QUILL
&
TALON
VOL III SPRING 2019
QUILL
&
TALON VOLUME III Literary Arts Magazine South El Monte High School South El Monte, CA Spring 2019
ABOUT THE TITLE Invoking the image of gentle quill making subtle points and talons lifting the unsuspecting out of their peaceful reality, this title
Mr. Richard Heilemann
makes use of the school seen in pub names and mascot Eagle while the like. hinting at the age-olde 2017 (and olde-timey) naming tradition of two objects set together, still
COLOPHON
Quill & Talon 2019 Images of student art was printed by the staff work were contributed by at South El Monte High SEMHS art teacher Ms. School. A run of 200 Maria Davila. copies was printed. The magazine is also accessible online. The magazine was designed in Adobe InDesign CC 2019. Titles are in Khmer MN, light and regular, and body copy is in Minion Pro, regular, italic, and bold.
POLICY
Quill & Talon is published by students at South El Monte High School. Any student who is interested may join the magazine staff. We begin meeting in January each year. Poetry, prose, and artwork are submitted by members of the student body, often on the recommendation of teachers. The magazine
STAFF
publishes the majority of submissions. Submissions may be denied publication if they are deemed inappopriate for a high school audience. Submissions may also be denied publication based on space. If an artist submits two pieces, the staff may select the one they feel fits better with the content of the magazine.
Yessenia Maldonado ‘21 Kelly Diep ‘21 Ms. Natasha Lelchuk, Advisor
Quill & Talon is a poetic and artistic voice of South El Monte High School students. The ideas presented within do not represent those of the South El Monte High School faculty.
CONTENTS 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Truth By Alex Colis Vasquez Personal War by Cesar Argueta Unexpected Kindness by Josue Ramirez Solvang by Maritza Torrez Sunset Sky by Joseph Madrigal Climbing the Sky by Kimberly Martinez Time Isn’t Promised by Santino Munoz
Shallow Nights by Jennifer Ramos Expectation by Rosario Mariano Saying Goodbye by Michelle Lopez Absence by Eliayza Ramirez Deception by Brenda Orellana Confused by Cythnia Palomeque Guardian Angel by Santino Munoz Fun by Daisy Ramirez Adrenaline by Maritza Torrez Twilight Zone by Cesar Juarez A Conversation... by Rafael Vasquez I Feel... by Alberto Herrera Cover Girl by Erika Diaz Adventure Time by Maritza Torrez Opening a... by Kimberly Martinez If Disney... by Deserie Ruiz Relaxing by Daisy Ramirez Jurassic Porch by Yessenia Maldonado
CONTENTS 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57
Red Door... by Rafael Vasquez Who Really... by Alexandra Pablo Save the Turtles by Jennifer Gonzalez Hydro Angos by Lizette Munoz Effort by Anonymous Eating... by Alberto Herrera Untitled by Frankie Hernandez Fortress by Kelly Diep A Flutter by Alexandra Pablo Superhero by Cesar Argueta Aquaman by Maritza Torrez I Love You, Goodbye by David Aguilar Natural by Joshua Ariza Within You by Eliayza Ramirez Carnation by Katherine Bang Portrait by Marina Limon Birthgiver by Kelly Diep Strong Feelings by Kimberly Velasco Just Neon by Estefany Perez Crazy Plant Lady by Kelly Diep A Letter to... by Michelle Lopez What Does Love... by Yosselyn Barrera Heartbeat by Edith Benito Exposed by Salma Parra To Whomever This May Concern
Truth ByAlex Colis-Vasquez 8 | QUILL & TALON
Personal War By Cesar Argueta
A personal war is the biggest war a person goes through It’s constant what “if ’s” it’s never a “forsure” Who is the enemy in this war you may ask ? Well...it’s you. You are your biggest enemy in life The way you think affects the way you you act No excuses, No exceptions. It’s all on you Want to speak up ? Oh, but you can’t because it feels like a sea of bob wire is in your throat. Nobody is stopping you from saying what you want to say besides you. Congrats ! You said what you needed to say, but now you’re drowning in emotions You’re drowning not because of what others think but because of what you think. You’re flooding with mixed emotions. Sad because they shot down what you said ? or are you angry because they shot down what you said ? That’s up to you, take whatever was said to you and value it. Not because what the person said is their “truth” but because you want to improve as a person. You learn..come back...and then conquer.
2019 | 9
Unexpected Kindness By Josue Ramirez People can be rude at times maybe because they are having a tough time. Little by little, time by time they will be nice to you. You just got to be patient if you want to see the real person inside of him or her and how that person really acts. You’ll see, that person would act differently, once you wait.
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Solvang
By Maritza Torrez 2019 | 11
Sunset Sky By Joseph Madrigal 12 | QUILL & TALON
Climbing the Sky By Kimberly Martinez Climbing the sky, Wow,‌. Seems unbelievable, To do so, But that is the meaning, Of life, When you do good, You’ll be climbing, Up high, To the sky, Or you could go, The other way, And go to hell.
2019 | 13
Time Isn’t Promised By Santino Munoz Time is not promised I cannot stress this enough Death is around the corner No telling when your time is up Life might be good But time always catches up to you Death is always watching When it’s time he’ll take you No one will help you escape death It is your fate What happens happens It cannot and will not be changed There is no escape from time
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Shallow Nights By Jennifer Ramos
2019 | 15
Expectations By Rosario Mariano
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Saying Goodbye By Michelle Lopez Saying goodbye is always hard No one ever wants to say goodbye Sometimes it’s for the best They can sometimes become distant They can sometimes come back A part of saying goodbye is learning how to let go That’s a part of life Just say goodbye Don’t look back Just walk straight Don’t Hesitate Say Goodbye
2019 | 17
Absence By Eliayza Ramirez You were gone before my earliest memory, from my beginning. Your presence never made up for it and in all honesty, it never will. Thank you for the reminder that a strong woman like my mother can raise a child alone. You have no words to hear from me. You never cared for it either way. We made it this far and we will continue to, without you.
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Deception
By Brenda Orellana
2019 | 19
Confused
By Cythnia Palomeque
20 | QUILL & TALON
Guardian Angel By Santino Munoz Sweet sweet lady from the sky You watch over me You make sure im doing right You are my guardian angel You visit me in my sleep You tell me you miss me You tell me to stay strong You look down on me It’s been awhile since the last visit What holds you back When will you return Sweet sweet lady from the sky
2019 | 21
Fun By Daisy Ramirez Fun, Something exciting, Thrilling, Something you’ll enjoy, Or perhaps, Turn into a memory, A good one, That you will cherish, The fun things, That will bring you excitement, Having fun, Is the key, To make your life better
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Adrenaline By Maritza Torrez 2019 | 23
Twilight Zone By Cesar Juarez
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A Coversation with Al about Robots By Rafael Vasquez
Kilroy would be fine, no? Domo arigato, but he was no roboto. He was human. Then what about, the T-1000? No, too deadly...too apocalyptic-y… Then which one? Which one will satisfy? Perhaps Robocop, Mecha-Godzilla, or even a dalek? No no no. Then what makes a robot for you? Would something automatic, something non-sentient work for you? Yeah I suppose. Asimov’s 3 laws is nice. It gives me comfort I suppose. I guess I understand. No C-3PO’s or R2D2’s for the time being then? Nah, too cheesy. Too sci fi. I think I like your viewpoint. Me too. Beep boops is all I need from my robots.
2019 | 25
I Feel... By Alberto Herrera I feel focus like im in a trans and can’t be distracted from me upon hearing myself,
A task nor the thing i might be doing leaves me feeling sad nor mad to when it has been done,
I feel like if i’m there in the moment and nothing comes across me and myself,
To me and I can’t feel sad nor mad cause i’m over it and now I feel free.
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Cover Girl By Erika Diaz 2019 | 27
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Opening a New Door By Kimberly Martinez I feel focus like im in a trans and can’t be distracted from me upon hearing myself, I feel like if i’m there in the moment and nothing comes across me and myself, A task nor the thing i might be doing leaves me feeling sad nor mad to when it has been done, To me and I can’t feel sad nor mad cause i’m over it and now I feel free.
Adventure Time By Maritza Torrez
2019 | 29
If Disney Was A School By Deserie Ruiz If Disney were a school, it would go like this: I go to my first period class, which is ENGLISH. ENGLISH is taught by Belle. Belle is my favorite teacher. She teaches us about all kinds of books, and she’s really nice. The bell rang and we went to second period. HISTORY with Milo Thatch. Mr. Thatch was a pretty cool guy. Right now, he was teaching us the history of Atlantis. I talk to my other friends. “Hey Jose, how’s GEOGRAPHY with Mr. Fredrickson, and CHEMISTRY with Basil?” i ask. “You know, same old thing.” he said. “Got a lot of homework.” “CHEMISTRY is hard!” cried Samantha. “At least nothing exploded this time.” “you ready for MATH class?” i ask her. “I don’t know, the teacher is creepy.” she said. “Of course he’s creepy. He’s a skeleton, what did you expect?” i told her. “Hey Jose, how’s your seventh period class?” i ask him. “I’m going fine in ARCHERY.” he told me. “Mr. hood is a great teacher.” The bell rang, and it was lunch time. I go to the cafeteria, get my lunch, pay for it; the lunch ladies, Flora, fauna, and merryweather are really nice, and i sit with my friends. Mulan was teaching me how to use chopsticks. “Just hold them together and pinch.” she told me. Rapunzel and Quasimodo were there too. Quasi brought his own lunch. Later, i had P.E. with Phil and that was it. When i was in the Office calling my mom because my phone died, i sew that the nurse’s office was filled with boys. The school hired a new nurse named Jessica Rabbit. And she was what the boys say “hot” if you know what i’m saying. She took a needle out and a second later, all the boys were out of there. I heard her say, “Works every time.” It’s not easy being pretty. While i was waiting for my mom to pick me up, Quasi spoke to me. “I really ought to thank you, Des. For befriending me on my first day. That was nice of you.” “My pleasure.” i told him. “I find it quite amazing, you being friends with everyone.” he said. “The popular. The goths. The geeks. The sporty. The fashionable. The adventurers.” “Well, it’s kind of easy when you’re a bit of everything, mostly an adventure and geek.” i said. “And now your friends with them all too.” That’s how it would be if Disney was a school. If Disney were a school, I would totally go there.
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Relaxing By Daisy Ramirez Trees, Always in the breeze, With flying leaves, Calming as can be, Relaxing, With its dark shade, On a sunny day, The tiredness, Will go away
2019 | 31
Jurassic Porch By Yessenia Maldonado 32 | QUILL & TALON
Red Door with a Lemon Tree By Rafael Vasquez It’s big and red. With intricate detail of a language long lost to man. But it’s beauty...it’s beauty can’t be denied. For although we don’t understand, we can appreciate and love. Deep engravings and designs traverse this antiquity. If time was a lady, this door was her first creation. The wear of many past sorcerers, wizards, heroes, and travelers are seen in the old bronze knob. There’s an aura coming from the door. The aura is powerful...it’s ancient. The aura is neither light nor dark. For the door is merely that; a door. A passageway that allows you to decide, not one who decides for you. And oddly enough, there’s a lemon tree. Next to the door stands this oddity. Why is it there? How is it there? Who planted it? Did the door do it? We know not. This magical mystical door stands great and tall. With a little lemon tree as it’s sole companion.
2019 | 33
Who Really is to Blame? By Alexandra Pablo One love, that didn’t last We would flirt and laugh Letting our world spin around fast Although it was my fault on my behalf Could of been forever Dancing late at night It wasn’t meant to be, however, I fought with all my might That is until you got with her My might left with you Our moments together became a blur Now i spend my days blue Wondering why you left Having been victim of theft
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Save the Turtles By Jennifer Gonzalez
2019 | 35
Hydro Angos By Lizette Munoz
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Effort By Anonymous You know that I like you, but why don’t you do something? All your friends tell you, but you still don’t do anything. I bluntly say that I like you but you still don’t get the hint. Why don’t you do anything? We are friends but do you think it will jeopardize our friendship? I certainly don’t, if we both make an effort. If we are in a relationship, all we will have is the title. Nothing would change except our memories together. So why don’t you show effort?
2019 | 37
Eating... By Alberto Herrera Eating is amazing, to eat is like living, to eat is just, just amazing, when I eat it is a pleasure, I stuff my face with food very often, to eat is an activity, those who run without it, are crazy, Having the will of, not eating disgusts me, not eating disgusts me to the point of eating , And marrying my food would be an honor, and would never, never stop eating, What pleasures me the most, is eating it’s just eating, this a message to those who don’t eat.
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Untitled
By Frankie Hernandez
2019 | 39
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Fortress
By Kelly Diep
A Flutter By Alexandra Pablo It starts as butterflies At the pit of your stomach Tiny flutters That excites you Going on rides Talking in front of crowds Overcoming a fear Or meeting your hero It’s when you first see her Coming down the aisle. The look he has when He holds his newborn It could be anything That triggers all these emotions Which can pass all at once And that’s the benefit of being human Being able to comprehend What emotions are And being able to act on instinct Creating life lasting memories
2019 | 41
Superhero By Cesar Argueta Small and mighty But extremely feisty Yet this hero is humble and caring And sometimes a bit overbearing This hero has suffered in silence It’s why they’re so strong to this day Still fighting and never giving up Only thing on this person’s mind is a dub My role model My idol They earned that superhero title And i’m right where I belong So in other words, thank you mom.
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Aquaman By Maritza Torrez 2019 | 43
I Love You, Goodbye By David Aguliar Day by day, time flies I am here, tears in my eyes It truly be a mistake That she is the one I’d take Looks at the guy in such a way That makes me want to run away Yet, I am here to stay Because I keep hoping she’ll say I love you Day by day, almost time to leave All my love she gets to receive Yet, she takes for granted Realized I never be the wanted Barbwire wrapping around my heart To the point where everything’s apart She never be doing her part Leaving me as if I’m a shopping cart But still, I love you Day by day, deeper I be drowning The way I be treated keeps me crying Witness with another I am dying Happiness like it’s nothing To her, he’s anything Lucky be, having her everything Sometimes I am imagining What it’d be like her heart conquering
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It sucks...because I love you Why does it hurt so much? Hold my tears with a clutch My heart, no other girl gets to touch Leaving you, I’m afraid Soon from you, my name will fade Look what I made… Written poem for you I had to Everyone would see soon No more time for me looking like a fool Last time I will say the three words for you I love you… Soon, you’ll regret All the fame and love I’ll get If I am known by many, I’ll pick a few The thing is, none of them will be you… I love you Goodbye
Natural By Joshua Ariza
2019 | 45
Within You By Eliayza Ramirez Genuine souls do exist. You’ll meet many of those strangers. Yes, the cruel do also live but it can be overpowered. I’ve met a soul that’s quite life changing, She knows how to give and how to comfort others. Although she’s one that loves hard and gives many gestures of love, she knows her place and when lines should not be crossed. She’s wisdom. She’s growth. She’s the physical form of strength and always along her path, she helps those she encounters with genuine support.
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Carnation
By Katherine Bang 2019 | 47
Portrait By Marina Limon 48 | QUILL & TALON
Birthgiver By Kelly Diep For all those times you didn’t want to pick me from school Why not? For all those times you let me sleep in your bed Thank you! For all those times you make me try your new food recipes Yum? For all those times I yell at you for asking a simple question I’m sorry and I love you You’re the greatest mother I ever had I love how amazing you are at making me laugh And the way you help me with school and life, in general I just want to say I love you!
2019 | 49
Strong Feelings By Kimberly Velasco Having strong feelings for anyone or anything can be damaging. Feelings take over and don’t really let your mind have a say in it. When feelings are in control you do everything wrong because you don’t things through. It’s good to have strong feelings when it’s something you’re passionate about. I have strong feelings when it comes to something that i think can make a difference. It can sometimes be bad to have strong feelings for a person if you know they don’t feel the same way.
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Just Neon By Estefany Perez 2019 | 51
Crazy Plant Lady By Kelly Diep 52 | QUILL & TALON
A Letter to my Mother By Michelle Lopez This is a letter to my mother I am so thankful for you You do everything for our family You are the best mom anyone could possibly ask for You are smart, funny, kind You always cook amazing food My brother and I love you I have a lot of memories with you and we keep making more everyday Thank you for always supporting me Thank you for always protecting me Thank you for not giving up on me You are really one of a kind
2019 | 53
What Does Love Feel Like? By Yosselyn Barrera The thing about feelings Is, feelings change all the times. Yesterday someone may Have been feeling loved and now they Feel empty with someone. I felt really loved. Now every feeling that Happens it is just an empty soul. Then love started growing once again, Everything was so beautiful And special just like a gift. Love is a wonderful Feeling, a great feeling that Anybody can receive from someone. The feeling Love is defines in many ways. Love is loyal Love is beauty Love is nature Love is special Most of all love is a strong feeling.
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Heartbeat By Edith Benito 2019 | 55
Exposed By Salma Parra
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To Whomever This May Concern Dear you, Reading this now Everything will be okay And you will do absolutely amazing You must hang in there And everything will eventually turn out straight Your tears are not wasted But rather a wash For your eyes are no longer dull In pain Cleansed and new To see the world in a different view When you turn out okay Remember me. Love, yours.
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