Virtute
Grade 3 Project
LOWER SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL
Where Poetry Hides My poetry hides in the dark Sometimes in the thickness of bark Where the raindrops drizzle down Sometimes in a jungle town Snakes slither and slide Where they meet their jungle bride Monkeys move from tree to tree Where they see a beautiful bee It is shining big and bright Like the sky on a starry night Matthew Fisher '25
Bennett Willingham '25
WELCOME TO THE NIGHT To all of you who crawl and creep, Who buzz and chirp and hoot and peep, Who wake at dusk and throw off sleep: Welcome to the Night. To you who make the forest sing, Who dip and dodge on silent wing, Who flutter, hover, clasp and cling: Welcome to the Night! Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze, Come smell your way among the trees, Come touch rough bark and leathered leaves: Welcome to the Night. The night’s a sea of dappled dark, The night’s a feast of sound and spark, The night’s a wild, enchanted park: Welcome to the Night!
Ari Kalish '24
Grade 3 Project
James Denney '25
I Am From I am from Papers Everywhere From pots and pans I am from the small but comfy home Always loud I am from the lavender flowers The Cherry Blossom tree Whose long gone limbs I remember As if they were my own. I’m from cooking together and always thoughtful From Kaimar and Camara I’m from brushing my teeth after my meals and taking a shower before going to bed And from procrastination. I’m from celebrating Birthdays and Graduations I’m from Maryland and Jamaica Graham cracker crusted Mac and Cheese and candied yams From an Army Sergeant, my youngest aunt Tall and strong, travels the world I have Lots of love for my family. I am Jett Jett Buchanan '24
Caden Blazer '24
Haiku Ball out inspired, you challenged me to the best, and you kept me. Ahmed Zaid '24
Manif Jaffa '24
Where Poetry Hides Poetry hides in the food I nibble, Poetry hides in the rain that drizzles, Poetry hides in movies I watch When the underdog slaps the big man’s shot, Poetry hides when I grapple and tackle And the opponent cries in defeat And then sits on his seat, Poetry hides when you’re alone at night and want to cry But you realize you have to fight
Will Bernstein '25
Kris Fletcher '23
LOWER SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL
I am From I am from a mad house of constant yelling; An awful stench of six gear bags and sweaty rotten clothes; A place where the ones singin ain’t the birds but one of us; A home where tears are punished or pushed away like cars against a tidal wave. I am from a house of mouthwatering, delicious ethnic flavors; With the creaminess of latkes and the sweetness of plantains fused together; Caribbean, Panamanian, Russian and more at once; Holidays and birthdays are a huge mouth explosion of breathtaking foods; I am from “I don’t care if its nasty, eat your dinner” “You know I still love you” “Off of your phone or it's mine” “Why is he crying!” I am from persecuted, neglected people on both sides; People living longer than dirt itself; Family pushing me like the little engine that could; Ancestors making nothing into an empire in solitary.
Will Cohen '23
Baxter Brew '21
Jack Bynum '22
Before the Fire A short poem about a hypothetical Yellowstone eruption
Before the Fire, it was calm, there was tranquility Before the blankets of ash and dust split a country Before the intense pyre roared, a roar that moved a nation, with the power to dwarf one of those cruel bombs Before the cloud wiped out all life hundreds and hundreds of miles away Before the world the world economy collapsed Before the refugees; the hatred Before the blast crippled the great nation Before the ash made it so one couldn’t breathe a breath of fresh air in Wyoming, or grow crops in Idaho Then there was the flame, And after we knew everything would be different
Kaleb Starks '21
Peter Qui '21
A Grade 6 English project exploring several of the archetypes evident in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe:
The Narnia Gazette Here Comes the Sun The sun makes many appearances throughout the story of Narnia as a symbol of rebirth and growth. For example, the day following Aslan’s sacrifice at the stone table, which was an attempt to save Edmund from being slain by the White Witch, the sun slowly rose above the mountains displaying a show of red and gold heralding Aslan’s resurrection. Because the sun rise is a symbol of rebirth, it is a fitting time for Aslan’s revival. A second example can be seen when Aslan returned to Narnia to save it from the Witch’s eternal winter. When he did this, he caused the seasons to change from winter to spring, so the clouds cleared revealing the sun rise which melted the snow. In this example, the sun represents the rebirth of Narnia and how it reverted to its original state. In present day, the sun is often seen in many commercials to create the feeling of optimism and a fresh start to a day. BUY IT! Limited Time Offer! Peter's Sword Yours for only 14 easy payments of $99.99 Visit www.uselessitems.com to get yours!
James Moncur '23
Soul Cleaner Water can have many archetypal meanings depending on its state: when it is in a liquid form, it represents purity, but when in a solid form, it represents unhappiness and desolation. First, when the White Witch was ruling over Narnia, all the water was frozen into ice and snow. Because there was no flowing water, this represented a time of unhappiness because Narnia was no longer pure. Second, when the four siblings were on their journey to the stone table, along with Aslan and his army, they had to cross a flowing river that was obstructing their path. This was because they had to be cleansed of any prior sin so that they would not harm it spiritually. During modern day, babies, children, and adults get baptized to remove all sin they may have committed, and this process takes place in a pool of holy water, because it is believed to purify the person’s soul.
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Wise Old Man A common archetype in stories (especially those written in the 1900s) states that men ranging from adulthood to the elderly show wisdom, strength, and kindness when faced with a problem. The professor seemed to have such qualities when he assisted Susan and Peter when they were attempting to figure out whether Lucy was telling the truth about Narnia or not. He used his experience with Lucy that he had gained from being with her to conclude that she was a truthful person and that she was not lying. Another character that possesses these traits is Aslan, a powerful and wise leader of Narnia. He used his experience with previous battles to defeat the White Witch and her army by reviving the stone statues and bringing them to war. Currently, movie directors or authors often include characters such as Gandalf and Dumbledore in their stories because they are wise old men and they can either use their power to create peace, or use it to fight an enemy of the “good.”
B est Friend Ethan Engel ’22
He was the best friend a man could ask for. He was black, I'm white, He was Christian, I'm Jewish. Yet we were such good friends He loved going to the movies; We went there every Friday. I'd buy the snacks, he'd get the seats. We'd sleep at my house. After school we sometimes went to the park to toss the ball. Both athletes, we threw the ball far; we tested our limits. He was the best friend a man could ask for. One time he missed the ball and it hit him in the nose. He nearly bled out We went to parties together; We ate lunch together. We played the same sports; we played on the same teams. When I was feeling down, he was there for me. When my parents split up, he was there for me. He was the best friend a man could ask for. There was this movie that he really wanted to see, So we went to the theatre. My treat. I got the snacks, he got the seats. Everything was great. He was the best friend a man could ask for. The street lights were bright, standing out in the dark. It was a long ride home. We had the radio cranked loud, Listening to our favorite song I was singing along, having a blast. Out of the dark came something big, something fast, something terrible. SKRT!!!BAM!!! There went our night. There went his life. There went the best friend a man could ask for.
Jake Kreindler '21
Ethan Engel '22
Bryce Baylor '18
LOWER SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL
Waning crescent Will King ’18
By my father’s side in the suffocating darkness of night, We come across a clearing revealing a small sliver of light. What to him is the expected waning crescent, I see as my father’s unfortunate present. What was once brightly illuminated in my eye, Now travels to the back of my perpetually occupied mind, The figure that once impressed me so much I couldn’t look away, Now frustrates me as it begins to inevitably fade. This once wondrous image no longer satisfies me, For the more I learn the more I demand of what I see, I wish I could realize the beauty in it again, Yet the longer I look it saddens me to think of its eventual end. While at the moment he seems a sorry being, I force myself to think beyond what I am seeing. At the tail end of this encroaching darkness a sliver of light shall again appear, One that will show what is to come and doesn’t remind me of what I once held dear, One day I will tire of searching for a more pleasing sight, And when this new light reaches its full glory all thoughts will be erased of its former plight. Once again I will look at him in wonder, And once again he will complete me like no other.
Will Nussbaum '20
Connor Pugh '19
Kevin Tsai'18
I STAND HERE IN TIMES SQUARE I stand here in Times Square, Before the office manager spilling his coffee in his dash to work, Before the tourist bumping into a man in his quest for the perfect shot, Before the tout pushing a discount that must only happen today, Before the police officer watching every person from his unrevealing dark glasses, Before the veteran who has lost a limb begging from his corner next to an alleyway, Before the four year old begging to get a pack of M&Ms she will not get today, Before the group of shoppers stopping at every high end storefront with their overstuffed bags, Before the schoolboy shouting for joy as he gets a few seconds of fame his face appears on the billboard, Before the mime dressed as the statue of liberty scaring children for a bit of change, Before to hot dog vendor flipping burnt sausages to keep up with his lunchtime demand, Before the heartbeats of the day I stand in the brisk clear skies with a fresh morning scent, With the sun so low the monstrous steel and glass skyscrapers hide my shadow, With only the street sweeper clearing yesterday’s trash and the early morning jogger I am at peace.
Jaydeep Sangha '17
The Midnight Hour Through silver streaks upon the moonlit bay A flock of ferrous swans return to lay— The calling of the midnight hour sounds O’er sunken ship at rest in Mother’s mounds. Nights’ shadow on the waking, wine dark sea Brings forth the fervent crowds and daily spree; In open waters, curious minds roam, Through gleaming turquoise waves and frothy foam. The rosy fingers sink once more to sleep, Their Father once again begins to weep— A sinking sun set on an endless tide Casts shadows o’er the mating Lion’s pride. Our Mother beacons all sons back to rest: to Ithaca, her everlasting nest.
Matthew Seebald '17
Jackson Powell '17
Bruce Han '19
Her Voice Under a velvet sky, an opalescent sunrise. The breeze beneath an ocean of calm life. A light caress A message sent from the soul A feeling told An expression. The soft scent heard as—the flow of flowers grown; As though it were meant for the nose. And I still don’t understand what her voice was. I know.
Michael Berkowitz ’18
Brett Gallagher '18
Judgement A shoe or a dream You decide how you view it Famous dunk logo Soaring made him seem unfit Astonishing to viewers “Great” spelled profit for revenuers This started the dream “Like Mike” The shoes thought to be first step of hike Commercials sell false prophets Shoes equal better play mindsets A shoe or a dream You decide how you view it Accomplish your dream At any cost never quit Even if you live with no morals It’s just the price to be immortal Name sketched in history’s stone No cash but the shoes they have to own Innocent wearer walking Prey for a vicious interlocking A shoe or a dream You decide how you view it Just know it’s different The confused mislead misfit Trade your shoes with them Thought patterns change hypocrite A shoe or a dream You decide how you view it
Brown Anglin '19
Airplanes and Flowers 6 hours to California, 2 to Florida, 24 to go to Sydney. All measured in time But they used to be measured in distance. They should be measured in flowers. Sweet honeysuckle and soft silk petals Now become aspartame and rough fabric chairs. I gaze out my window and see not the flowers, Only the glimpses of places I’ll go. When life was a journey, counting miles not minutes, The flowers around us would bloom for our eyes. Destinations existed but only in distance. The road was the most meaningful part of the ride. Passing down wooded lanes we’d see the bakeshop Or the old man mending his bicycle. We’d stop and say hi, we’d taste succulent sweets Exploring each bend without sureness of feet. What we lacked in security we made up for in freedom. For all these things flowers, each unexpected Blossomed for us at each turn of the lane. We’d be like John Denver, Old Country Roads Or Jay Z rolling through the Empire State. Exploring was risky but there was no other way, No Trip Advisor to curate our stay. Now we are selective. Life no longer a journey, just the next destination, Maximizing our time in only the right places. Who has time for a little flower? When it's only 6 hours to California, 2 to Florida, Just a little further to the place of your dreams. Never thinking of the flowers so far beneath us Flying coast to coast, we miss the heart of US. Now back here in my airplane, A perfect Charon shade of grey. The man next to me, self-induced to a coma Headphones dangling like a temporary noose. We captain no longer boats against the current, But are born ever faster into the wind.
Harrison Muth ’19
Harrison Muth ’19
Ricky Sears '99 Upper School Faculty
Did you catch the winter moon this morning?
It was a silver plate pasted high
amid the dark and distant branches
cradled in a dream-catcher of dawn;
Held like a monstrance, offering
To meditate on the black limbs bereft
Of all other seasons of oaks.
In this cold dawn, our moon serves
a reminder, of nights real and imagined
coming on longer; bitter air; deathly cold–
Still, through dusk to daylight,
A piece of beauty, a coinage of awe,
Nesting a hawk, an owl. And in that moment
I thought of love, and you, and you.
Did you catch the morning moon this winter?
Matt Dougherty Upper School Faculty
Thank you to our Landon students and faculty who contributed and edited Volume 1 of Virtute. The title of this publication is derived from Landon’s motto, “Virtute et Non Vi,” which is loosely translated as “By Virtue, Not by Force.” Our motto holds fast to the principles of our Code of Character, which include respect, honesty, civility and honor.
Sky Cui '18
Michael Mehlman '18