November 2011 midnightwriters.webs.com midnight.writers2013@gmail.com
Ask Aphro & Dite To submit questions, please email askaphro@gmail.com. They will remain anonymous!
Dear Aphrodite, Whenever I fall in love, it’s always with fictional characters. Even when I meet a really cute or nice guy, I can't help but compare him to the heroes of my favorite books. What should I do to cure this condition??? -Doomed in Love Dear Doomed in Love, First, it isn’t an issue to love our favorite characters, but we must remember at the end of the day that they’re only words on a page. They aren’t real. I can go into great detail about a handsome knight in shining armor and his heroic exploits, but he only exists in my mind and in the minds of those who read about "him." You can’t ever meet a perfect man like that except in dreams. Expecting so will raise impossible expectations for every man you meet. Fictional characters are just that: fiction. Confusing this world and fiction is unhealthy. If it gets to be a major issue, try withdrawing from books and enjoying friend's company for a bit and recalling which world is which. As for associating nice guys with the characters: the thing you should be sure NOT to do is start to associate the hero’s characteristics with the person and start to expect those characteristics from the person, especially negative ones. If you go into a relationship expecting disloyalty, your suspicion and persecution will undoubtedly ******CONTINUED ONLINE*****
Musings of Hades
Athena’s Corner
I hate Thanksgiving. I really do. Everybody Sees the Ants: October Honestly, I love my family (mostly) 2011, A.S. King and all that mush, but I can’t freaking Lucky Linderman suffers from a stand them. And I kind of don’t like messed-up family, bullying, visions turkey, either. of ants, and realistic dreams of his Since we have a ―No Nuclear Wars MIA grandfather. One day the bullyor Genocides‖ rule for all family gathing reaches a new level, and Lucky’s erings, Ares vents all that violent anmother moves the two of them to her ger through touch (read: beat the crud brother’s house for the summer. out of them) football and food fights. Lucky learns a few lessons about Hera and Hestia – they’re great cooks, love, courage, and telling things as but I swear they’re intentionally trying they are. A.S. King has done it again to fatten us all up. And Demeter just – I loved this book’s humor and glares at me across the dinner table, blunt truths, all the while making looking like she wants to dismember you really think about life and what me with her dessert fork. (It was 3,500 the author is saying. Her other book, years ago and now Persephone likes Please Ignore Vera Dietz, is also me better than she does you. Deal highly recommended and should be with it.) at the Media Center. Dionysus, of course, gets drunk every year without fail. He’s a very All These Things I’ve Done: Sepscary drunk. He can go from eulogiztember 2011, Gabrielle Zevin ing a satyr to laughing like a maniac Anya, the daughter of a dead mafia to scaring the bejeezus out of Phobos head, keeps her head down and foland Deimos faster than Poseidon can lows the rules until her boyfriend is eat a bowl of calamari. (Have you evpoisoned, she’s accused of the er seen the man eat fried squid? He’s crime, and the son of the head of like a vacuum.) So when Dionysus police falls in love with her – and starts to nod off into his wine, we lock her with him. In the year 2083, when him in one of the veryveryvery distant all is chaos, this is a bad position to guestrooms and hope he doesn’t wake be in – especially when the head of up until noon the next day. police disapproves of her relationA very Olympian Thanksgiving in ship with his son. This book takes a nutshell. I once considered offering Romeo and Juliet to amazing new to host the holiday, but seeing as how heights and promises an addicting you’re permanently bound to the Unread. derworld once you eat its food, that Special thanks to Sra. Steele and wouldn’t be a very good idea. I’d acknowledgement to Hades, Athena, probably go insane with them all there and Hermes. Our love goes out to Hipyear-round. polyta and her family.
Grateful by Hades I am grateful for the internet, My connection to the universe. How bizarre, how addicting! I can’t live without it. I am grateful for books, Which possess entire worlds. My final retreat, my escape, When I tire of reality. I am grateful for my left hand, For without it, I am not me. Without it, I cannot draw, Without it, I’m half-dead. I am grateful for second chances, Because who knows where I’d be? To err is human, to forgive is divine, I must be surrounded by gods. I am grateful for my teachers, Who give me opportunities. They pave the way for my future, And this I must never forget. I am grateful for my friends, Who anchor me during storms. Givers of hugs when I am sad, Sharers of joy when I am happy. I am grateful for my brother, Who doesn’t (always) lead me astray. Many things I’ve learned from him, Someday I’ll pay him back. I am grateful for my mother, Who always has my back. She can pull me from the depths of despair, She can send me reeling with laughter. I am grateful for my grandfather, The wisest man I know. He makes me smile and feel proud, Like I’m a star in the sky. I am grateful for food, I am grateful for health. I am grateful for life, I am grateful for love. Yes, there are many, many things, Things I must be grateful for. I’d like to take a moment to say: ―Thank you, World.‖
Photo—―The Way of the Autumn‖ by Saison
Friends, Family, Success By Papillon Family and friends We always help each other out We give time to help Photo—―Stand Out‖ by LY
Midnight Writers When yesterday sleeps And tomorrow awakes, When Grandfather cries twelve The Witching Hour begins. We rise from our coffins Of Hamlet and Chem And AP’s and Honors And Algebra II. The air is filled With stories and ghosts, With pen scratching paper, With imagination’s whirls. Lanterns of words, Teeming towers of art, Dark horses and poets, No deus ex machina allowed. We laugh and we scream In surprise and delight As dreams and ideas Through ink come alive. But when Helios stirs And Eos is on the horizon, The lights are extinguished And the castle falls silent. In daylight we are nobody, Just another one of you. But the night is ours always, The moon and stars ours to hold. Are we proud, you ask? Why, yes, yes, we are. For us, pride is no sin… After all, we’re Midnight Writers.
Photo—―Trail of Solitude‖ by Hunny-Senpai
Shattered Hearts by Hades The final page is turning, The story’s almost over. Where is my Prince Charming now? Where’s my happy ending now? Cinderella, dressed in grime, Thrown away in disbelief, Watches her glass slipper falling, Smashing on the marble floor. Sleeping Beauty, still asleep, Lying in a maze of thorns, Dreams of kisses, never wakes, Rests another hundred years. Snow White princess, so naïve, Poisoned by fair apple red, Mourned by dwarves with broken hearts, Like a corpse inside a coffin. Beauty’s still afraid of Beast, Lost in his palace of shadows, Hiding from his wild eyes, Fearing all his savage growls. Rapunzel in her tower sighs, Brushes, brushes, brushes hair, Gazing down on precious Earth, Trapped in heaven, all alone. A Little Mermaid walks in pain, Silver knife lies in her hand, Watches her love with his wife, Knows the sea is too far now. My dream did not come true at all, The End has finally arrived. The story closes with my tears, All their shattered hearts forgotten.
Sweet Memory By Hunny-Senpai Walking alone I see a shadow on the ground My heart pounding Turning, the shadow’s gone As the winds blows I hear your voice Looking around You are nowhere to be seen Closing my eyes I feel the heat of your touch I feel your breath with the touch of your lips I jump at the touch of your fingertips I open my eyes and I cry For you are gone Just a sweet memory
Photo—―Clinging Onto Hope‖ by Calypso
Illustration—―Shades of Crimson‖ by Artemis
screams of an innocent in a medieval Family By Nyctophobia torture chamber. It pains me. Family. Family. It’s supposed to be a group you can call The love burns deep. And painful. home. But that’s not what I have found. Mother's caring ways... they bring great Family. expectations. Perfection. Do the piano My brother refuses to play his piano. again. Wrong. Do it again! Brother cries Mother’s yelling attracts his father. He and refuses, my dad send him to his drags the boy to the piano and sits him room and escorts him there. down. Brother is forced to play. A beauFamily. tiful song marred by the context. I know the tears gush from his eyes, Family. like blood from a deep cut. The fabric I hide in my basement oasis. A fly on a of this family. Ripped apart by stubbloody wall. The yelling. So loud. So bornness and explosive tempers. intrusive. It pervades everywhere. It echFamily. oes in the room of my sanctuary, like the My family.
My Brother by Hades Today I saw my brother, He protected me from the world. ―Baby sister, baby sister.‖ I follow proudly in his steps. Today I saw my brother, He taught me something new. ―Hey, isn’t this neat?‖ Everything is when it’s from him. Today I saw my brother, We fought over something small. ―Nuh-uh! It’s mine!‖ Still we reconcile. Grudgingly. Today I saw my brother, I think we hate each other a little. ―Go away, leave me alone!‖ It hurts more than he’ll ever know. Today I saw my brother, He’s like a stranger nowadays. (Insert silence here.) Will the closed doors never end? Tomorrow I’ll see my brother, Maybe we’ll be friends again. ―I really missed you, you know.‖
Alex overslept, dropped his breakfast on the way to the bus, and missed lunch. What a horrible day! Read O Food, Where Do you like writing, art, or photography? Is there Art Thou? by Holiday Blues, available online! It’s Thanksgiving Day, but Shannon’s planning on spending it alone. After all, her father’s passed away, and her mother and brother are busy overseas—but she gets a huge surprise. Read More Than Friends, We’re Family by Blackthorn Rose, available online!
some kind of topic you’d love to rant about? If so, Midnight Writers is the place for you! For more info, email us at midnight.writers2013@gmail.com, or visit www.midnightwriters.webs.com! Join our staff, or just subscribe to our readership!
Their friend Liz was murdered on Halloween. They’re all suspects but they have no lead. Weeks pass and nothing happens, but what will happen when Maria goes to have Thanksgiving dinner with her friends? Read Chapter Two, An Ungrateful Thanksgiving by Apollo, available online!
Photo—―Tree Perspective‖ by Eris
Photo—―Even My Feathers Are Delicious‖ by Aphrodite Illustration—―Shannon‖ by Chronos
Illustration—―Murder Knife‖ by Calypso
Illustration—―Heart of the Storm‖ by Hades
Illustration—―Somewhere Over the Rainbow‖ by Hades
Ashes by Hades Dedicated to Hippolyta Ashes, ashes, falling from the sky, Gray clouds roll, thunder rumbles. Heaven’s tears are empty, Tasteless and cold as ice. Lightning flashes, lights this world, World of sadness, world of sorrow. Surrounded by endless storms, Drowning in frozen rivers. Foggy dusks and starless nights, Ocean of sighs, valley of cries. Weak and timid Dawn awakes, Bursts in rose and golden glory. Blinding light, too strong at first, But her warmth is unrelenting. Gentle breezes wrap around, Carrying sweet scents of morning. Fields of daisies, hills of green, Bubbling, singing streams. Sunlight chases rain away, Colors dancing up above. Red for all the love you know, Orange for joys ahead. Yellow for your happiness, Green for hope and harmony. Blue for faith and truth and trust, Violet for all your strength. Familiar hands upon your shoulder, Giggles calling you to play. The storm has struck, never forget, The wounds still have to heal. But day will come, peace will stay, And you are never alone.
Nicholas By Anonymous If I knew of the heartbreak you would bring, I would still have loved you. I was but a mere child when you were born. But even I knew that something was amiss. A baby born without the usual whines and screams. My brother, your fate was decided before you left the womb. For some reason God decided to curse you, an innocent baby. I failed to grasp the concept of disease at the time, but I understood its magnitude by the low voices my parents used when speaking of your condition. My darling brother. I love you. I miss you. I shall always miss you. But I will not see you again in this life. Your joy, the happiness you have brought me are now playing in heaven. I only hope that one day I can reunite with you there. To see you again. The grief your death has caused us all... it's not your fault, it is the disease's. We all love you my dear brother. My late brother. How can you be gone? Although years have passed, it seems like only yesterday you were in my arms. I remember the funeral. The recollection still brings burning tears. Evidence of the fierce love you instilled in us
The Storm by Aphrodite Dedicated to Hippolyta, and the family of anyone who has passed away Pain, like a storm, builds and builds It reaches its zenith, pitch black As it spirals down, it tears through your soul But in friends I find comfort In friends I find courage In friends I find support In friends I find hope And they help to fill the gaping hole pain leaves in your heart.
Comfort by Athena Dedicated to Hippolyta Warm hugs. Kind smiles. A good joke. Loud laughter. Rev purring. Beautiful music. Happy endings. The never-ending love of my friends and family. These things bring me comfort in my times of need, and I hope they can bring you comfort too.
all during your brief stay upon this earth. Oh I miss you. My love for you brother is innumerable and pure. I still protect the shirt mom and dad got me at the funeral. The one that bears the simple inscription "angels watching over me." You watching over me, younger brother guarding his elder, to go against the norm. The angels are mere babies, as you were upon your death. The flutes they play call to me. The shirt is white. Purity. Your soul. All as one. I enshrined the shirt. It is talismanic. To me it is your earthly representation. I love it. For it is all I can hold of you. My brother. Oh I miss you. But soon, I must return to the land of the living. Overcome my grief and return to daily life. Tasks to get done and time never stops. But I will keep you in my heart. Despite our abbreviated friendship, you have deeply shaped me. I know love in myself. For you. I love you. For now, farewell. But remember: I always carry you with me. For you protect me in your absence many fold more than I was able to do for you in life. This is to Nicholas and Cormac and Mr. Whyte and everyone who died before their time. You are and forever will be missed on this earth. May you all rest in peace.