BURN literary/arts magazine of Marian High School, Spring 2020

burn

[ v.10 ] [ i.2 ]

burn’s 20th anniversary issue “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars . . .

- Jack Kerouac

editorial policy

You see, I have this very vivid memory I was around the age of three Marian presents Burn, a literary arts magazine My aunt needed help pruning her garden that strives to showcase the original art, So she asked me photography and creative writing of our She handed me at set of sheers student body. Burn is published twice a year, And as I look back to those years once per semester, and we accept submissions That probably wasn’t very wise from all grade levels. Our submissions are She asked me to weed out the judged anonymously, and those that are dandelions selected are subject to minor grammatical And oh did she despise corrections. Burn is a forum for creative student The yellow wildflowers that polluted expression. Our goal is to give students a the hills place to publish their work and a place to But at the age of three have their peers appreciate their work. Burn is I saw no difference between them published by Graphic Technologies, Inc. For and the daffodils the 2019-2020 school year, there will be 800 I refused to kill the gentle flowers in copies printed per semester. All titles of pieces our midst and page numbers are set in Kathen font. The She told me to toughen up writing is set in Avenir Light. The softwares But why couldn’t the dandelions used were Adobe InDesign CS6 and Adobe coexist Photoshop CS6. Our adviser was journalism “They are not real flowers” she said teacher Mrs. Marsha Kalkowski. For inquiries, But they had petals stems so contact us at burn@omahamarian.org or write I continued to persist us 7400 Military Ave, Omaha, NE 68134.

She pointed at the chrysanthemums then to the dandelion “They are not the same” she said But I just wouldn’t buy in Editors: Scarlett Wedergren ‘20, Chloe Herbert ‘20 “They are weeds” Junior Editors: Naomi Delkamiller ‘21, Ellie Kripal ‘21 she grumbled Staff: Chrissy Gulseth ‘20, Sarah Burnett ‘20, Shruthi “they still grow from seeds” Kumar ‘20, Katie Tiojanco ‘20, Callie Cavanaugh ‘21, I continued my pleas Rylee Gregg ‘21, Rachel Achola ‘21, Katie Corpuz Inside ‘21, Grace Virgillito ‘21, Madison Adam ‘22, Bella She sent me with a cold stare Beck ‘22, Cali D’Agosto ‘22, Hai’den Davis ‘22, Annie But I still longed to save the dandelions Masek ‘22, Margaret Mowat ‘22, Anna Rasgorshek Being massacred out there ‘22, Christina Tinley ‘22

burn staff

it’s not a real flower [ writing by cecilia urbanski ]

Front “mushroom men” by marin mowat ‘20 Back “a party without cake is just a meeting” by scarlett wedergren ‘20, the chocolate symphony in c major by lauren ali ‘22 00-01 “abundance” by katie corpuz ‘21, it’s not a real flower by cecilia urbanski ‘23 02-03 beauty by hai’den davis ‘22, “polaroid” by ellie kripal ‘21, “mars and back” by bella syslo ‘20, period sonnet by grace walsh ‘21 04-05 “move” by ellie kripal ‘21, love is by elizabeth foreman ‘23, i want the music by gaby watton ‘20, “eye” by grace virgillito ‘21 06-07 home by olivia traxler ‘22, beneath the sun by kelly williams ‘20 “between two worlds” by lillie devine ‘22 “suspenders and succulents” by scarlett wedergren ‘20 08-09 drowning thoughts by grace clark ‘21, be still by kelly williams ‘20, stars shine brighter by rylee gregg ‘21, “serenity” by rachel achola ‘21, “seven times infinity” by bella syslo ‘20 10-11 my kingdom by katherine rodis ‘21, words by emmy kmiecik ‘20, “sky flower of montserrat” by scarlett wedergren ‘20, “hats off” by naomi delkamiller ‘21 12-13 “woman in pieces” by mary said ‘20, that girl by brianna eilderts ‘20 14-15 ayarn uov by melina piperis ‘22, fine line by maddie warrick ‘20, “grun” by ella meis ‘20, “gentle woman” by cecilia urbanski ‘23 16-17 short attention span by kelly williams ‘20, thoughts from australia by elizabeth foreman ‘23, “the edge of nothing” by naomi delkamiller ‘21 “in flight” by marin mowat ‘20 18-19 naive by maddie warrick ‘20, a message to future me by mattighan zielie ‘21, “melodrama” by lillian fuglsang ‘22, “intricate rituals” by patrice roubidoux ‘20 20-21 temporary by melina piperis ‘22, my everchanging soul by naomi delkamiller ‘21, “antelope canyon” by isha kishore ‘20, “biking solo” by naomi delkamiller ‘21 ] z u 22-23 walls by gaby watton ‘20, “field club silos” by anna hern orp c ‘22, “be the cowboy” by patrice roubidoux ‘20 ie kat y 24-25 healing by kelly kozol ‘21, light of life by kelly williams ‘20, tb [ ar “cry me a river” by rachel achola ‘21, “sweet nebraska land” by callie cavanaugh ‘21 26-27 to my brother by olivia traxler ‘22, I have no idea who i am by gaby watton ‘20, “boy blue” by sofia pantano ‘23, “verdon gorge (2)” by jill williamson ‘22 28-29 airhead by mattighan ziele ‘21, “morning rush” by anna rasgorshek ‘22, “wonders of nature” by madeline tubrick ‘23

” e c

n a d

n u b

“a

01

“mars and back” [ photo by bella syslo ]

period son [ writing b

y grace w

alsh ]

“period sonnet”

net

A pad of paper blotch’ed in crimson My center of creation cracked open like wine My anger’s fever becomes overrun A soothing ice cream, the cure for which I pine Between my tender breast beats my heart of scarlet With heaviness on this red letter day As I cry with hazel Grace the starlet Seeing Augustus whisked away You plague me monthly with pain and emotion You are a boa constrictor around me Causing me to long for a magic potion Criminal assault to my body All symptoms of womanhood, a troublesome meriod With deep passion, I hate you. PERIOD!

02

lite e cellu v a h s h My thig ir is tangled of ersion My ha v c i t s i l ea ots n is a r My ski onnect the d 20/20 ac n isn’t o i s i v e e any ey m y e m k a d an tm doesn’ tiful t a h t t au bu less be erica’s Next Am er I’m h t e h odel W Top M ext Top N erica’s m A r O Potato t Couch y the fact tha a aw rfect. ’t take Doesn erfectly impe I’m p

“ p y o t l a u roid” a e b [ wri

is ]

en dav

hai’d ting by

[ art by ellie

kripal ]

03

i want the music

[ writing by gaby watton ]

“i want the music so loud that the bass makes me dance, because i don’t have the energy to put in the stifling effort it takes to dance on my own”

“move!” [ art by ellie kripal ]

04

“eye” [ art by grace virgillito ]

love is

[ writing by elizabeth foreman ] Love is patient Love is kind Love is never Having to remind Yourself of why You’re with him or her Never making excuses Of why you ever were Love is patient Love is kind Love is stumbling Every time You try to speak About how you feel Afraid to wake up to see That he or she is not real Love is patient Love is kind Love is here And you are blind

05

“suspenders and succulents” [ photo by scarlett wedergren ]

06

beneath the sun [ writing by kelly williams ]

in the day I ignore the sun, avoiding its sweltering heat and suffocating energy, forgetting its warmth and intensity -pretending the light comes from the blue in the sky.

Yet only in the night, when the sun reflects off the moon in a pale gray light -illuminating the stars in the brilliant night sky -do I see the beauty. some days I wish for clouds, to cover up the sun and hide its existence.

I wish for rain I wish for thunder -until the lightning strikes. no matter how loudly I yell, how violently I oppose, the sun remains in the sky. it brightens the day and cuts through the night.

Home is not a place Home is the sweet scent of my best friend’s shampoo And the smell of freshly mowed grass It is the cracks on my lips as I crawl through the forest And the shirts soaked with mud It is the soft melody of a piano heard through the window It is the taste of lemonade haggled to 5 cents a cup The cool breeze on my face And puddles on the ground Grass stains on my jeans And home is not a place But it is in my heart

the sun. bright and warm, and always there. even in the night, when it vanishes from the world, I know a new day is soon and I’ll see it once more.

home

[ writing by olivia traxler ]

the sun will always be there for me, to light up the day, or stifle my very being.

I hesitate to like the sun, but I will find comfort in its presence.

“between two worlds” [ photo by lillie devine ]

07

“seven times infinity” [ photo by bella syslo ]

Yet filled with mystery. You can never Be known, yet you are the trusted one Twinkling timid yet sure, like a tether To the world for people like me, lonely.

We who wander navigate by starlight.

08

stars shine brighter

[ writing by rylee gregg ]

I would compare you to a summer day But it would be wrong, for the day is pure And to you, it cannot compare. The way I see you, you are the stars, shining and sure

What’s hidden by day is at last shown When the sun’s gone and all is dark, yet bright Calm and quiet, but no longer alone.

You’re no summer day, no false happiness

[ writing by grace clark ]

drowning thoughts

be still

[ writing by kelly williams ]

Don’t speak.

Stand still.

There’s no air.

Thunderous heartbeat.

Be calm.

There’s no spirit.

Toxic memories.

Hold tight.

There’s no power. ...Or is there?

Impossible to explain to someone Impossible to stop for a minute Water flows over like the morning sun I am unable to find my limit.

Butterfly, backstroke, breast, and freestyle too Why not just mix it up?

Story of my life.

Just keep swimming: the only thing to do.

Cutting through the water, sharp as a knife.

Mentally, it is a constant battle.

Pressure, pressure, pressure: a constant fog Always thinking: be fast, for example Really, I need a happy monologue.

Tell me, how can someone swim without joy?

The answer: what appears true, is a decoy.

“serenity” Blazing stars, Don’t stand still.

The world hates standing still, Life goes on, One step inching in front of the other, Move! Live! Speak!

There’s so much life to live, Love to give, Kindness to spread, And so much greatness you can be.

[ photo by rachel achola ]

Deep breath.

Free your words, Move masses and breathe new life into their hearts.

Release your bitter memories, Take in confidence, Use your voice.

And don’t stand still.

Don’t stand still.

09

my kingdom [ writing by katherine rodis ]

When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of being a princess. I dreamt of castles built of brick and mortar, filled with infinite rooms of books and toys and other things only a six year old could dream of. Many days, I would hide in my room, dressing up in my scratchy purple princess dress and having my stuffed animals act as my royal subjects. I danced around my yellow tinted room with the chipped paint as if I was at the most amazing ball with the most handsome prince. But then, I began to realize that reality was not a fairytale, that my “games” were too childish for someone of my age. My kingdom was wished away by the stress of school, friends, family, even my own self. As I near the end of my junior year, I am told to think of my future. Where I want to go to college, what I should major in, how I’m going to pay for it all, what I should be doing as a career. How can I think of my future when most days I cannot think past tomorrow? I have still tried to chase my own destiny, to reach for those sunny rays of stability and adventure with both hands and squeeze it’s contents until it becomes a reality. And sometimes it’s so hard constantly chasing paper dreams when I am too tired, too broken and weakkneed to catch up to. On those days, I remember my 6 year old self. A princess who built her kingdom of stone, brick and mortar. Who would not stop building until the turrets gently brushed the morning clouds that dotted the sky like stray pieces of cotton candy. Even on the days when the cornerstones crumble to the ground, mainly to my own hand chipping away at the brick and mortar, the walls still stand proud and tall. I may not know even the smallest glimmer of my future, but I know I can always go home, to my kingdom of brick, mortar and stone. I can always return to my refuge of safety and comfort. And my plastic tiara of rubies and diamonds is waiting for the princess to return to her throne.

“sky flower of montserrat” [ photo by scarlett wedergren ]

10

“hatsoff” off” “hats [ photo by naomi delkamiller ]

words words

[ writing by emmy kmiecik ]

words they speak have a bite so deep short the pain but forever the stain she tries to wash away at least stronger her heart will lay

11

“woman in pieces” [ art by mary said ]

12

that girl [ writing by brianna eilderts ]

You read a poem to me about that girl and me Can’t take to heart I told you I would dis-guard it, but you said... you can’t choose between her and me You have love for that girl and me You see that girl more than me You text that girl rather than me You lay with that girl and then me How hard is it to see that I will hold you down forever even if you leave I try to impress you by buying weave I try to impress you by pretending to be happy I want you but you’re stuck in between A girl that could never be compared to me You see I have never loved someone as much as I love you, but I guess you’re blind And I’m the only one who sees, but yet you found And now I’m lost because that girl is being compared to me I cried in front of you multiple times

and all you can say is “It’s different there” WELL IS IT?! because once I get there I will still have feelings for you not the ones you lost towards me So stop being naive You know why I felt stabbed in the heart? because I would never compare you like how you did to me I don’t understand You explain it to me over and over again, but I guess you can say I have a thick skull because I will never be able to process your in between Years, it was just you and me, but now it’s you, that girl and me Did i never make you feel complete? Questioning, why I still compete?

But what I know is that girl is not me I know that girl will not fill you because that girl will never give you the real love you experienced from me All I ever wanted was for you to be happy Now you got me stuck in between Do I stay... or do I leave?

13

“grun” [ photo by ella meis ]

Αγάπη μου (my love) [ writing by melina piperis ] At 15 years I write to you a person I’ve yet to know I’m hardly fit to advise your ways so I’ll leave you with one thing I know My mama taught me a way of life that is simple but so true and though I wish I could share this with everyone this poem was written just for you This way of life is pure like water calmly rushing through a stream but don’t let its simplicity fool you this way of life is extreme It is sweeter than the scents of a garden it is peaceful like the flight of a dove and like my mama told me I now tell you live a life of love

14

“gentle woman� [ art by cecilia urbanski ]

fine line [ writing by maddie warrick ] I think the challenge of life is to find the line between loving others Just enough So that you have leftovers For yourself

15

“in flight� [ art by marin

mowat ]

thoughts from australia

[ writing by elizabeth foreman ] All I saw were swirls of scarlet, orange, and yellow whispering their tales of destruction to the sky All I heard was the constant noise of plane motors flying over my house monthly, weekly, daily All I tasted was the heavy air that suffocated all the remaining life that the heat could not reach All I smelled was smoke, not like the kind from a home fireplace, but from the burning of things that were once alive and not meant to die this way All I felt was pain as the despair of my family, my neighbors, and my country grew too big for our fragile souls But I also saw the firefighters arriving from foreign places at the airport to help us in any way they could But I also heard the reporters on the television state the total funds raised for a hope of a better tomorrow for my country But I also tasted sweet hope in the air that soon it will end, making the long nights easier But I also smelled the flowers that had not yet succumbed to their fates and were still standing tall and bright But I also felt the love and sympathy that poured from the hearts of seven billion people who may never experience what we are going through, but who share in our pain nonetheless All I experienced were the signs of a country on fire But I also sensed a strength and a determination to survive that United my country and the whole world I may not know how to stop the fires but I do know this: My country is like a phoenix, and after this fire, when my country is nothing but a pile of ash, we will rise again, and we will soar

16

“the edge of nothing� [ photo by naomi delkamiller ]

short attention span [ writing by kelly williams ] My head is in the clouds, But my eyes are on the paper, Staring at these foreign phrases and dense scrawls.

My mind is wandering in circles, While my pencil fills in circles on a bubble sheet, Filling in circles under my eyes.

17

“intricate rituals” [ art by patrice roubidoux ]

a message to future me [ writing by mattighan zielie ]

18

In the light of current events This is a reminder To stare into the eyes of those Who look down upon you And scream unto them That they have yet to learn What really goes on in the depths of your mind And that they’re wrong to think You are any less complex than the galaxies You have hidden between your ears

m naive

[ writing by maddie warrick ]

rt b lly y li

r

[a

“melod

fu g

a” am

Maybe all this time The universe had been trying to protect me And I didn’t listen Because my ears had gone deaf To anything that wasn’t you

n lsa

g]

19

temporary [ writing by melina piperis ] A soft guitar begins to hum a sweet yet melancholy tune A voice that longs for a time now gone mourns for the bliss that fled too soon The sound of violins joins the helpless guitar perfectly in sync with the forsaken mood Notes dance all along the treble clef staff and paint a haunting vision of solitude Life, laughter, hope and love abruptly vanished in the course of a night An existence of simple happiness is as temporary as the hours of daylight The overwhelming joy that preoccupies one’s mind the ecstasy you hope will never fade and it’s beauty you failed to recognize in time have now disappeared into yesterday

“antelope canyon”

[ photo by isha kishore ]

20

“bikin [ phot

o by n

aomi

g solo�

delka

miller

]

my everchanging soul [ writing by naomi delkamiller ]

I trust that things got better as time passed by. Not because time heals, but because I am a person who chose to grow.

I made peace with the past so I can live in the present and peace with the present so I can have hope for the future.

21

you put them up so others can’t see inside. they block out everything you try to hide.

walls

[ writing by gaby watton ]

more and more come as you grow because then there’s less you want others to know. you hide your vulnerability behind each and every wall but what if when you’re ready, your walls don’t want to fall? you’ve built them so high and so wide and so thick what when you try to knock them down you feel like a lunatic.

b w

” y o

o c e

h t e

“b

rt [a

by

22

b

ou er

ic

tr pa

x]

u ido

“field club silos”

[ art by anna hern ] because now they won’t come down as hard as you try because when you got hurt once, you built them too high. too high for even the best people to climb and see who you really are, and who you want to be. and these walls now trap you, you can’t escape them and within these walls, all by yourself, you’re now condemned.”

23

“cry me a river� [ art by rachel achola ]

healing [ writing by kelly kozol ]

24

Goodbye to those whose mornings are gloomy: To thee are forever those who are to blame, And For those who forgive are given beauty; Those who convict are never given fame, Made mad by members messy mistakes; Simple hearts generous like grandmothers, Seem to absolve from great ache

And given goodwill far from others; He, himself, is a shining star, For thee to gaze upward to admire; Exonerate further in those mending scars, By vengeance we cause far more fire; So long men who seek great gain, For as long as forgiveness shall remain.

“sweet nebraska land” [ art by callie cavanaugh ]

light of life [ writing by kelly williams ] When light shines in the dark, It pierces through space, Makes itself known, And creates life.

It soars.

It soars for millions of miles in a limitless sky, No matter the distance, no matter the obstacle.

It always finds a way to bring warmth and beauty.

You feel the joy and the comfort of light’s presence before even hearing its sound.

One ray of light is enough to send vitality through your veins, Bring you life, Bring you joy, And inspire your soul to fly to the sky and live among the stars; As long as there is light.

A world without light cannot survive.

You are light.

25

“verdon gorge (2)” [ photo by jill williamson ]

26

i have no idea who i am

so i take that thought with me wherever i go, so who am i really? not even i know. my humor varies from situation to situation because what if i say something wrong? therefore everything i say is a citation of someone else’s thought process or joke or action everything i ever do sets myself on a chain reaction of losing who i am or who i ever could have been but if i never was myself, how can i find myself again?”

[ writing by gaby watton ]

i have no idea who i am. my music taste is not mine, i take everyone’s ideas and combine, them into “my own way of thinking” and my whole belief system, so many things i’ve wanted to do but have missed them because it didn’t align with what pleased everyone and everyone knows that you’re no one if you’re not a “someone”

to my brother d ha I re

to love you like a broth er A n

dh at

yo u

e

as

e on

I wa

m e t he m o eco n th b to e day we met You gave me d com e t

too

Although we were not born as siblings We were unknowingly fated to become them on the day we met You gave me company where I had none So I learned to love you like a brother And hate you as one too I was known to chase you around the block, shouting at you While you made faces and hid from me Yet You held me while I cried And cried with me You defended my honor and I defended yours You gave me the first true heartbreak of my life When you left And still We have stayed siblings through it all We have held each other’s hands As we walked the battlefield of life And although we were not born as siblings I hope we die as them

pa ny wh e

[ writing by olivia traxler ]

I learned o S e non

s known to chase n you arou

a

yf

d the block, shouting at you Whil e

ingl

s siblin g

a ce

o rn a

we

we

re

ere un s We w

k no

w

yo um a de f

tb no

sa nd hid

u gh Altho

“boy blue” [ art by sofia pantano ]

27

airhead

[ writing by mattighan zielie ]

I am an astronaut In many ways but one With my head in the stars But my feet on the sun I belong to saturns rings But that’ll never be For only angels are allowed The power to truly see

The world begins crashing By the hands of those who Disbelieved the change And never saw it through

I reach for the planets With hands high strung Only to fall short By a length of a tongue

28

My time is almost up I must think of what to do But all my friends see yellow And I can only think in blue

“wonders of nature” [ art by madeline tubrick ]

“m [ ph

oto

orn

by

ann

a ra

ing

sgo

rsh

ek

]

rus

h”

29

the chocolate symphony in c major [ writing by lauren ali ] Merci B

eaucoup, Hello Fond

ue .

W

hat would I ev e

o witho rd ut y ou ? Th e

iatel y.

w a t y you taste so chocola

I lo ve

ng ey , melti

ed m im

how

yo u

fl l m te a swe e

t delight.

yh e a r t co m t ni g h t.

ls o ca ref ree

Ea r

ly in

[ spring 2020 ]

La te a

on

m a k es m e e fe

m e lik

h ea

It ee b y e

Every bi

lw

ays so sweet to

p l e tely ,b u r ning irre

. s istibly

ea r ’ u Yo

g. the mornin