinadierent fashion Readingthisbookforthesecond time,Iallowedmyselftodigesthiswriting styleaswellasthecomplexityof relationshipsportrayedindystopianstories.It wasreallythedepthofthefather-son relationshipinthebookthatinspiredme deeply.IwantedtoseeifIcouldrecreate thatexperience.

Thethemesofwomanhood,motherhood, andtherelationshipbetweenmotherand daughterareprominentinyourcollection. Whatmakesthisthemesopowerfulinthis typeoffiction?

Mostofthetimedystopianliteratureisabout survivalandviolence thatisapretty commonthemeinthisgenre,forgood reason.TheRoadfixatesonafather-son relationshipinfrontofadystopianbackdrop, whichmakesitsmasculineessencemore apparent Iwantedtoexploreandunderstand howfemininityandmotherhoodwould functioninthesamekindofenvironment.In doingso,Ideepenedmyownunderstanding ofthoseintersectingthemes

Whendidyourealizethatyouwerea writer?Whathaswritingmeanttoyouin yourlifehereatBrooks?

Beingdyslexicisbothablessingandacurse formeintermsofmywriting.Ialwaysloved writing,butwhenIwasyoungerIreallyhad troubleputtingwordsonpaper Thisstruggle iswhatultimatelyforcedmetoworkhardat improvingmyskillsasawriter.IthinkIflewa littletooclosetothesun,becausenowI'm seeingmywritinginajournalanddoublingin Englishformysecondyearinarow!Ata certainpointImadethetransitionfrom alwaysthinkingaboutimprovingmywriting tofindinggenuinejoyinit.That’swhenI reallystartedimprovingbecauseitbecame somethingIdidthatmademehappy,it wasn’twork.I’msogratefultoBrooksfor allowingmetobeflexibleandshowcasemy workinvariousways IfeellikeI’mwatching myselfgrowandhopefullyinspiringothersto putthemselvesandtheirwritingoutthere.

Okay,speakingofthat—whatadvicedo youhaveforcreativewriterstryingtofind theirwayatBrooks?

Myadvicewouldprobablybetojustkeep writingandsharing,andtryeverything.I becomeastrongerwriterwitheachdierent formofwritingIexploreandthemorethings Itry Ididn’tknowIcouldwritepoetryuntil recently.NowIwritepoetryallthetime. Writingcanbeaverysolitaryand independentpursuit,butyoucan’tclose yourselfo Justkeepdoingitandsharing evenifyouthinkit’sbad!Iplantoinvolve myselfinanyandallcreativewriting opportunitiesthatIcannextyearatBucknell.

Chaos

Sofia Fortenberry

Theworldturnstochaos whenlightturnsto dark whenthe songsofbirds becomedesperate cries signaling their fear.

Theworldturnstochaos themoment thatachild sees the neon signs floating in the sky anda dullness fading

Theworldturnstochaos asourreasons forliving bringnosparktotheeye and the comfort ofjoy is just a memory.

Theworldturnstochaos whenyoubegintogrow.

Change

Lugano Nyondo

thestarsinthesky arelost no,it’snotme it’stheplace Iwasborn

Ithoughtthisplace wassaneenough it’shardbeingtheDITR

theydisobeyed Itaughtyoubetter themothersyell Whereismychild?

changing yourchildis changing

Deception

May Eggleston

Hey,girl. Changeyourface Getyourselftogether. Wieldthebrushes, powders,creams: eachstroke,alie Youlooksodirty Youareafraud. Youdisgustme.

Hey,what'sthematter? Lookatyourself

Youneedthis

Find Yourself

Joel Mireles

Driftlikethesummerbreeze Mistblowsoveran opportunisticsea

Lookforthepersoninsideme

Themysteryisunsolved Seekitoutandyou’llsee

Daysgobyoncethesunstopstoshine Inalifefilledwithtreasures thechestremainsunopened

Wewishtoseebeyondtheworldofsevenseas Wethriveoeachother’senergies Ask,whodoyouwanttobe?

Thefloorcreakslikethestingofabee Youwalkdownthehall,itsdoorslocked lookatyourselfandimagineeachscene.

Morning, Early

Darnell Pierre

IndeepsleepIhear: acarcrash someonesomewhere willfindoutlater.

Thelastwinterleaves fallintothedirtybucket, turntogold

Aloneandcold, theocean,wavesflow, thefastestI’veseen

Anearthquakecan killeverything. MyHeart’sbeatingfast

Earlymorning,darkclouds, youngsunlight stilldancingtothesong

In Days of Innocence

Kylie Correa

Indaysofinnocence,beneaththesun'sgoldengleam, Wedancedinmeadows,inaworldsoserene, Wherelaughterechoedthroughthetrees'leafyscreen, Inmemoriessweet,ofchildhood’sdream.

Withimaginationsboundless,wesoaredonwingsofplay, Insecrethideaways,wheretimewouldgentlysway, Throughfieldsofwonder,inthelightofday, Childhood’smagicheldusinitssway.

Thoughyearsmaypass,andfrompathswestray, Theechoesofyouthinourheartswillstay, Forintheinnocenceofchildhood'sarray, Wefindthelightthatguidesourway.

Journey Under the Stars

Nidhi Palle

Whendarknessseizesthetown theveilbetweenrealityandfantasywearsthin Idriftintothevastrealmofmysubconscious allowthecreationsofmyimaginationtocometolife

Iamatravelerofthemind Idiscoverthemysticalwhimsoffantasy andtheterrorslockedinunseencrevices allinthedepthsofnightwheredreamsthrive

Thestreetsbecomepathsuntold leadmethroughlandscapesofillusion, mountainsofdreams,riversofthought Here,mymindisthreedimensional.

Asdawnnearsandthesunrises, thedreamscapefades,theveilthickens yettheechoesofmyboundlessjourneylingerand Iambothexplorerandcreator.

Leader

Derek Yamatani

Iwonderhowicanhelp

Ihearthelittlethings

Iseethebiggerpicture

Ipretendi’minvincible

Iamtired

Itouchrockbottom

Iworrytheywillsee

Icrywhennooneislooking

Iunderstandmyrole

Isayi'mfine

Idreamofrespect

Itrytorightmywrongs

Ihopeiwillsucceed

Dreams

Darnelle Pierre

Intheforestflamesleap highandwild,peelingbackbarklike pagesfromabook, cracklesecho,loud,fierce,untamed thewickeddanceoforangeandred:

welook asmileflickerslikeahiddengem, asfiredevoursallinitspath Nature’sanger,itsfierysong Burningbright scarsstaylong Campuswhisperssway, footstepsechodreamsofthe bloomingfuture.