Pens & Pencils 2015

Special 2015 pullout section

A message from the publisher When I was 8 years old, my family went on a summer vacation to a small town about an hour north of New York City called Central Valley.

One night we went downtown for ice cream at the drugstore and were surprised to find the streets empty. When we walked to the firehouse, we saw the dispatcher sitting outside on a chair that was leaning against the building.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Over at the Joneses,” he replied, indicating a house with a tilt of his head. “They just got one of them new television sets. Whole town’s watching Milton Berle.”

The idea of an empty town sparked my imagination, so I wrote an article about it and submitted it to the community newspaper.

How thrilled I was when the story appeared on the front page!

Imagine, then, how thrilled I am years later to be able to make it possible for other students to be published. I hope you enjoy seeing your words (and art) in print as much as I did. And still do.

By Lydia Hsieh-Beatty Minnesauke elementary school Grade 6

Glynn Mercep

— LEAH S. DUNAIEF

and

Lawyers

Purcell,

LLP

A. Craig Purcell ~ Anthony W. Mercep ~ Timothy B. Glynn Martin F. Simon ~ Scott MacLagan, of Counsel North Country Road, Post Office Box 712, Stony Brook, New York 11790 • 631.751.5757

©133737

“Congratulations On Your Creativity”

By Anthony Muscarella Ward Melville High School grade 12

The Truth of Love

By Varsha Talanki R.C. Murphy Jr. High School grade 8

Each eerie night, she waited for her love, The nights felt longer as days went onward, Had it been her, which he had got rid of?

What had she done, was what she had wondered He no longer acknowledged her presence, Their dialogue was a dual of words, Bitterness had demolished love’s essence, She was trapped in a cage like a lone bird, She thought that their tough times were in the past, He said that their days would last forever, Little did she know, they would be a last, His presence gave her safety, however Through the dreadful days, her feelings did tame, And then she realized, love is just a game.

By Amanda Spaccarelli Ward Melville High School grade 12

Is it Worth it?

By Catherine Jiang R.C. Murphy Jr. High School grade 8

Is it the sweet thing in my day?

There is nothing so good, I wish it were forever.

Although, is it worth the time or does it stand in the way?

To put my body at risk, whatsoever.

So delicious, such happiness it delivers.

My waist will widen, my health will regress.

The thrill, the options, it gives me the jitters!

I hope I can still fit my dress.

Whatever I crave or my frame of mind You are everywhere.

Look at those calories, I am blind.

But I do not care, there will be no affair.

I’ll make sure we see each other every now and then.

But I will not be here over and over again.

By Olivia Passanante Ward Melville High School grade 12

You

By Allison Cutting Minnesauke elementary school

By Lexi Sullivan R.C. Murphy Jr. High School grade 8

You are the love I set my eyes upon, The star of which upon my eyes will shine, The dream my mind rests upon at light of dawn­My heart’s desire of which my soul does pine.

You have emblazoned my fire within, Added a twinkle to my dulled eye, My dreams more magical than they’ve been­ With you my heart does fly so very high.

Though I am unseen it is me you saw­ Through the mirrored walls I hide behind, Your kind gentle heart did leave me in awe, And your bright beauty did have me so blind.

For though you may have loved me greatly, You’ve come to love her much more lately.

A Conversation Overheard

By Carolyn Mandracchia Ward Melville High School grade 12

She said “it’s like being on a date with a new guy who just won’t tell you what he wants” and I’m stuck here wondering why on earth we’re expected to know everything when I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve fallen off my bike and I haven’t seen the world from anywhere higher than my bedroom window

Glynn Mercep

and

Lawyers

and I haven’t had the chance to find out if your hands are cold and if they shake when you’re nervous like mine do.

“Seriously hurry up” she says as I’m stuck wondering how many days I will spend wishing I knew why one leaf fell from a tree before the next why every book is about a girl who hates herself and a boy who finds her beautiful anyway, like it’s an act of charity and why I’ll spend most of my life wanting to be somewhere else even though it’s called home for a reason.

“I’m sorry I’m just taking my time” he replied and I’m stuck pondering why we have to apologize for that.

Purcell,

LLP

A. Craig Purcell ~ Anthony W. Mercep ~ Timothy B. Glynn Martin F. Simon ~ Scott MacLagan, of Counsel North Country Road, Post Office Box 712, Stony Brook, New York 11790 • 631.751.5757

©133737

“Congratulations On Your Creativity”

Stars in the Sky, Thoughts in My Head

By Olivia Komosinski Ward Melville High School grade 10

Writing as a student has become a mechanical process Our minds, Which yearn for freedom, Are encased in an infinitesimal box The box of invisible restriction Created by some anonymous sitting at a desk Trying to control the way we think

By Shannon Berry R.C. Murphy Jr. High School

Freedom

By Aiden Rogers Nassakeag Elementary School grade 5

Freedom is an open plain, You can run Around with no one to stop you Freedom is a great book.

Anything can happen, the possibilities are endless Freedom is beautiful music, It’s syle that changes with never-ending beauty Freedom is a thoughtfun mind, it runs wild, it can think of anything it wants.

By Amy Chen Minnesauke elementary school Grade 3

Despite the monotony within this box My mind is liberated Because I think interpreting the enigmas of my thoughts Is nothing short of beautiful I see myself as an astronomer Exploring the never­ending cosmos of my mind Simply trying to make sense of the unknown for the world to see Sometimes, I look up at the night sky and see nothing Nothing But assorted specks of twinkling crystals up above But other times, In the perfect collision of fate and genius, There are shapes The dagger in the belt of mighty Orion Or ladles scooping oblivion into galaxy And in one ideal moment, This jumble of mess in my head Makes sense In this moment, Ink blots on parchment become a symphony, Moving pictures tell a story and become a film Scattered stars, become a constellation And these intangible ideas Floating about in my head become writing

Somewhere Far and Far and Far Away

By Shahzadi IIsa R.C. Murphy Jr. High School grade 9

Oh, the joy he felt to be this way; Somewhere far and far and far away; Where none could ever capture him; Where in the endless rivers he would dare to swim A place full of mythical, magical days; Where he would spend them in a hazy daze Running up mountains that reached the sky; Touching the fluffy clouds way up high Oh, the joy he felt to be this way; Somewhere far and far and far away A place full of glittering butterflies; Hope and freedom that came with each sunrise Through green grass valleys that always led somewhere Where the smells of pure nature filled the air Oh, the joy he felt to be this way; Somewhere far and far and far away This place he escaped to every day In his mind forever did he stay For he was always to be trapped inside this cage; Full of endless sadness and hopeless rage Just so they could find joy in his presence; And drown his once ever-joyous essence Oh, the joy he felt to be this way; Somewhere far and far and far away Where none could ever capture him; Where in the endless rivers he would dare to swim

By Emily Lopez R.C. Murphy Jr. High School

The Lacrosse Game

By Wes Silverman W.S. Mount Elementary School grade 5

The lacrosse stick dances in my head The lacrosse ball flies as the stick catches it The turf giggles when the camera stares The lights pretend to be the sun The scoreboard counts when the net says ow!

By Ryan Gannon W.S. Mount Elementary School Kindergarten

Glynn Mercep

and

Lawyers

Purcell,

LLP

A. Craig Purcell ~ Anthony W. Mercep ~ Timothy B. Glynn Martin F. Simon ~ Scott MacLagan, of Counsel North Country Road, Post Office Box 712, Stony Brook, New York 11790 • 631.751.5757

©133737

“Congratulations On Your Creativity”

Inertia

By Thomas Wang Ward Melville High School grade 12

If there were a need for honesty perhaps we could spare the pain in our inaction, the steadfast wick of our desires lost to the steady flicker of time, before our bones relent to regret.

We breathe in yet the words fester.

The seed of what we desire is wistful, silent, blooming to a torrent whose waves never refuse to comply to erase the bleeding folly of the heart, receding before the threshold.

I ask of you only to speak your mind.

Life is too fickle to be constantly climbing.

Years from now we endure hope that memories will preside in the dreary, dusty, fondly forgotten throes of youth.

Learning to Spill

By Eleni Aneziris Ward Melville High School grade 11

In my body, the blood is warm in the veins and in the belly.

In my house, the pipes are cold. The walls shiver to the bite of nearly spring air.

I ask my mother to make me pear soup.

She says, “That’s for sore throats, not abdominal pain.”

Instead, she offers boiled ginger, and forgets my mouth was never raised to accept such spices.

But the ache persists: visceral, pulsating, and the blood is still warm in the veins and in the belly.

Walls collapse, strangling the air out of opportunity, shedding scarlet patchwork pieces: a labor of affection for humanity’s cyclical renaissance.

It cries out. I cry out.

“Hush, it’s natural. It’s every woman’s duty.

It’s six thirty, the sun’s up now, go to school.”

Endurance prevails.

By Alexandra Garrison R.C. Murphy Jr. High School

Spring

By Sachin Patnaik Nassakeag Elementary School grade 4

Flowers start blooming smell the amazing smell

Her Beauty is a Misery

By Harris Semertzidis R.C. Murphy Jr. High School

Why must I be the one you choose to blame?

I keep my promise as you told me to.

You always want the greed and all the fame, And I must be the one to help you through?

Fire Island

By Rebecca Ryan Nassakeag Elementary School grade 4

The lighthouse, shining through the dark night,

Colors all over the place that bright up the sky Outside we finally go after this long winter months Watch all the butterflies and bumble bees come out and land on the flowers Ahh choo! Allergies are coming beware Spring such a beautiful thing

I cherish you as if you are my queen; Yet like a slave you won’t give me a dime, And while your beauty is like none I’ve seen, I can’t help but think that I’ve wasted time.

Just think about the chances I have gained.

They lay to waste while I work day and night.

Do you know how it feels to be constrained?

Your sins, my grace, will not be taken light.

I told you that I’d be here ‘til the end, But I think that my love has just been spent.

the boats will follow you.

The yacht flags are waving, Each one of a kind, waving on the boats Going up spiral stairs, to get to the top, gaze upon the view.

You can hear the waves, crashing down on the beach.

jUmBlEd Thoughts of a Junior High School Student

Something in Motion

By Leah Cussen R.C. Murphy Jr. High School Grade 8

wait wait wait I want to be an adult Stop treating me like a child My head aches Too much homework I will finish it tomorrow sleep sleep sleep Overslept Missed the bus I’ll just wear sweatpants Missing so much work Can I drop out of school? drama drama drama No one likes me I have no friends

Why are they so mean?

Don’t talk to them I hate everyone rush rush rush Don’t talk about high school Let me get through this week When is the essay due?

I just hope I pass stop stop stop Take me back to yesterday I’m wasting so much time Sorry, I have work to do “Yes, school was good today.”

I have no life School is my life

Her husband’s back from the dead And he’s been up for a month or so.

The novelty’s worn off And the affection’s rotted away As she watches him Shivering on the couch, Speaking out loud to himself, this time: “A real man kicks down the door for his wife And falls back into his burning house As it crumbles to dust on top of him” She used to love hearing his voice And talking to him sometimes for weeks Without pause, and he used to listen, But now she can’t get far away enough from his rambling She can’t get far away, period, He’s a ghost and he’s bound to her Like his home and when she hears his voice Seeping through her office door or Her car window or Aisle three of Best Buy She wonders if he’s even aware that he’s following her Because he’s not talking to her when he says, “A real man doesn’t live forever, Doesn’t live to finish things A real man sets something in motion and dies While it’s still picking up speed.”

My mom is the Best Mom in the World

By Sarah Xavier W.S. Mount Elementary School

The first reason my mom is the best mom in the world is because she helps me clean my room. Then she makes me happy.

I love her so much. We have dinner together.

She makes me macaroni.

Finally, I love my mom because she does hard work. She is my best mommy ever!

By Sean Cassidy Ward Melville High School grade 11

By Vianna Hamidi W.S. MOUNT Elementary School

Glynn Mercep

and

Lawyers

She’s living in a new apartment now, And he’s taken to sitting outside her door.

His voice comes through in muffled shouts, Clearest when she’s trying to sleep Like some animal scratching, Sort of obnoxious and more than a little sad But he has hands, and sometimes she wishes He’d let himself in.

Purcell,

LLP

A. Craig Purcell ~ Anthony W. Mercep ~ Timothy B. Glynn Martin F. Simon ~ Scott MacLagan, of Counsel North Country Road, Post Office Box 712, Stony Brook, New York 11790 • 631.751.5757

©133737

“Congratulations On Your Creativity”

Pay Attention

By Elizabeth Zhao Ward Melville High School grade 11

Hair flies like paper streamers “Don’t worry Dory, Grandma’s got you.”

Sweet Vidalie Onions Boxes of eggs, Who are screaming to get out, Are loaded on the dolly To travel in A maze with no dead ends.

Dappled light shines on transparent apples, While invisible blades Whir In their cages, Next to a stand Where overpriced glassware Call for your attention.

Cool, sweet, sheets of fudge.

“How much?”

“Four clusters.”

Limu Moui in the corner.

A baby cries out A siren call.

Words stained beige with calm.

Salt seeds on my pretzel.

The street magician Pulling handkerchiefs out of shirtsleeves.

And old green coke bottles watch Lined up like little toy soldiers.

Red-Light Sonata

By Maddy Avni R.C. Murphy Jr. High School Grade 8

headphones on drugged by the music that’s way too loud eyes closed to forget how it feels when he lectures you over and over like the lines in the road blocking out your favorite songs that sound wrong in his car drowning music with music the honey-sweet guitar and the drum that syncs with the bumps in the road and you decide you like this better than his grating voice when your eyes jolt open dropped from your electronic fantasy you’re in the real world now and once your head stops spinning you can tell you’re near the pizza place in the dingy strip-mall that never has too many cars but was the sign always that red? was the night this black before? the contrast sends your mind spinning into thought and the neon gives you a headache but it reminds you of the song from that musical that you always end up singing with your very

best friends and as you feel your eyes unfocusing you know you’re gonna get another lecture for the expression your face makes when you zone out apparently you look angry in fact, you couldn’t be happier to remember they care before the music fades back in red light switching to green and the bumps in the road shake your now-melting heart

Didn’t see your submission?

If your submission did not appear in Pens and Pencils, look for it in the Kids’ Times corner in an upcoming edition of the Arts and Lifestyles section of The Village Times Herald.

By Abby Lilly R.C. Murphy Jr. High School

Glynn Mercep

and

Lawyers

Purcell,

LLP

A. Craig Purcell ~ Anthony W. Mercep ~ Timothy B. Glynn Martin F. Simon ~ Scott MacLagan, of Counsel North Country Road, Post Office Box 712, Stony Brook, New York 11790 • 631.751.5757

©133737

“Congratulations On Your Creativity”