Into the Waves Volume I ᐧ Coalescence ᐧ Issue 3
a letter from the editors Dear Reader, It’s been a pleasure working on a publication that recognizes art of all kinds. We find pride in what we do, because everyone has a voice, and once you find it, you posses power. Power that will lead you in your life's journey, and passion that will fuel your soul. Our theme Into the Waves represents that the ocean is powerful, but also restores, as writing does to humanity. We hope you enjoy the talented writers in this as well as their hard work. Thank You, Kenedi Mitchell & Ashley Wilhelm
Table of Contents Ariana Lee, Maia McDonald, Julia Miller-“The End of an Era” (p.1) Emily Crawford, David Bec, and Alyssa May - “Bath Time” (p.1)
Ashley Edwards- “Untitled” (p.7) Mary, Gabi Cam, Shau - “The long dead Lighthouse” (p.8) Emma Barfield- “Untitled” (p.9)
Bailey Bair, Bronlyn Holland, Taylor Johnson, and Natalia Narvaroli - “It’s Big News (But I Forgot)” (p.2) Madeline Crawford and Ashley McIntyre-“As The Waterfalls Dry Up” (p.2) Hayli Bryant, Hailey Craig, Rory Luxemburger, and Baleigh Massengale - “The Scarecrow” (p. 3) Gabriel Baddal and Angelica Zac-Williams - “It.” (p. 3) Jacoby, Chandler, Barfield, and Hines “The Martian” (p. 4)
Jeremy Stephens - “Rain” (p.10) Ashley Wilhelm - “Love is a Battlefield” (p.10) Lynzie Lyle - “Lips Chapped Tongue” (p.11) Ryan Elrod - “Tuesday” (p.11) Baileigh Massengale - “Free Feeling” (p.12) Alexander Grainger-“MiLKMAN” (p.13)
Hayli Bryant - “Flight’s Illusion” (p. 5)
Madison Soroko - “No innocent people” (p.14)
Kenedi Mitchell - “A Man of Nothing in a Forgotten World” (p. 6)
Jade Naughton- “Just Tell the Truth” (p.15-20)
The End of an Era
Ariana Lee Maia McDonald Julia Miller
The blood orange moon shone brightly upon the cliff welling sisyphus’ bender was perched precariously on the edge, overlooking the mist-showered hearthstone below. A mere mile away, water bubbled from within the deep-sea vent as the earth beneath it shifted with an air of uncertainty. This was day, the day the Earth has surged towards since the dawn of time. All of its inhabitants were about to fall through the rabbit-hole begin the end of their lives.
Bath Time
Emily Crawford David Beck Alyssa May
The candlelight flickers in sync with the thunder The rubber ducky floats through the boundary waters Plum perfect bubbles coat the water like sea foam The phone rings Frantic and incessant babbling fill neo ear A tear melts into her ruby red lipstick Her veteran husband isn’t coming home.
By Ashley Wilhelm
1
Bailey Bair Bronlyn Holland Taylor Johnson Natalia Narvaroli
It’s Big News (But I Forgot) I often forget the threat of awe impending doom
One night, before the evening rain, I noticed the green light reflecting off the moon I knew it must have been the Red Planet with dust the color of a penny A planet whose threat to the human race had already caused loss of hope for many They use the nectar from their native raugainuilla plants in many ways,
Madeline Crawford Ashley McIntyre
“As The Waterfalls Dry Up” As the waterfalls dry up and the evergreens diminish, the night owl loses flight while baby’s breath turns to mush, the blush of your cheeks turn ivory, and your ballet and slippers turn to polish stone, all because greed is inevitable.
But their final goal is to kill humans with their ultraviolet rays Since the dawn of their takeover existence an Earth has rotten Their company is like an inhuman everpresent, yet easily forgotten By Ashley Wilhelm
2
My home, the Great Plains. Full of blooming tulips in spring, dandelions that brush my ankles as I gaze into the indigo sky. Winds of change come like a zephyr. New leaves escape from the safety of their branches. As an approaching cumulonimbus makes its presence known. But one thing always remains, the lone scarecrow from my youth.+
The Scarecrow Hayli Bryant, Hailey Craig, Rory Luxemburger, Baleigh Massengale,
“It.”
Gabriel Baddal, Angelica Zac-Williams IT comes abruptly, shaking the rural mountain town. While the artist pours the boiling water onto the awaiting tea leaves, he gazes at the blank canvas. Searching for inspiration, he notices IT. Like flashing lightning IT came and went. His heavenly environment was disturbed and made new. The freezing winds snuck their way through the seam of the window. IT’s here. The blizzard.
By Kenedi Mitchell
3
The Martian
Patrick Jacoby Hunter Chandler Emma Barfield Haley Hines
Standing on The Red Planet, a whirlpool of thought entered his mind. Leaving behind the blood orange soil; stained old leather boots Bears home, each brick brings a memory, lost, sinking deep into the quicksand of nostalgia. There's no place like home.
By Isabella Chapman
4
Flight’s Illusion Hayli Bryant
Encouraged illusion; Invulnerability. High above the clouds, caught in stillness “Cruise,” Become glistening bird. It was not possible to ever troubled him. He loved it - the view by himself; this one time, solo. In the air, away from life; free. But on the ground, wings of nightmares constrained him Anger, uncombed bottomless greed, hollow eyes; He deserved that. But he was fed up, he had to leave; To go away - roaming, alone. The far window looked out on the end of the rainbow. I hope cause I need it I want to live. By Kenedi Mitchell
5
A Man of Nothing in a Forgotten World
Kenedi Mitchell
A cosmic love, once so kind and so pure, Only to rot as it yellowed with age. Even the ghosts of our love have now ed leaving nothing but pain and brittle bones. I fought for us, to preserve, to believe! I struggled crafting this perfect planet for us, A land once pure, now marred with strife and pain. Where are you now as I bare this burden? Wash me, heal me of the pain in my heart For I am just a man, a man left void. Bless me, grant me with whispers of the past. Remind me of how the sun shined for us Revive the memory of us my love As I lay in our bed of misery. By Ashley Wilhelm
6
Ashley Edwards
By Ashley Wilhelm
8
Mary Godwin Gaby Holub Cameron Vincent
“The long dead Lighthouse� The long dead Lighthouse is illuminated by a passing spotlight charged with ganroling the diffdueling from those within. Cookie crumbs scatter about the gluttonous militant leader as he downs another glass of pinot noir. Antique lace adorns the palace as a reminder of what the long gone cotton plant used to be.
By Isabella Chapman
7
Emma Barfield
By Ashley Wilhelm
9
Rain
Jeremy Stephens
There was a guy that always came around No matter what he never frowed He hung out with all the popular kids But he was never really a part of their group So they could never remember his name. He dated this girl and she was the most beautiful She loved him and he loved her But he struggles with issues so she left The guy that never frowned had a huge one now And the girl couldn't remember his name. Some say all he cared about was money Some say his parents spoiled him too much The degraded him because he grew up comfortable But the funny thing about his life is Even his parents couldn't remember his name I'm the only one that really knew him Really knew how he was feeling at times All he wants is to be famous and known So he’ll stay on his phone where he keeps his music Oh yeah, his name is Rain.
Love is a Battlefield
Ashley Wilhelm
My mind is at war with my actions Running and running Dodging mines at every turn desperately trying to keep you happy knowing that one wrong step I will explode into tiny bits and pieces, amounting to nothing as I once did My heavy boots I pick up with every step I take knowing when I get to you I will regain your trust for the evening Shooting me down each night in every organ of my body with your hateful words knowing that your country will win the war in my head and I will forever lose Falling asleep each night with fear that someone else could take my place Knowing that your ego could fill the entire desert My blood pours out of my body as my words do on the page describing what hell I am experiencing being under your command and how I desperately need out But you cannot just simply leave the war.
By Ashley Wilhelm
10
Tuesday
Ryan Elrod
“I love this class.” I would think to myself as I sat down surrounded next to like minded children deemed gifted enough to sit in this very room. The room is covered in paper mache sculptures of Egyptian rulers, the smell of glue and books is almost palpable. Even though I never set foot in this room before I knew it to be something unique. My parents told me it was a good thing to be here, I never understand what they meant by that. “It means you’re special, you should be proud of yourself.” My mother would tell me. “What does it mean to be special?” I would ask myself. Does that mean all
“Lips Chapped Tongue Tied” Lynzie Lyle
of my friends are not up to par with me, and if so then what of all the other students my age who aren’t here with us? I didn’t feel any different than how I felt the year before, but for some reason now I was.
Lips chapped tongue tied Laying down on the ground I soak up all of your doubt Until I’m full Your voice is loud surrounding me now I know your words Just as well as your touch
“I’m just tired.” I would tell my parents knowing that isn’t exactly true, while I may not be sleepy I was tired. Tired of the repetition. Tired of the sand dune colored lockers and white tiles with their orderly patterns strewn about. Tired of the time that had been stolen from me. Tired of masks with false bodies hiding underneath them. I was tired of being tired. Now as I wander through my classrooms of today, colors melt and combine into shades of something I could only describe as the physical manifestation of
Every time you fall I’m there to catch you Only to be burned By your greedy skin
the word bland. Faces pass by without regard for my memory, as if I am a foreign body floating through this world of monotony. I’m tired of waiting for my life to actually begin. I wake up only to wish to be asleep again, I
Guarded mind I am licking your wounds You won’t be thanking me soon Because it hurts
close my eyes but inside my mind only one word persists “Tuesday.”
I only battle with you Always our hearts in dispute But how can anyone win When we don’t know what we’re fighting for
By Ashley Wilhelm
11
Baileigh Massengale
Free Feeling The airplane ride exhilarated him, encouraged illusion and feeling of invulnerability. Heavy yet light, caught in stillness of speed, sitting in the intricate metal, it was not possible to believe he ever made a mistake. Milkman wanted to do this himself. He wanted to go solo. In the air, away from real life, he felt free, but on the ground, the wings of other people's nightmare’s apped in his face and constrained him. He did not know he deserved any of that. He knew he was fed up and he knew he had to leave.
By Kortney Huggins
12
MiLKMAN
Alexander Grainger
Milkman ďŹ ddled with things Engraved with his initials, Abbreviated degree designation of a doctor M.D., M.D. Dr. Dead. His name was Foster.
Dr. Macon Foster
Milkman stood before his mirror At his reection
unimpressed. It lacked
coherence, a coming together of features into a total self
By IsabellaChapman
13
“No innocent people” No innocent
Madison Soroko
people
An actual man Killed Lynch and splice Crazy
ignorant
Unnatural race An
enemy Real sacrifices For
natural ones
Outraged Doesn’t Stop Killing
goes on By Isabella Chapman
14
Just Tell the Truth
Jade Naughton
“How do you plead?” the judge asked me with no emotion. “Sir, I don’t really know,” I managed to get out after a while looking around the room for an answer. How did I get here? Why am I here? I never really took the time to reflect on the turns my life had taken until I was sitting in front of the judge determining my future. I felt as if I needed to take a step back and analyze. Two months ago there I was, on my way to downtown Detroit to go to a business meeting. Broke and tired, it was written all over my face. I was working three jobs to keep afloat in an overpriced, one-bedroom apartment and put food on the table. I had been up for days taking care of my one-year-old, which has been really hard since her mom passed back in 2017 from a car accident. With my current situation, it was obvious I hadn’t found the time to shower and I’m certain the whole train car was filled with my stench the moment I climbed aboard. There were no seats as far as I could see, only enough room to stand near a pole and hang on when the train came crashing to a stop. I stood in my place for a couple of minutes before a very questionable character walked up to me. He had a little blonde fuzz on the top of his head where hair used to be. I could tell this man was strung out on some narcotic by the way he had a hard time walking, the way he couldn’t open his eyes all the way, and the way he leaned up against me like we were friends. But I had nothing else to do, so I entertained him.
By Ashley Wilhelm
15
“You busy?” he asked me in a hushed tone. “Not really, you know just on my way to work. Nothing special,” I said sarcastically. “Well you tryna’ make some money wise guy?” he asked slyly. “All you have to do is set up a bank consultation and say you want to buy a car. Then, while you’re keeping them busy, me and my buddies will do the inside job and give you a cut of 30% of one million.” I started to weighed my options. If I just go for a meeting about wanting to buy a car, it will look like I have nothing to do with this. After about five minutes of him staring at me waiting for an answer, I just shook my head yes and decide to skip work for a payout of a lifetime. “Well I’m actually on the way there now, so just follow me. You’ll go in first and I’ll follow. You have nothing to worry about,” he assured me. The next moments were a blur. Before I could even stand in line, I heard gunshots surrounding me. I immediately hit the ground and started to hear the yelling of the man I met saying, “GET DOWN NOW!” He walked over to me to give me a hand to stand-up, making it obvious we were accquianted. As soon as his hand touched mine, he was almost instantaneously shot down. FBI agents flooded my vision and the next thing I knew I was sitting in handcuffs, in a county jail, for two months.
By Ashley Wilhelm
16
“I’m going to ask you how do you plead again. If you just admit to being the mastermind behind this, it will all go away and you’ll get probation,” he coaxed me. “Just probation? Okay, I did it. I did all of it. We both needed money desperately, I’m so sorry,” I lied through my teeth. I could hear my lawyer beside me let out a whimper. “Why would you say that? Why would you believe him? We have evidence of your first encounter with the homeless man, all you had to do is tell the truth. You lost big time Louis,” she whispered into my ear. “We knew it! Life in prison! No parole!” the judge shouted at me while I felt my world crashing down around me.
By Ashley Wilhelm
17
Ashley Wilhelm
Kenedi Mitchell By Ashley Wilhelm
18