The Shaman Gar-Field High School 2015 1
The Shaman 2014-2015 Advisor
Editors
Parker Miles
Katie Fraze and Amadeus Kang
Special Thanks The Shaman Staff would like to send thanks to Dr. Sadki, Mrs. McChain, Mrs. Maloney, and Mrs. Costa for supporting the creative writing program here at Gar-Field.
Policy The Shaman is a literary magazine made for and by students at Gar-Field High School. All students in grade 9-12 are invited to submit their literary and visual pieces for consideration. The Shaman staff reserves the right to edit submissions upon acceptance of publication. Authors and artists retain copyright of printed submissions; authors grant The Shaman the right to print submissions selected by the editorial staff. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily with the views of the staff advisors, schools, or school board.
Colophon The Shaman 2015 was created using Microsoft Publisher and printed by Staples. The body text is set in Calibri; the headings are set in Informal Roman. The Shaman is published online using issuu.com. The digital copy can be found at the Gar-Field High School website (http://www.gar-field.org).
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Contents Visual
Written
Natasha Kwankyewaa………. Cover
Josseline Hernandez….. 6
Amiee Kallon………. 23, 12 top 17 top
Amadeus Kang….. 6
Ayyan Khan…….. 4, 24
Nancy Zhou….. 7
Zania Morgan……..2, 10, 26, 22, 2
Paulo Lisboa…. 8, 19, 25, 28
Thorin Kilgore…. 12 bottom
Dan Williams….. 9, 11, 23
Amadeus Kang….. 6
Thomas Estrada …… 12
Joshmary Allacantara 25, 27, 16
Jaqueline Cano…. 16
Irene Nudd 18, 17bottom
Micheal Meaza….. 17
Katie Fraze 28, 29
Hayden Sarpong….. 18
Brianna Frazier19
Jose S….. 20
Alecs Bartolome 20, 21
D’Andre Norman….. 26
Finne Chordata 13, 14, 15, Back Cover Elizabeth L….. 11 Regina Younge …… 8 Colleen Kimble….. 9 Ashley Ventura …. 5 Troi Stubblefield…… 3, 7
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First Time I went to Beach
The Surf
Josseline Hernandez
Amadeus Kang
First time I went
A maelstrom churns in your head
to the beach I was four.
Water expels from your face
It was in the evening,
When you remember each sunken ship
I saw the sun painting
All lost to the deep blue within
the sky with orange, pink, purple just like a rainbow
Past mistakes rise like drift wood
I remember that day
Bludgeoning you back into the abyss
each time I see the
The raging riptide repelling you from your return
sun set playing with
The golden sands of glorious salvation so far
my mom in the hot sand her hair moves with
Your swimming is as desperate as a drowning toddle
the wind like it was
The island is only within eyesight
yesterday.
Withering in water but burning with blunders, You let the driftwood become your new boat
You’re a solitary sailor Sundered by the sea Striving towards sand Still surfing in sins
Falter not at failure Remember and render the rigor Learn and turn into someone bigger Let the boat turn into your board
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Rebirth By: Nancy Zhou
At the crack of the dawn A phoenix sets itself on fire,
Stands up.
And somehow, Everything is regained.
Its cry lost amongst The voices of others
The dreams, the hopes, the voice Returns.
Gone are the dreams. Gone are the hopes. They are all ashes now.
A chance to speak. A chance to change A chance to reach.
But somehow, hope ignited.
And, a chance to impact the world. The phoenix stood tall, Its presence prominent.
From the glowing embers The phoenix lifted its head and [‌]
The fire didn’t prevent its rebirth.
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Thought Loop Paulo Lisboa
Stuck in a thought loop again
Skipping day after day
But not really
And I'm withered
Stuck in a circle of sharks
Letting my thoughts never bounce
Just swimming
Just spinning
Maybe time is just a state
Maybe time is just a lock
Of us living
and I'm living
Stuck in a thought loop again
I'm stuck in a thought loop again.
But not really
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Time Passes Dan K. Williams Tick Tick Tick. I’M MISSING EVERTHING!
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Hurry Up!
Where Did Everyone Go?
Tick Tick Tick.
Tick.
WAIT SLOW DOWN! Tick.
Tick.
Tick. Tick. I’m so bored.
Tick.
[…]
I’m so lonely. Tick.
Tick.
Tick. I’m so lonely. Tick.
Tick. Tick.
Why?
Tick.
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I Love You Dan K. Williams
I love you. 3 words 3 syllables 3 meanings
It can mean, “I love you” The endearing term from husband to wife Mother to son Father to daughter Brother to sister Close family ties that should never be broken.
It can mean, “I love you” The passionate term of lust One says to their sex partner With no intention of commitment That should never be made.
Or it can mean, “I love you” The kind of message between friends To show care and respect. Bonds that shall never be broken.
From me to you, it means “I love you”.
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Dear… Thomas Estrada
Though we live under different roofs I’m still fine Though your hair used to be alive I’m still fine Though you have gotten older I’m still fine Though your cheeks were red I’m still fine Though you worked hours for green I’m still fine Though you sometimes cry I’m still fine But this time it’s different I feel for you I miss you too mom
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Glass Figurine Jacqueline Cano
Of impressive decoration,
I am the glass figurine who
Paling in comparison.
Hides in the corner on the shelf
I am the object of misin-
Watching the surrounding action.
terpretation, of broken thought.
I am the queer figure attained,
I am the transparent heart laid
Whose origins are forgotten
Resting on the shelf, so lifeless,
From a faculty memory, or
Wishing to beat and to bleed red.
Absence of consideration.
I am the glass figure who
I am the translucent presence
Was knocked over too many times,
Undisturbed and rarely noticed
Punctuated weakness made clear.
By any matter besides dust.
I am the broken shards about,
I am the fragile creation
Products of fall too many,
Desiring to be made of steel,
Leaving cuts every place I touch.
By anything stronger than I. I am the beauty lost in crowds
[…] 16
Choose or choose not, you will always remember. Michael Meaza
Forgetting or remembering, It usually doesn’t matter to some, But not if it is about guilt.
Never forget, never try to forget, If you try you will be blue Then red at yourself for it, Lastly feel yellow about yourself for even trying.
Having fun with friends; Going to after school clubs; Playing videogames; Playing basketball; None of the enjoyment will be experienced Because the guilt will be stuck in the brain.
Until you accept the guilt And ask for forgiveness You will never fly free, But be caged by your own self.
So remember, to remember, So that the guilt won’t follow you around Like a ghost or a specter.
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You remember, it’s like all the emotions you ever
Loneliness and Remembrance
had comes back in explosion of colors. It makes you
Hayden S. “Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer The secret of redemption lies in remembrance.” Richard von Weizacker
feel as if you had been reborn. Went through rebirth. It makes you feel as if you’re never really known yourself. It makes all the lies you’ve told yourself disappear. Makes those nights
Loneliness is only when you forget It is emptiness. It is not knowing anything About yourself. It is not knowing your parents, Your birthday, what it was like as a child, your Memories are a link to yourself, to your friends. Without it you’re a hollow version of yourself. You are Not you but someone who was yourself. Your Basically exiling yourself from yourself. Then when 18
Who Knows What Art Is Paulo Lisboa I’m not an artist! No one likes these colors— cheaply drawn— but I’ve been drawing something for the youth.
And it looks a lot like me but more like you, and they’ve been asking how to do it too.
Lately I’ve been kind of overwhelmed by how few times I’ve been moved to tears.
It’s kind of strange to wanna cry. But I haven’t felt a thing for three whole years.
“You’re not an artist!” Who knows what art is? “Nah man! You’re not an artist!”
Art is truth but now we’re scared of words and we have to think before we talk.
Cus all they want is actors. don’t say gender is the safest way to keep your job.
I’m not an artist! “You’re not an artist!” Well, who knows what art is? “Nah man! You’re not an artist!”
So, here’s how: to be profound you take off all my clothes. 19
The Art of the Loneliness Jose S.
Everyone asks me why I’m always walking alone? Why am I so shy? I just answer, “I don’t know” when my Real answer should be:
I walk alone because I’m afraid, Afraid of seeing what is forbidden. Afraid of hearing what I don’t want to, Feeling what I don’t have to, and Criticizing what I’m not supposed to.
I’m afraid of being normal, I don’t to talk about people behind their backs. I don’t want to covet anybody’s stuff, And lament everyday about my life As people do on this days. I’m afraid because people can know me More than I do. I’m afraid of speaking what I think but Not thinking what I speak. I’m afraid of being controlled by my Fake friends dressed as angels. I’m afraid of missing the beautiful sunsets in the field, Sitting under one of the tallest and precious trees {…]
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While I’m looking at the sun which says: “Good-bye, tomorrow I will shine brighter than ever.” I afraid of not listening When the birds wake me up every morning With their celestial sounds that only they Understand but make my life happy.
Being alone is not a sickness for me. It’s the art which makes me understand That I am alone because I’m safe From fake love It’s the art that makes me wise So id don’t make the mistake of Undressing and showing all of me To the people. But after all, it’s the Art that stops me from showing my enemies my sadness, anger and tears.
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Reflections Dan K. Williams
A house of Mirrors. Some broken, Some wrapped, One dirty, One clean.
Broken mirrors, They show you, But you only see an ugly mess. You barely recognize yourself, Asking, “Is that me?”
Warped mirrors, You are an ugly blob. You know it’s you, But you hate this image.
Dirty mirror, You can’t see yourself From under the grime.
Clean mirror, This is you.
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K9 Paulo Lisboa
one half to each other’s possession, that way there were never misconceptions.
Star-crossed lovers stared caringly into each other’s eyes.
It was enough to stay there encased by the haze only broken by a border;
The Hadarian pair shared a gaze of intimacy whilst longing in both distance and desire
when surveyed, then it would say “automatic door out of order.”
heterochromia laced one of the other’s eyes, flesh frozen from the fresh snow. You can still come if you walk with the sun which will arrive very next morning, And lo, their hues arranged to show that sunsets are forever and shall remain free. He laid there beyond the bow. Just so suddenly he begins to know that mountains have already fallen apart, no more obstacles in the way,
and when it did, half-sheathed tempters bid welcome to any adventure. The odd one got up and “wandered” on over to the lazy one with slumped ears, horror infested that which beats and tested her resolve in darkest fear.
to ever reach that lovely beast where on the other side she lays. They focused on the snowflakes, not like my love before. Two rocks toppled, formed a wall where remained the cherished domain,
Say so long to your morning flare, silenced forevermore. Now engraved, he shall remain an eternal piece of the tundra. 25
Wooden Tree D’Andre Norman
Demons grab the Dragon he’s taken away
The ancient Forest Dragon
He screams leave me be!
Came from the sea The powerful wood mage
Where he awakens the dragon is dry
Came from the sea
But he’s trapped in a room without a key Slumber hold on the mage is released, she feels dry
The dragon floated around the world
But she’s trapped in a room without a key
But there are things he’s yet to see The mage drifted through the waves But there are things she’s yet to see
The Dragon returns to his Birthplace […]
Where he was once a tree The mage finds herself at her homeland Where she was once a tree
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Oil is doused over the dragon’s wood scales
His Final thought was the reason he wanted to return
No stop, why are you going to kill me
Decomposed bodies in the forest are wood spirits becoming free
They drown the mage with Fluid to be lit
Her dying thought was her desire to go home
No stop, why are you going to kill me
Decomposed bodies in the forest are wood spirits becoming free
Fire…Fire…Fire
The morning came to a Dragon of ash
Please don’t do this, you’re killing me
His half of the spirit was never set free
Flames…Flames…Flames…
The mage of ashes saw the dawn
Please don’t do this you’re killing me
Her half of the spirit was never set free
More Fire burns the Dragon Stop take me to the home of wooden trees The Flames dance in the Mage Stop take me to the home of wooden trees
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Something Good Paulo Lisboa
I like the way your heart beats! It makes me seem depressed, I think they’d like to blend butNever mind I digress I’m always missing something. I’ve never loved before, But something’s different this time-
“You’re just my type!” Well I’m so immature. “It’s been so long!” Oh really who can be sure….. “I’m so obsessed!” With the way that you blush.
You’re beautiful and I should learn to shut up.
Oh, you’re walking home! Could I tag along? Just for companyCus honestly I hate when you’re gone.
You’re my night and day More than just my dreams My heart’s always seemed harder than you’ve made it seem. Hey! We’re onto something good! We’re onto something…. We’re onto something good!
[cont]
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I never enjoyed holding hands Until you took hold of mine. I’ve never known It’d feel so good. Everything I’ve ever felt When you’re looking at me
Seems so small and insignificant
Everything feels-
To this.
It feels alright.
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Gar-Field Senior High School 14000 Smoketown Road Woodbridge, VA 22193 30