Nadia Wells

Like Sheep to the Slaughter

by: Nadia Wells

Since the dawn of civilization, there have been the oppressed and there have been the oppressors. Since the creation of this nation, there has been a tyrant and there have been the exploited. Since the formation of education, they have made it their prerogative to teach young children this fact. To incite the youth to critically think about the fight of our forefathers, to have the capabilities to identify our intimidator, our tormentor, to bring change about the people. They spoke with great repetition the mighty words under which our nation was shaped, “And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Now, however, the finger has been pointed at the very people that govern us. Those who took an oath to protect, flaunt their brawn through unnecessary means of violence. Those who claim to fight the battle of the maltreated, strip their brothers and sisters of dignity, brutalize those who resist, and cower in the face of revolution. They speak of inalienable rights, freedoms gifted to man upon birth. To express any idea through print, voice, banner, or other media.

To think freely. To abolish said government, when it becomes destructive of these rights. In the name of the man you claim you stand so proudly for, give me liberty or give me death.

Daily I Read Something More Disturbing Than the Last

by: Mara Panich

a headline a buried lede creates a sense of need empathetic crushing depression an overused word but often the one that describes hits the fingernail on the head no longer able to touch without the pain of remembering pain the body remembers what you tell it worthlessness repeated in blood sugar levels desire for sugar fat carbohydrates the meat of your thigh tell me of a way to diminish the anxiety of social interaction without chemical intervention arrive in the crowd alone indifferent to interaction stand in the corner nod and smile at your glances look away not enough to speak for conversation for need not worth the time it takes to verbally reject the biggest toe hits at the end of a shoe each step a motion toward home each limp a reminder of how far you have distanced yourself from connection desire is the wings of moths substance is an exposed light bulb offering heat in your throat relief from subconscious travel each day is a new victory a new loss in the crowd thirst for alcohol on my tongue in my belly sunlight and warmth improve disorder light lightens burden

daily I read something more disturbing than the last.

5