J.N Burnett's Literary Magazine Club // Volume 5, Issue 4 : TREASURE

ft. works from the jn burnett student body

jn burnett's literary magazine club

treasure 5-4

june 2021

cadence lung

guardian

chestnut box colin lim The gentle breeze caressed the frail old man as he stood tranquil, staring upon the vast sea atop an overhung bluff. In his hand he held a worn chestnut box, whose contents remained unknown. Wars and battles had been fought over that very box, as well as the destructive power it possessed.

The box was believed to embody the essence of humanity and hold a treasure so insatiable it could grant immense wealth or divination. The old man stared intently at the box he had sacrificed everything for and slowly lifted the box open. The bitter aroma of salt and soft pale clouds created a breathtaking scenery as if painted on a canvas. Seagulls descended from the heights and soared into the horizon over the shimmering sea. Beauty and curiosity captured within the faded eyes of the old man prepared himself for revelation.

The box opened and, alas, truth fled and escaped towards the man, followed by collapse to the warm earth. Loud wails turned into muted sobs and drops. Drops of tears. Tears rolling slowly off the old man’s rose cheeks. Another glance into the box revealed the arduous expanse of nothing. Emptiness.

Where was it? The possession he had forfeited everything for.

Where was his reward? However many thoughts and questions arose, he finally understood the treasure so sought after and worshipped by the sorry world. Humanity’s everlasting hunger for power and riches was the catalyst for conflict and war. What the old man saw in the worn chestnut box was truly the essence of humanity, not in the beauty of life and complexion, but in greed, lust, and self-destruction.

treasure

winnie xie

priceless

son

delfia tingala

with you yuyu liu

I asked two friends to name a landscape, and they replied with "desert". I asked another what their favorite colour was, and they said "blue". I wanted to create something that reflected bits of their choices while adding my personality to it. I think this whole process made the theme of "treasure" a little more special to me :)

annika ho

When did this room become so small?

Right here, right now, these blush pink walls.

Because when I was small, with hellish gall, I asked to be fantastically tall.

To pass the seasons, Fall to Fall, With hurried steps a messy crawl.

But I should not have asked to grow so tall.

For I cannot stall, nor ask to recall, The time I should have treasured it all.

destiny lang I treasure you.

You may think that "you're unworthy" but Let me tell you: that's not true!

You minimize your successes.

NO! Don't undermine your talents — Take pride in becoming you!

You're a firefly on midsummer nights, Glowing wherever you go.

You broke the glass jar, And you raised the bar, Tu es libre comme un oiseau!

You're a flower growing on the sidewalk, Braving wind and sun and rain.

When I trip and fall, And see you stand tall, You help me relieve my pain.

You're a maiden with lion's strength, Empowered, you are in control.

Your future is infinite, And I feel so fortunate, That we've bonded, soul-to-soul.

I treasure you.

And you should too.

riley j. dahl

madie lee

photo: obtained by deception jessie lan

Plastic coins and beaded necklaces were what we used to searched for Those were treasure to us when we were young In our cardboard ship, we sailed the seven seas With ragged pants and eye patches, we imagined conquering the world In eighth grade I didn’t know what to look for anymore People told me nobody else knew either We were all on the same boat Eyes on the prize but looking lost at sea Tenth grade and I’m still looking through the spyglass I haven’t noticed a sign of land for a while Am I navigating the sea correctly?

Has my compass pointed the wrong way this whole time?

Everyone tells me that the true treasures are in the memories I’ll make They say it's the journey, not the destination So where am I to steer the ship now?

Is the X something to look for at this point?

serendipity

anika ng

elysian

adrianne namuco

TR E

AS U

RE

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) -e.e cummings

with love,

JN BURNETT'S LITERARY MAGAZINE CLUB