J.N. Burnett's Literary Magazine Club // Volume 4, issue 1: BLISS

ft. works from the jn burnett student body

jn burnett's literary magazine club

bliss.

november 2019

4-1

editor's note every so often, we are able to find miracles in the mundane which splendidly succeed in bringing a smile to our faces, gently drawing us into a temporary yet magical moment of absolute happiness. whether this is waking up to discover a new blossom on your recently adopted houseplant or reciprocating “the look” to your best friend from across the classroom the second your English teacher announces a partner project, we have all come across and been blessed with such delightful surprises from time to time. these dancing pops of colour within carefully printed lines of routine are what beautifully encompass both the vulnerabilities of the human condition and the joys of living on the sprawling canvas we call everyday life. this school year, JNB Lit encourages that you follow your bliss and draw freely upon your imagination in all your creative endeavours. without further ado, we invite you to flip the page and explore the literary craft and artistic works of our talented student body.

louise cham jnb lit magazine’s editor-in-chief 11/22/19 00:00

table of contents on the cover 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 16 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46

bubbles // denenea tingala editor's note contents the team jam packed autumn colours // adrianne namuco love bomb // caroline zhang follow your bliss // emma fetigan street rain // luca morris photos and writing // maya huang bliss // shana ahemode reasons why we love gizmo // maeghan lorey cielo colorato // brianna bevan bubbles // denenae tingala bliss // yuyu liu a letter by bliss // tayla barbosa wonderland // alyssa wong cotton candy skies // anika ng saturday morning thoughts // summi yuen 2500 ft, france // samantha yeung supernova // destiny lang photo // lisa beyer fall lookbook // mary ortega cafe // pierce sinclair come home to me // destiny lang photo // lisa beyer dopamine rush // michelle lo photo // lisa beyer another day of sun // cadence lung one-woman opera // destiny lang thank you

executives

the team

artists:

photographers:

destiny lang, luca morris, madelyn lee, summi yuen, tayla barbosa brianna h bevan, caroline zhang, michelle lo, shana ahemode, yuyu lu

adrianne manuco, alyssa wong, anika ng, cadence lung, denenae tingala, emma fetigan, kristina foreman gear, lisa beyer, maya huang, pierce sinclair, shana ahemode, wendy li

louise cham maya uyeno samantha yeung nikka adrias maeg lorey adam title gabby yan mary ortega eliana barbosa

contributors

writers:

editor-in-chief editor-in-chief creative + visual director treasurer + social media manager secretary + social media manager general exec. graphic designer graphic designer graphic designer

jam packed

a playlist

la la lost you · niki

stay · mac ayres

secret for the mad · dodie

maniac · conan gray

tongue tied · grouplove

instagram · DEAN

can you see my heart · HEIZE

i love you so · the walters

strange land · 88rising

lullaby · IU

blissful tunes · jn burnett literary magazine club

autumn autumn colours colours

adrianne adrianne namuco namuco

love bomb caroline zhang

follow your bliss emma fetigan

STREET RAIN by luca morris

(Intro) The sun is comin’ out and shinin’, You know I believe it baby, I’m on the rooftop and shoutin’ it, You know I’m alright baby, I feel so free, The people walk by, They look so gray, But they don’t have any say, (Verse) A smile is dragged out across my face, But I see it’s not reciprocated, Don’t you feel it?

Don’t you love livin’?

Don’t you live lovin’?

Don’t you wanna love?

A life being so glad, (Chorus) Kickin’ it out in the street, I’m lickin’ my lips ‘cause, I finally got an appetite for life, It’s been years and years and years and years, (Verse) A smile is dragged out across my face, Sixteen-wheelers blare at, Some kind of fool, Some kind of clown, Some kind of jester, Some kind of joker, But I’m so dead glad,

(Bridge) They don’t want me, And I can’t know them, And it will be years and years and years and years, But I’m alright ‘cause, (Intro) The sun is comin’ out and shinin’, You know I believe it baby, (Probably a Guitar Solo or Something) (Chorus) Spinnin’ it out in the street, My hair whippin’ against the wind, Puddles can’t stop my shoes now, It’s been years and years and years and years, (Verse) Wings are spread out wide under the sky, I’m ready to step out and glide, I’m a jumpin’ jack flash, I’m a jumpin’ jack gas, I’m a colour-tv mash, I’ve been shattered tatters, But I’m so damn glad, (Chorus) Kickin’, spinnin’, kickin’, spinnin’, Dancin’ it out in the street, Is all we can ever do, Otherwise we’re all just, Standin’ in the rain.

The definitions of bliss vary solely depending on the perception of the reader and/or writer, whose life experiences establish their own distinctive, specific opinion of euphoria. The denotation itself is utterly dry of sentiment unless the perspective interprets their personal emotions. Hence, we bring forward two definitions of the commonly used, but indefinite expression, ‘bliss’.

Firstly––although the text does not directly imply–– the poetic lyrics of the song ‘Youth’, by Troye Sivan, accurately represents the nostalgia and craving of childhood carefreeness felt by adults or people who have a general busy, stressful lifestyle. The title itself suggests a context of the sensation of freedom, recklessness, and urge to ‘run away’ from the stress of adulthood.

The first six stanzas, ‘what if, what if we run away? … What if we said goodbye to safe and sound?’, express the wanting to be ignorant, irrational, or completely inconsiderate of the consequences of one’s actions. ‘A truth so loud you can’t ignore’, is the overwhelming temptations of slipping into a temporary phrase, called ‘youth’.

‘Youth’ is a separate personality in everyone, in which the non-existent utopia of ‘youth’ exists. The temptations to give into this reality will always be present whenever one struggles through an unbearable hardship.

However, there is only a very limited time in which we can enter it: while we are in the innocent, genuine mindset of a young child. Hence, the stanza, ‘mortal bodies, timeless souls’.

‘Youth’ is a phrase of bliss, which pulls us into an elated psychological reality, where worries, stress, and consequences following adulthood do not exist.

Secondly, many may define bliss, as an emotion felt when time is spent with (a) loved one(s). When one is so focused on the ecstasy experienced, that they are oblivious to any surrounding or current matters. In this state of mind, the impact of the problems in one’s life suddenly ceases to exist.

This level of contentment which can carry one to the paradisiacal emotions of bliss can only be felt around a person one sincerely values. Bliss is often substituted for ‘love’––an intense feeling of intimacy and affection, either platonically or romantically.

Being not specifically experienced in this subject, I fail to provide an accurate description of ‘love’. But then again, many claim that love is felt differently by everyone. However, I do view it as an emotional phenomenon, a bond so strong and overpowering, it seems as if nothing else matters.

How this emotion may occur to you, like mentioned above, depends on your personal experiences.

Nevertheless, the frequency of these cherished moments of utter joyousness will be deciphered based on how open-minded you are to let these feelings triumph your senses. While you have the opportunity, allow yourself to experience new emotions, especially this one.

words and photography by maya huang

bliss

shana ahemode

reasons why we love gizmo maeg lorey

REASONS WHY WE LOVE GIZMO by maeg lorey his thick, toasted marshmallow fluff makes him so warm and cuddly. his eyes are big, wide and filled with eagerness and curiosity. fast and playful, he’ll bring you his ball to throw even when you’re trying to sleep. clever and intelligent, he’ll guilt trip you into giving him a treat. his stubbornness will lead him to lie down and take up your entire bed, but you leave him be because you’d rather have him there instead. always barking and excited when someone walks through the front door, gizmo loves us all, but we love him more.

cielo colorato

brianna bevan

bubbles denenae tingala

bliss yuyu liu

A LETTER BY BLISS by tayla barbosa how many days has it been since you have realized that sparkling touch of joy the world has enlightened to you

forget all the heartache hurtfulness and sorrows that may have been thrown in because deep down that pain releases through affection love freedom and a journey

a little sense of heart can be led into a new path destined for you to take with a dash of spirit to surpass you to exceed beyond the shame in your past

my dear love, have faith in me as the present needs you please trust my path to cure your ever-so problematic life embracing the given days with your good ol’ friend bliss by your side

sincerely, bliss

W O N D E R L A N D alyssa wong

cotton candy skies anika ng

cotton candy skies anika ng

SATURDAY MORNING THOUGHTS Why do we live? Is it to suffer? Is it to survive?

What is the point of life if we all turn to dust?

I don’t think god was sober when he made us.

Past the brim of my warm chrysanthemum, a scene like that of a painting—A kaleidoscope of colours dancing into heaps of hues, paintings the earth below.

“Oh. I see. I guess I tend to overthink it all.”

summi yuen

2500ft, france samatha yeung samatha yeung

supernova I’m reaching my limit My energy running low I lie awake beneath my blankets From afar a faint lullaby sounds Are you singing me to sleep?

The shine in your divine eyes The sincereness of your smile I clutched my teddy bear closer Wishing I was embracing you instead I’m running out of time We’re orbiting closer together How can I bear my heart Heavy with my longing for you Heart beating irregularly Breathing more rapidly Cool and lightheaded Hot yet disoriented

And I collapse into pure bliss Exploding in the Dark Knight's kiss Bathed in celestial light Blinding my eyes Spinning in ecstasy Falling into your arms

The rhythm of a dying heartbeat The beat to your fading melody Drowned out by the Angels’ choir I sleep in the dust of the earth But I’ll see you in paradise When I wake

destiny lang

Ethereal yet unreal Transcending to the Heavens This sweet release I sense the steady pulsar Growing in my supernova

lisa beyer

EST. 2019

MARY ORTEGA

cafe pierce sinclair

COME HOME TO ME destiny lang My dearest George, won’t you come home to me?

My darling George, you make me jump in glee.

When I see you, we can explore the sky.

Up in heaven, can you hear angels sigh?

How I long to hold your hand once again, When the lights dim in the theatre, my friend.

How I wish to lovingly embrace you, Feeling the beat of your heart with mine too.

Without you by my side I’m all alone, Breathing in the sweet smell of your cologne.

Your bright laughter is my favourite sound In your dark eyes the face of God I found.

May my dreams come true from my fantasy, My sweetheart George, won’t you come home to me?

lisa beyer

michelle lo

dopamine rush

another day of sun cadence lung

lisa beyer

ONE-WOMAN OPERA destiny lang The sun gently kisses The earth one last time Before the moon watches over Us in the serene night The ducks quack quietly Among the grassy shoots No iron birds tweeted Across the lovely sky An old lady began to sing Starring in her one-woman opera Passersby and cars dashed past her But she was lost in her song She sang of love, of pain Of the sun, of the moon Of the stars glittering above Of the river swaying below Of long lost memories Captured in photographs Waiting to be found To be cherished and treasured

To be thankful and satisfied To count every blessing To have endured every hardship To be overflowing with love A gentle calm enveloped her Her song echoing over the water Carrying her alone back home As the ducks bid her farewell The stars sparkled with droplets of tears As they remembered their years The moon quietly, gently weeps And the woman soundly sleeps

follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls. joseph campbell

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thanks for reading!

catch you in our next issue!

with love,

JN BURNETT'S LITERARY MAGAZINE CLUB

JN BURNETT'S LITERARY MAGAZINE CLUB