Student poetry, photography, art

Creative Works

Creative Works provides a place for students to showcase their work. We accept all types of artwork, potography, poetry and flash fiction. For full submission guidelines, visit archesnews.com.

Design | Rob Steger

Malignant Monday

I used to love when me as I cursed God’s cruel spring was the season; plan. The sun the stained snow would dissolve into the dirt that afternoon was gold- and we’d stomp in slush. no chance of rain And then you went in in the milky clouds. That to the doctors to see why goddamn Monday your head hurt will forever be etched into so much. They found that I hate days with perfect fatal lump in the mold weather and pray of your whimsical mind. my brain.

You were not done that the flowers flood in living, you said. You were spring showers to the one to hold prove how much I am drowning without you.

Kristen Tetzlaff is a junior majoring in art therapy and creative writing. She hopes to accompany those on the journey of discovering the wonder of poetry. She also hopes to bring healing through art and writing.

Kristen Tetzlaff

Naideliz Gonzalez Naideliz Gonzalez is a junior, majoring in marketing. She has been doing photography for about three years now. While her anxiety may be high whenever she takes photos of others, she loves creating the end result. Gonzalez loves being able to help preserve a moment in time to look back at the photos in 10 years.

Adia Kolell

As a senior studying fashion design and philosophy, Adia Kolell loves creating from lively inspiration that brings happiness to others as well as herself. She’s aiming to land a corporate job after she graduates to learn more about the fashion industry in hopes of having her own business one day.

Kaylee Hayley

Reeder Knowles Senior fashion majors Kaylee Reeder and Hayley Knowles put together a “Birthday Party” themed photoshoot that they directed and styled. All clothing was thrifted.

Kristen Hardwick

Kristin Hardwick is a senior majoring in fashion design and plans to pursue her endeavors within the fashion industry by starting her own brand, while also continuing to learn and network with others in the industry. Growing up, she has always had the mindset to keep creating and building new things to improve her creative design and artistry skills. She plans to apply those skills and assets in different ways throughout her career.

A Poem for Allahna

You are the bully, I am the victim in this situation. Around the world, across the nation: interracial discrimination. Like an animal in this cage I’m in, on display for your fascination. Ignoring that you are also here as a result of migration.

Then you ask me my race and keep trying, to guess if I somehow am lying, when I say that I’m Black, Pacific Islander and Caucasian. And that those are only a few I can list on occasion.

I am a human not a mutt. Why must you feel the need to keep me locked up? Yes! My parents love me very much, he hasn’t left, and she isn’t stuck. I was a choice, not a sprout of bad luck; I’ve had enough, this needs to stop! If you wish I didn’t exist so much then treat me as the backdrop, I’d rather be ignored than be criticized nonstop.

I see it, the way you look surprised, when my sister says her dad is black because she looks so white. I see it, like I wish you could through my eyes. How it hurts to be out with my sister, and treated worse just because the color of my skin is not right.

Skin color is a spectrum, it ranges from the darkest darks, to the lightest lights. Why does the amount of sun my ancestors got decide if you have to hold your bag tight.

Sometimes I wish for the ability of invisibility, because to avoid discrimination it takes more than just luck and agility. It takes humanity to have humility; are you even aware of the concept of mortality? It’s death..... in the end we all die, so why feel the need to be above me while alive. Shouldn’t we focus more on trying to survive?

I’d like to live. To actually live, because right now I’m “just alive,” since living takes more than I can give. It takes my confidence, my comfort, my trust in my family. It takes away my ability to stand up for myself, my freedom to be out in public; and it hurts when you treat my sister nicely, but treat me poorly.

Here is my message, the truth is out, it’s my confession. Define oppression, a result of the endless cruelty and suppression, of society that seeks to teach us all a lesson: live by my standards or expect aggression.

Mileisis Romero Morban

Mileisis Romero Morban was born in the Dominican Republic, but has grown up in the U.S. in Milwaukee and Florida. She attended and graduated from Milwaukee High School of the Arts with a focus on Visual Art. She is a freshman fashion design major.