Equinox Spring 2021 by The Harvey School

ISSUE 5 . SPRING 2021 The Harvey Middle School Literary Magazine

EQUINOX ISSUE 5 . SPRING 2021 The Harvey Middle School Literary Magazine

EQUINOX STAFF

Editors Dr. Byrne Mrs. Lombardi Dr. Moser

Faculty Advisor Dr. Moser

Head of Middle School Dr. Byrne

Head of School Mr. Knauer

Special Thanks to: Dr. Byrne, Dr. Metz, Mrs. Matero, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Lombardi, and Mrs. Menacho

EQUINOX Is a publication of The Harvey Middle School 260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 914.232.3161

Table of Contents A Visit in the Woods, Lucien Fried……………………………….………………………..…….....5 The Hill We Climbed, Maeve Lazzaro.………………………………………………………….….6 Online Happiness, Ava Pfluger……………………………………………………………….…….8 Gratitude, Lee Birch………………………………………………………………………………..10 The Super Soldiers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Luke Weidner……………………………11 I Fear, Phillip Meres……………………………………………………………………………….13 My Dream Is, Sarah Fisher………………………………………………………………………..15 THE BEEPS OF LIFE, Richard Sullivan…………………………………………………………..16 Sitting on the Bench, Emma Lederer………………………………………………………………17 The Silver Lining of the Pandemic, Beatrix Mackil……………………………………………….19 Gratitude, Aidan Garcia…………………………………………………………………………...21 Next to the Train I Stroll, Chuka Enrybnayr………………………………………………………22 Aurantiaco, Bailey Gans…………………………………………………………………………...24 The New Fate, Evan Vasile………………………………………………………………………...25 The Hills We Climb, Amani Kelly Carty…………………………………………………………..26 Sum Rufus, Nick Ritenis ……………………………………………………………………………………27 Jugué basquetbol con mis amigos, Jonathan Bailey……………………………………………....28 The Story of Ίριδα, Beatrix Mackil………………………………………………………………..29 My Dream Is… , Neel Mistri………………………………………………………………………31 Gratitude, Daniel Dalby…………………………………………………………………………....32 The Beast, Ryan Dey……………………………………………………………………………….34 Annoy Henry 101, Helen Katis………………………………………………………………….....36 Gratitude, Sarah Fisher…………………………………………………………………………....37 In My Perfect World, Ava Pfluger………………………………………………………………....39 Nature’s Peace, Xan Cohen………………………………………………………………………..41 First, Emery LaGattuta…………………………………………………………………………….42 What I love, Beatrix Mackil………………………………………………………………………..44 clouds, Emery LaGattuta…………………………………………………………………….…….45 The Hill We Climb, Jordan Collins………………………………………………………………..47 Flores, Riley Franck………………………………………………………………………………..48 Ayer En El Jardín, Meaghan Sullivan……………………………………………………………...48 The Marker, Nick Ritenis…………………………………………………………………………...49 Impostor, Conrad Breede…………………………………………………………………………..50 Grief in the Eyes of Georgia, Talya Langer………………………………………………………..51

Art Photo, Lucien Fried…………………………………………………………………………...………5 Vivid Colors, Isabella Jane Wang………………………………………………………………...…..7 100, Ryan Byrne………………………………………………………………………………...…….9 Caeruleo rubrum aquilae, William Bland……………………………………………………….…...12 2-18-15-11-5-14, Ryan Byrne……………………………………………………………….……....14 V, Isabella Jane Wang……………………………………………………………………….……....15 Lepus comantem, Helen Katis……………………………………………………………………….17 N1R1iT, Ryan Byrne………………………………………………………………………….……..18 Fate, Isabella Jane Wang…………………………………………………………………………....20 Contrast of Cool, Ryan Byrne……………………………………………………………………….23 Photo, Talya Langer………………………………………………………………………………....24 Awareness, Isabella Jane Wang……………………………………………………………… …….25 Ars Facilis, Ryan Byrne……………………………………………………………………………..26 Baby Blue, Isabella Jane Wang……………………………………………………………………..27 Electrified Basketball, Ryan Byrne………………………………………………………………….28 Shadow, Isabella Jane Wang………………………………………………………………………..30 Photorealistic H A N D, Ryan Byrne………………………………………………………………..33 Vesperavis, Sophia Beldotti…………………………………………………………………………35 Canis chiroptera, Giselle Grant……………………………………………………………………..38 Avescisdae, Isabella Jane Wang…………………………………………………………………….40 Photo, Elena Pagan……………………………………………………………………………….....41 Rat sus rhinoceros, Eva Wilkerson………………………...………………………………………...43 Homo rhinocerutidae, William Hargreaves………………………………………………………….46 Photos, Talya Langer………………………………………………………….……………………..48 Imposter, Ryan Byrne……………………………..………………………………………………....50 Looking through the rear-view window, Ryan Byrne………………………………………….....…52

Cover art by Ryan Byrne

A Visit in the Woods As I gaze upon these empty woods, nature fills my soul with the soothing melody of a babbling brook. The cool morning air still hangs fresh in my throat like a cold glass of water. The soft shag of moss creates the perfect seat. The little songbirds fill my ears with joy. If I stay still and listen carefully I can make out the sound of a wood duck off in the distance calling for a mate. Then out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of the amber tail of a fox gracefully darting out of sight around a rotting tree stump. The tree looks like a hollow statue covered with ferns and orange and bright red mushrooms decorating the sides. But like the tree, all good things must come to an end, so I must leave the woods for now.

By Lucien Fried

by Lucien Fried 5

The Hill We Climbed (inspired by Amanda Gorman) We saw what we couldn’t see But when it got hard we could not disagree We climbed the hill of division when we were apart It did not get easier but we always kept each other in our heart And when it got hard we did not fail to call Because we would soon unite together after all But for now we wait to preserve the health So till then we climb and climb the tower with stealth We wish and wish to see you The invisible force keeps us apart But we have to be smart because if we look at the charts The numbers are rising rapidly For when one falls we all fall But here is power in numbers So pick yourself up For there is a new day upon us Where the light shines brighter and the dancing continues But we wait for the day until We all reach the top of the hill

By Maeve Lazzaro

Vivid Colors by Isabella Jane Wang

Online Happiness We think we're fine We think we're okay But little do we know Our minds will not recover From this world we think is fun But its ending our happiness from the inside out Our minds are being destroyed Almost like it’s Slowly Slowly Slowly being chipped at The blue light as bright as the sun Blinding We think its fun We think we're happy But were not We’re competing for happiness And a majority Loses

By Ava Pfluger

100 by Ryan Byrne

Gratitude Gratitude For this comfy pillow So flowing, so warm, so melting And also that I can Bring my pillow in my bed And also that my pillow Helps me sleep And also that my Pillow comes on a Trip, around the House and Walking along My room. And also that my Pillow is warm and Will carry me through My dreams where its Crazy where its Zany and where its Scary I will wake Up and lay on my Comfy pillow.

by Lee Birch

The Super Soldiers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe When you think of the super soldier in the MCU, you most likely think of Steve Rogers, the first Captain America. However, in more recent years, we have been learning more and more about the super soldiers and the serum that makes them how they are. Sometimes it’s forgotten that Steve was not in fact the first one injected with the serum. Johann Schmidt, leader of the secret organization Hydra, later known as the Red Skull was the first to take the serum. However, said version of the serum was not perfected and had serious consequences, including Schmidt’s trademark red skull. Second place does in fact go to the First Avenger. Steve Rogers’ actions in war would be history. He would carry the mantle as Captain America for a long time, eventually handing the shield to Sam Wilson, who was known as the Falcon before said hand-off. Soon after the supposed defeat of hydra in World War 2, James Buchanan Barnes, or Bucky for short, was subject to a version of the serum created by Hydra Scientist Arnim Zola. He was brainwashed and trained to be the first Winter Soldier. Later in the Korean war, a company of african-american men were all test subjects to a recreated serum. All of the test subjects perished, however one Isaiah Bradley survived and became one of the U.S. Army’s best weapons. When the U.S. Intelligence got word of a single soldier that defeated an entire company, they sent Bradley to fight said soldier. Turns out said soldier was in fact the Winter Soldier, Hydra’s own secret weapon. The two engaged in deadly combat, Isaiah breaking half of the Winter Soldier’s metal arm and forcing him to retreat. This success with Bradley caused worry among the U.S. Government as they were still systematically racist and did not fully trust him. Bradley was put in prison for over 30 years, and tested on by many people. He had a nurse who faked a report one day out of pity. The report labeled him as dead, allowing him to raise his grandson in baltimore. Sometime after the war, the Winter Soldier was sent on a mission to eliminate Howard and Maria Stark, and retrieve the former’s rendition on the super soldier serum. Five were obtained, and used on five more subjects, all from a soviet special operations squad. That squad had the highest kill count of all squads, even before the serum. The serum, however, made the subjects violent, and they were all put in sleeping chambers. The chambers were later destroyed by Helmut Zemo, as a part of his master plan to break the avengers team apart. Barring the worst versions of the serum, one of which was created by Bruce Banner which resulted in the Hulk and the other version which resulted in the Abomination, there were only two other parties which used the serum. The group was known as the Flag Smashers, and most recently, John Walker. Recently a group “labeled” as terrorists known as the Flag Smashers, led by Karli Morgenthau, have taken a version of the serum which did the job of the serum, however it did not increase your visible physical attributes as much as it did interior physical and mental attributes. Morgenthau’s group’s goal was to unite the world and have it be a world without borders. They were defeated however 11

by Sam Wilson, the newest Captain America. The last, most recent person who took the serum was John Walker, the U.S. Government’s selected Captain America. His dark path led to him being removed from the “title” that the government bestowed upon him, soon after he had just taken the serum and then killed a member of the Flag Smashers. He later redeemed himself and saved a truck filled with hostages about to die at the hands of the Morgenthau. Bucky (who was now known as the White Wolf), Sam (now Captain America), and Walker teamed up to finally defeat the group. John Walker now goes by U.S. Agent, and will hopefully not be committing any more crimes from now on. The Super Soldier has a long, hard, and interesting history. It has been defined not only by those who have taken the serum, but also those who have been around the superhumans, influencing them, and fighting them.

By Luke Weidner

I Fear I Fear Yes you're right I fear I fear that I may lose you, I fear that I am not the person you think I am, I fear that I am not up to your expectations, I fear that I am weak, but, You know that is what motivates me to work hard, That is what makes me more strong, That is what makes me survive, That is what makes me unique. I Fear, I Fear, I Fear.

By Phillip Meres

2-18-15-11-5-14 by Ryan Byrne 14

My Dream Is My dream is the dimple on my face, my brown curly hair, and my beautiful round face. It’s the thing that makes me, me, but not the thing that makes me fantastic. The time I didn’t give up, the passion I have for kids, and my acknowledgement and appreciation for my family, really makes me, me.

by Sarah Fisher

V by Isabella Jane Wang

THE BEEPS OF LIFE Inspired by House Arrest *Beep beep, beep beep The only noise I can hear. That’s the only noise I want to hear *beep beep, beep beep The sound keeps me on edge I wait to hear that sound *beep beep, beep beep Breathless… I hate to use that word *beep beep, beep beep But it’s how I really feel *beep beep, beep beep The sound echoes in my head I hold my breath until i hear the beep again *beep beep, beep beep Because at any second it could beep. And then never beep again. *beep beep, beep beep

And then I would lose him I would lose my brother *beep beep, beep beep We want more help We need more help *beep beep, beep beep I hear his little giggles But I don’t want to hear them I just want to hear those beeps *beep beep, beep beep The beeps of life, Without those beeps, there is no life *beep beep, beep beep Those beeps keep me going But more importantly *beep beep, beep beep They keep him alive They keep my brother alive *beep beep, beep beep

By Richard Sullivan

Sitting on the Bench As I was sitting on the bench doing my work, there was some nice and still dry grass, it was just resting on the ground very peacefully. Above the grass was a tree, a tree with leaves and the leaves had holes in them. It was very quiet out so you could listen to the bugs buzzing through the leaves. As I gathered my thoughts I decided to take a little break. As soon as I stopped I noticed there was such a nice, little breeze and it was very pleasant. Soon after that I wondered how would I feel if I could be a tree or grass, a bird, or even a plant just sitting there so relaxed all the time.

By Emma Lederer

N1R1iT by Ryan Byrne

The Silver Lining of the Pandemic When everything seems hopeless in the world, sometimes you need a small lift, a little ray of sun that you can make for yourself to lift your spirits high. The global pandemic has been hard on the world. The isolation and the political unrest, the stressful school situations, and the long days that all seem the same. It impacts everyone, and mostly not in a positive way. The long term separation from the people you love most can wear you down faster than you might expect. But all of these troubles have changed my way of looking at the world around me. With so much happening in the world, it can be difficult to take your mind away from the news and back to happier things, the cherished moments that make this strange time bearable. But there are ways to cope. Many people have found a silver lining in a new hobby, an activity that they might never have tried if not for the many spare hours on their hands. They might get lost in a book, or bake a treat, or go on a walk with their dog. Many people are growing closer to the family that they are quarantining with by virtue of completing these activities together. And to enjoy these times as best you can, I think that you have to let your mind stray from the state of our world. Stay laser-focused on the moment that you are in right now. It’s easy to mourn times past. So much is wrong, so many things cannot go back to the way they were, no matter how much you wish and dream. But I think that paying more attention to the task at hand and the people you are with is a change for the better. Getting to spend more time with people you already loved, and growing closer to those people, is the true silver lining of the pandemic.

By Beatrix Mackil

Fate by Isabella Jane Wang

Gratitude To the thing that I love the most my Family I love the way that you are loving The way you are wonderful The way you are encouraging.

You are the people I can talk to The people who make me feel safe. The people who make me feel complete.

You guys are the reason I go to the school I do. The reason I have a roof over my head. The reason I am here, and I am grateful to have you.

By Aidan Garcia

Next to the Train I Stroll Next to the train I stroll waiting for an opportunity, A chance, A way to survive, To find peace The ability to live and find my calling, The calling I have dismissed in the past. I'm yearning to be someone people thrive to be, Next to the train I stroll with passion, With belief, Tears in my eyes, Blurring my vision, Preventing me from seeing what I strive to see, Fighting against life and truth, Tearing myself apart. Next to the train I stroll, Shuffling my feet through the gravel, Slowly, Calmly, Discovering, Taking every chance I can get, Every breath I take could be my last, Next to the train I stroll.

By Chuka Enrybnayr

Contrast of Cool by Ryan Byrne

Aurantiaco Aurantiaco aurantiaco est tamquam caseum tamquam carrota aurantiaco apparet tamquam tigris est quoque tamquam auris piscis tamquam felis oculus Nemo est aurantiaco Aurantiaco ius est bonum mac et caseum est aurantiaco papilio est quoque aurantiaco

By Bailey Gans

by Talya Langer

The New Fate The challenges we will face, The people who we hate, The hill that we climb, Can make us blinded by the future Whatever it holds, shall be told The hills that we climb Can be the different The new and untold The hills that we climb Can be the new fate But that can be far Because of our mistakes We can turn it around Make it come closer We all have a dream Of the new fate.

By Evan Vasile

Awareness by Isabella Jane Wang 25

Ars Facilis by Ryan Byrne

The Hills We Climb Inspired by Amanda Gorman Accept the things I can not change Being short was not in my range Five foot seven is where I stand Here's what I demand I can not always meet those expectations So I think I may need a demonstration From sports to clothes to shoes Being tall is what I chose I will always stand out in the crowd Standing tall and proud Don't state the obvious Being tall suits us

By Amani Kelly Carty

Baby Blue by Isabella Jane Wang

Sum Rufus Puto de bono cibo Audio “trainium” Video arborem Volo esse laetus Sum Rufus Simulo volare aerem Sentio aerem Tango terram Fatigo Cupidis sagittas Lacrimo meum mortuum felem Sum Rufus Intellego meum corpus Dico semi in Latina ad meam matrem Tempto non dormire in schola. Spero dormire Possum currere Sum Rufus

By Nick Ritenis 27

Jugué basquetbol con mis amigos Jugué basquetbol con mis amigos Nosotros fuimos a buscar algo de comida como una hamburguesa en el restaurante Dormí porque estan cansado Luego me desperté

By Jonathan Bailey

Electrified Basketball

by Ryan Byrne

The Story of Ίριδα Muse, tell me the story of Ίριδα, the goddess of emotions and color, symbolized by the rainbow. Tell me how her father Anastasios, a poor mortal fisherman on Naxos, caught the eye of Iris, messenger of Hera. Sing the praises of the beautiful daughter that she gave birth to, who would grow up to one day earn her throne on olympus. Now, tell this new story so it may find a place amongst the old ones of Achilles and Odysseus, of Andromeda and Medusa. Now, muse, find the beginning. When Ίριδα had grown from a child to a strong and swift young woman, her father had become old. He could no longer support both of them on the decreasing number of fish that he brought home each day, as age had seeped into his bones and claimed his youth. But Anastasios knew what Ίριδα did not: she was descended from the noble gods. He heard the stories of strong Heracles and brave Perseus. He thought that if they could go out and make their name by slaying a monster, than surely Ίριδα could do so as well! So Anastasios brought Ίριδα out to the shore one starry night. He told Ίριδα of an island that marked the edge of the great sea where it was always dark due to the thick fog covering the sky. Here was the domain of Σκοτάδι (sko-TA-di), a vile beast of darkness and gloom. To kill Σκοτάδι, Ίριδα would need to sneak into his cliffside home, and shift the rock that blocked the light. At this the beast would crumble, for the light could not ever touch such a foul beast. Though considerably (and understandably) nervous, Ίριδα wasted no time in getting to the harbor, where she would set sail immediately. What was her motivation? Well, Ίριδα was one who had a fierce sense of justice. She knew that there were people living in that area, and that whenever Σκοτάδι wished to, he would order them to sacrifice their children, or their crop to him. Ίριδα knew this was not fair, and she would not sit still. It was a long journey, and a hard one, that lasted five weeks in total. There were many sights, such as the old man and the boy who both sported hand-crafted wings, or the silhouette of the giant that appeared to turn to stone (more on that later)! But telling those stories would stray from our goal, so we must not stop and observe. It is suffice to say that Ίριδα finally reached the island. A thick shroud of fog was wrapped around the island like a bride on her wedding day, and Ίριδα felt nearly the same mixture of excitement and fear as one, too. As she docked her ship, she ordered her crew to go no farther. Then Ίριδα crept through the mist, and into the realm of the terrible Σκοτάδι. A bleak place it was, with nothing but fog, a large cave made of boulders, and a stone cliff going straight to the heavens. The top disappeared into the shroud as if there wasn’t one, and Ίριδα stood there for a moment, adrenaline rushing through her body. But she snapped out of her daze a second later, and just in time, too, for the 29

monster had woken. He let out a roar, one of pure anger and malice. Ίριδα could somehow tell that it was, and considered going back to her ship. She could sail home, and forget it all. But she did not. Instead, she ran towards the cave, and leaped on top. She located the bolder in her father’s stories, and shoved with all her might. But it did not budge. Anyone else might have deemed this a good effort, and gone home to a warm cup of tea, but not Ίριδα. She knew that this would not work. So she shouted down to the beast “Σκοτάδι, weakling, I have come to fight. You think that you can outmatch me?” Σκοτάδι heard her, and answered, “Who dares to challenge me to a fight? I will battle you, gladly, but first you must come inside.” Ίριδα’s heart beat so hard, she felt as if it echoed all the way back to Naxos, her home. But she knew what she had to do. “Σκοτάδι!” she called, praying for the help of the gods, any god. “You are too afraid to come out of your little cave! I heard you were the strongest of all the beasts, but clearly you cannot even open up your door!” Σκοτάδι heard her mockery, and his rage took over any speck of sense that he had possessed. With a roar even more terrible than the first, the monster hurled himself out of his cavern. At that moment, Iris, who had heard the girl’s prayers, beamed her brightest ray of light upon the island. All of the colors of the rainbow hit Σκοτάδι at the very same time. With his final bellow, the great beast crumbled to dust. Then all was silent. Ίριδα looked up in wonder, for the lovely Iris was descending from the heavens to meet the brave hero. “Ίριδα, my daughter” Iris took Ίριδα’s hand. “You have vanquished the horrible Σκοτάδι, a feat that certainly deserves high honor. I now offer you the gift of immortality, so that your quick thinking and bravery can serve humankind forever. Join me on Olympus, my daughter.” Of course, Ίριδα was rather shocked at this, but one simply cannot refuse such an offer. Numbly, Ίριδα took her mother’s hand and Iris rose above the island, where the people on the land gazed skyward in amazement, hailing two of the thirteen olympian gods.

By Beatrix Mackil

Shadow by Isabella Jane Wang

My Dream Is... My dream is my 4 missing canines, My useful left hand, My skinny arms. All the things That are unique about you Are never bad But make you, you. The time I played the piano For a talent show, The passion I have for math, And my appreciation for the Complicated world around me.

By Neel Mistri

Gratitude My brand new clothing all the shoes and socks, shirts and pants So many colors So nice and warm, So soft, so comfortable, So clean and protected My parents bought them I have so many outfits They come with me through the day Outside with my dog, All day at school, playing sports with my friends And then I go all the way home Where it is safe and warm Where my family will be Where I can get lots of food Where I talk to my siblings Where the day comes to a end and we all get tired, I change my clothes Jump into bed And ready to do the whole thing again With a different pair of clothes

By Daniel Dalby

Photorealistic H A N D by Ryan Byrne

The Beast A found poem from Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling The beast Make-believe Not real But I hear grunts Rocks breaking loose Closer Closer Closer He is here Dead pale eyes Sharp claws and teeth A camouflage exoskeleton That glows under the light of the moon The beast begins to molt To reveal what’s underneath But I always wake up before I know But I can’t wake up now Because I’m not asleep I am panicking Breathing, Breathing, Breathing, But can’t

catch my breath Grasping, Grasping, Grasping, The stone floor, As though My breath, The air, Is there, And somehow I can’t find it Clenching My eyes shut As the cracked exoskeleton Of his face is About to appear Over The Side. Can’t bear To see My waking nightmare. And then I feel a hand Instead of a claw Against my cheek Fingers soft and cool I know this hand

She is powerful And fearless And brave

Despite the Beast waiting for me in the canyon

Only my mother is strong enough To scare away the Beast

Despite it being all Likely to come to an end

Her gentle fingers Caress my forehead Okay, She whispers Okay.

I am able to fall into a fevered sleep Inside a hole in a wall On the side of the canyon While my mother sings me “Let it Be.”

And somehow, despite the Whole world falling apart

By Ryan Dey

Vesperavis by Sophia Beldotti

Annoy Henry 101 Are you bored? Are your siblings annoying you? Annoy them back! I have an easy five-step plan, to get back at them. As we all know the sibling relationship is, to say the least, flawed. It is a cycle of annoyance; you annoy your sibling and they annoy you, and it keeps going. So, to help you get an upper hand in the cycle, here are two different things you can do to annoy them. Make sure that your sibling is learning remotely. Make sure they are unmuted before you do anything. You could wait till you hear them talking and then, run in and immediately start screaming. One other thing you could do is walk in and wait till they unmute. When you do walk in and talk, make sure what you say is either annoying or embarrassing like, “Henry, it’s time for your hemorrhoid cream” or like, “Jenny, isn’t that the teacher you hate”. Even just “try” to do parkour in the background. After you’ve said what you wanted to say or do what you wanted to do, GET OUT OF THERE as you BOOK IT and find a place to hide. If they tattle and your parents get mad, tell them something that your sibling did like using their phone during class or anything they have done to you that you can use to your advantage. For example, you can tell your parents that they pushed you into the kitchen table and that is why you have a bruise now. If they don’t tell your parents and come after you instead, go to a room with one of your parents, so they will see it and your sibling will get in trouble. Just in case your sibling isn’t remotely learning, this is another way to annoy them. You will need assorted fruit and patience. First, gather your fruit. Next, go to your sibling’s room and bring the fruit. The step afterwards is the most important, which is to find the best hiding spots in the room and hide the fruit in those spots, including their bed, pillowcase, and in their dresser. As you use those hiding spots, put some fruit in plain sight but put as many as you can. Now, this is where the patience kicks in. Keep this up every day when they are at school or when they are not in their room, while trying to not get caught. Do it until they think they are INSANE and start hiding something else. Then repeat the whole process. I hope I cured your boredom and you’re not severely injured. Remember to customize these procedures so that they work for you. Come up with your own sayings or hide whatever you think would annoy your sibling the most. I also hope that this not only helps you in the battle, but helps you win the war.

By Helen Katis

Gratitude I am grateful for my family. They are the people who are there for me. Who take care of me. And make sure I am safe and happy. Family is special. Family is sweet. Family is encouraging. Family is amazing. The way they comfort me when I’m sad. The way they support me. The way they provide for me. The way they listen to my ideas. I am grateful for my family and you should be too.

By Sarah Fisher

Canis chiroptera by Giselle Grant

In My Perfect World In my perfect world Everyone would be happy Like it was the first day of summer Every single day In my perfect world Everyone could have whatever they wanted I wanna pet potbelly pig In my perfect world Everyone could achieve their biggest dream They would never feel like something was impossible In my perfect world No one would feel trapped Or forced to do something In my perfect world You could eat as much ice cream as you wanted Without getting a brain freeze In my perfect world Alarm clocks would scream at you Each morning at 6am Oh how incredible it would be To live in my perfect world

By Ava Pfluger

Avescisdae by Isabella Jane Wang

Nature’s Peace The air tasted cold and crisp while I sat. Around me were peaceful songs of birds longing for their parents, and trees that seemed to spiral up for ages. The canopy of the forest was immense, yet inviting, and the surrounding beauty engulfed me. I sat still watching chipmunks and squirrels pass by, acting like I was just a mere stick; or something of that sort. As I looked around and ventured deeper into the peaceful forest I saw an opening in the forest where trees were almost nonexistent, except one. That one tree winded taller than any other and was placed right in the middle of the opening, it was a sight so beautiful I didn't want to leave. But I had to. I got up longing for interaction when I saw a wood duck, its beautiful black coat twisted up to its emerald head attached to it were shades of yellow and green. After that experience I wondered, what was life like in complete isolation? Was it hard? Was it peaceful? This is the closest I could get to that fantasy.

By Xan Cohen

by Elena Pagan

First everyone was happy Questions had no meaning Then a man came with questions Like how? Why? Where? When? Those question didn't have answers They had meaning Confusion reigned Happiness weaned Then the world was round Then came we We asked the questions We found the answers

By Emery LaGattuta

What I love I love everything about broadway I love the big crowds In front of the theater Loud, buzzing with life I love the line, Sometimes going all the way Down the block Everyone Full of anticipation They love it like me I love the grand theaters The high ceilings Where you look Up, up, up, And it almost seems like there isn’t one I Love the crisp playbills That soon will be wrinkled In my hands At the most suspenseful moments I love when everything is Loud with chatter and excitement And I love the hush The sacred silence That comes with the opening notes, The notes that somehow fill the whole theater,

And fill my whole heart And make me feel So big, but so small I love the way That the plot takes over My whole being Body, soul, and mind It is just me Me and the actors onstage I’m not in New York now I love the songs The ones that stick In my mind like glue, That I will be humming For months after this I even love the end When the lights blink back on You gather up your coat Step out into The bright, cold world That you have not given A single thought For hours You can’t find the words To describe that day

By Beatrix Mackil

clouds The hills rolled by Out the window the clouds flew by Changing Growing Greying Then the rain came down In sheets In torrents In buckets Then thunder rumbled Lightning struck The sky cleared A rainbow came Flowers sprang Pizza came By Emery LaGattuta

Homo rhinocerutidae by William Hargreaves

The Hill We Climb Inspired by Amanda Gorman We ask ourselves That quiet isn’t always peace What just is before we knew it A nation simply unfinished The successors of a country can dream Only to find far from pristine A union with purpose committed to all We lift our gazes to put our future first Let the globe forever be tied together To envision victory won’t lie in the blade The faith we trust has its eyes on us We feared, but within it offer hope and laughter We will not march back, fierce and free Every breath we will rise We will rebuild.

by: Jordan Collins

Flores Ego amo flavos flores. Flavus flos est pulcher. Ruber flos quoque pulcher. Quod herba sunt virides. Quod floris truncus est viridis. Quod folium est quoque viridis. Quod folium potest esse fuscum. Flores sunt alii colores!

By Riley Franck

Photos by Talya Langer

Ayer En El Jardín Caminé en el jardín El sol lo calentó. Bebí agua helada. Salí el jardín. Y nunca volví

By Meaghan Sullivan

The Marker Inspired by Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt I put this one on the shelving cart Until Ms Smithson Yanked it down She wasn't laughing I ripped this one out of a book The teachers they learn fast A thief suffering terror dreadfully ignorant Once a child had great power- Wolf You don’t know how sweet the wolf can be Mother said No No No Mrs little says so much Teacher smell is deadly We despise her

1,2,3, Barf People did laugh a lot I found the page in an old book Barf A rat likes to talk H A R T W I C K The teachers are not happy Barf Who is doing this! Kids laugh Teachers have dragon Breath That makes it even more fun

By Nick Ritenis

Impostor Ruber est suspiciosus, Aurantiaco facit laborem, Roseus est in armis, Albus est impostor, Albus necat Atrum, Viridis videt necatorem sed non aliquid, Est quod Viridis est Albus impostor, Viridis necat Purpureum, Flavus videt necatorem et currit ad Caeruleum et Fuscum, Albus et Viridis gemini necant Flavum et Fuscum.

By Conrad Breede

IMPOSTER by Ryan Byrne

Grief in the eyes of Georgia Inspired by passages collected from Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant A girl, eyes filled with hurt. Broken, felt worthless and most of all deserted. She hurting in silence often hoping that someone, anyone would see that she wasn’t okay. She loved then she lost, angry that the world took someone great but she pushed through. Came out the other end stronger worked harder and conquered something she never thought she could. Grief. Losing her idol, a best friend, a mother took all her might, all her strength but she fought and fought until she was distraught so she shriveled up and cried. She changed and grew, and then she threw her old life away. She moved on and became happy again. A girl who was once grieving while growing and hurting while knowing that death is just a part of life was finally accepting it. And one thing that helped her achieve that, her notebook. She wrote to her mom while she sat and sobbed into the journal she was given. Tears spread onto the pages leaving marks, signs of when she needed comfort. But that was the past, now she looks toward the future and doesn’t turn back.

By Talya Langer

Looking through the rear-view window by Ryan Byrne