The Tenth Muse

Science Park High School Literary Magazine 2015-2016 The Tenth Muse Advisor Mr. Townsend

Student Editors

Adriana Dias, Sofia Cabodeira, Jessica Pereira, Katya Lijo, and Erik Lijo

The Tenth Muse is dedicated to the Executive Council: Adriana Dias, Sofia Cabodeira, Jessica Pereira, and Katya Lijo Table of Contents

Title Author Page(s) Emerging Shadows Fernando Zurita 1

My Hijab Saher Khan 2

Curiosity Jaysson Diaz 3

The Types of Love Jhersson Cueva 4

My Best Friend Diana Salinas 5

The Darkness Cesar Chomba 6

Embracing Faith Kevin R. Sedano 7

Cù Sìth Juanita Benton 8

Fear Danyelle Underdue 9

Seasonal Change Renee Johnson 10

The End Alyssa Ferreira 11

Fool’s Gold Akili Bell 12

Dark Sky Paradise Jeremy Pedro 13

Not Planned, But Loved Evonny Portilla 14

Babble Has Broken Toyosi Dickson 15

Visionaries Kaelaan Maynor 16

From Darkness to Light Vety Martinez 17

Climb Mountains Maria Lopez 18

Mini Me Janet Barrera 19

Our Love Tiffany Hayes 20

Entertainment Alexis Smith 21

Fashion Kyyller Mikyyla Williams 22

Maturing Jennifer Dios 23

Prevailing PoC’s Saija Fernandez 24

Awareness Saleh Houshmand 25

Driven in Darkness Jaeline Granda 26

Friends for a Lifetime Sofia Cabodeira 27

Tempest Fahad Fardeen 28

Chaos and the Calm Barbara Batista 29

With Rose Yasmim De Almeida 30

An Unscripted Quest Natasha Cunha 31

Dysphoria Ines Borralho 32

Finding Purpose Joseph Arewa 33

Transitions Ashley Morales 34

The Art of Music Adriana Dias 35

The Key Thomas Loureiro 36

Troubled Times Grace Burga 37

Egg Mathushanth Ravichandren 38

Breaking Chains Katya Lijo 39

Sweet Symphonies Qian Weng 40

Time’s Up Pamela Cardoso 41

A Costumed Land Lindsay James 42

Entrepreneur Ferdinand Loperena 43

Awake Leonid Rempel 44

Live Through the Game Nicole Pimentel 45

Mental Paradise Maya Beckham 46

Perplexed Heart Ivana Freitas 47

Life’s Perpetual Gift Dileyanne Spezio 48

Seize the Day Michael Figueira 49

Driven in Darkness Jaeline Granda 50

Worthless Life Elena Malova 51

Falling Humberto Machado 52

Eternal Beauty Nurys Cedano 53

Nature vs. Nurture Karine Duarte 54

Set Free Quadriyyah Bell 55

My Number One Dayana Fernandez 56

Senior Year Jason Ulloa 57

Free Will Luis Duran 58

The Dying Tree Jessica Vega 59

Helpful Handicap Jennifer Santos 60

So Long Jarad Sneed 61

Chapters Gabrielle Brasil 62

A Lucid Dream Josue Rivera 63

Momma Bear Sara Dos Santos 64

A Beautiful Lie Paige Jurado 65

Blessed….Phenomenally Queenstar Banini 66

Some Fool Bryan Palacios 67

Mirage Enrique Domenech 68

One Day Enrique Vargas 69

Confused Angelee Caraballo 70

That One Key Moment Erik Lijo 71

Darn Nathalia DeSouza 72

Clarity Meiryn Castaneda 73

The Game of Basketball Christopher Velasco 74

These Days Nestor Yupa 75

The Gift Unchosen Cindy Cueva 76

Long Awaited Te’Asia Alston 77

Untold Anguish Arianna Ocasio 78

Granted Love Anye Sharif 79

For Love? Yaa Sarpong 80

The Boy I Once Knew Gisselle Burgos 81

Intelligence Fabio Pires 82

We Lost Aquib Ramkishun 83

My Day Maurice Ware 84

There’s No Crying in Baseball Brendo Campos 85

Libertas Jaysson Diaz 86 – 90

A Recollection: Reclaimed Ines Borralho 91 – 94

The Night Thomas Loureiro 95 – 98

Charlie the Charger by Barbara Batista Controlling Fate By Mr. Townsend

The distant stars that shine above my head Produce in me an all-consuming joy, But I know darkness can proceed to dread, Eclipsing that which it seeks to destroy. For like a mirror that reflects some source, I give back all the feelings I receive, As each reflection shapes and guides my course, Determining the things I can achieve. Yet like a ship that sways upon the sea And struggles to regain a stable state, I see success is shaped to some degree By both my actions and the will of fate. Until I put this knowledge to good use, The heavens abound with ready-made excuse.

Emerging Shadows By Fernando Zurita

The untold story of an evil man, A devastated human in disguise, Beneath his face there lies something to scan, Which looked upon reveals wonders in great surprise. For like a fish who is fooled in a bowl Is a man seeking for an asylum; Humanity where there is no such soul, And there is no such thing as home to come; A voice withering in the thickening cold With a resilience to overcome, To fill the deepening void of the told, And fight the outcome of the wild slums. The day the unperceived become heard Will be the day the absurd is observed.

(Winner of Mr. Townsend’s 12th Grade Sonnet Competition)

My Hijab By Saher Khan

What do you see when your eyes stare at me? Some just glance at me while some simply stare. Do you see me oppressed or see me free? Is it because I do not show my hair? You say that father will become outraged, You say he stole away my precious voice, You say that my hijab has made me caged, You say I am controlled and have no choice. So those guys don’t say I am a cutie, You say I always want to start a fight; They should see me for my inner beauty, And you should be inspired by my sight. See I’ve declined from being a guy’s toy, And won’t be controlled by a silly boy.

(Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s 12th Grade Sonnet Competition)

Curiosity By Jaysson Diaz

One’s delving can compel toward success That is fed by the urge to innovate, To create so as to embody progress, Yet we are fools for what anticipates. Inquiry can be lesser, petty seeds In the full springtide dew and on the climb; To ripen into hefty blossoms and lead The charge through the unending trail of time. What may seem bountiful can be untruth When savage showers surge upon the lot, And cautioned floods seem to destroy the youth Of that mature bud with unbridled thought. We lament discoveries that we make, But beauty still remains in all mistakes.

(Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s 12th Grade Sonnet Competition)

The Types of Love By Jhersson Cueva

There's unconditional like agape And special eros leaves us all in woe; We show great storge in many shades of grey, And platonic with warmth like phileo. Real love can come in only natural ways Just like the deserts long for the cool rain; I long for your company, countless days, To wash away the everlasting pain. What if this is all just a giant test As if God put me and you here on Earth To find each other and not be dispossessed, Thus came a new life form that is love's rebirth. With effort that's nothing short of sublime, You begin and end our beautiful rhyme.

(Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s 12th Grade Sonnet Competition)

My Best Friend By Diana Salinas

You are the one that I do truly love, You do complete my days with your sweet laugh, You are beautiful like a big white dove, Best friends are two, you are my other half. Sometimes I tilt like a fragile flower, But to the rescue you come with water, And make me get a very good shower, You push me out to the sun where it’s hotter. He gave me a pal who is dutiful, Even though it is only a lend, I promise to give you back beautiful, I am blessed to call you my best friend. You and me, another way to say us, You know you are the only one I trust.

(Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s 12th Grade Sonnet Competition)

The Darkness By Cesar Chomba

The animal with no known barrier, The species that’s the lowest of the low, And all its flaws you can easily know, For war and death it is a carrier. Constantly haunting life as a numen, Because of this creature the world is broken; A being whose name should not be spoken, A dreadful animal called a human. And yet in darkness there exists a light, A shining glimmer of hope on the earth; There are those few who put up the good fight, Those people keep the light in shinning bright. They drive out darkness and bring in new birth, The light stays on even in the darkest night.

Embracing Faith By Kevin R. Sedano

The end will come for me, for you, for us, Sweet purgatory reaching nameless ends. Our death to come, a fear we won't discuss, Repentance and our wish to make amends. It speaks, we heard, but we're not listening; We see them pass, but act like it's a lie. We can't! We won't! It is so sickening; But why? Fair not. We'll fight, we will not die. Oh Death, don't take my soul. Don't kill me, please; Spare me, I'm good, I'm great, I'm worthy Sir. I know we won't be missed, we're a disease. We breathe, we lived, we die, that's all we were. The young must grow, the old will die, that’s life; My time is here, I will accept Death’s knife.

Cù Sìth By Juanita Benton

In the moonlight, a divine beast roams free, Grand paws hover with grace over dewed grass. And she, the wolf, performs as night’s banshee, Black fur ashen as nightfall comes to pass. Both the moon and the dark serve as her aid In this eternal jaunt of most dire aim; Three harrowing howls commence her crusade; From the wood she comes to receive her claim. Bards of time old have given her prestige; Norse called her Fenrir and Greeks Cerberus. But though their eyes also speak of intrigue, Among all she is met with virulence. The Celts and Ires know the true name of she: The black wolf of death, her namesake, Cù Sìth.

Fear By Danyelle Underdue

I glared into the distance and I saw A thing that I decided to draw near; Its size was big, I was in total awe, But being brave I went on with no fear. When getting closer, I had stopped and jumped; It got much bigger, it had grown in size; I tried to run away as my heart pumped; It quickly grew, like the fear in my eyes. I then did find that I could not escape, And crying, sweating, panting heavily, I was not in much of a pleasant state, I realized then, fear got the best of me. Now I avoid my other fearful route, And can continue life without a doubt.

Seasonal Change By Renee Johnson

The city is getting colder each day, Trains begin to get harder to go meet; Time to cover up, no more time to play, Days that are sour used to be so sweet. Like children that go to bed way too late, I will try to make the most of my time, The future is here yet I have to wait, And take advantage of what is now mine. When the sun comes out on a summer’s day, We will forget about the winter soon; Joy will return around the end of May, And days filled with sun will take place of gloom. The weather will start to warm up again, Things that are broken can begin to mend.

The End By Alyssa Ferreira

Oh darling, how I wish you could be mine; With you was like my life had just begun, But how do you always appear so fine? I am under your spell, what have you done? My heart is full of pain, too much too bear; As you did leave, my voice broke with emotion; I feel like I am drowning without any air, This love has crashed like waves of a blue ocean. Someday, you will miss me like I miss you, And someday I will learn how to move on, But I will not forget you were not true, And sometimes I thank god that you are gone. My heart did brake as I did write this thought; Oh darling, if only we never fought.

Fool’s Gold By Akili Bell

I shut my eyes and feel my mind go blank, And replay the hollowness in my heart. My empty smile helps hide my heart that sank, Because my heart was wounded by your dart. Although this leaves scars on my soul, I wait for you in hopes that you’d come back, For you said that our love was still your goal, I had believed it was my love that lacked. You rid yourself of my love, much like tears, But seemed to win the game you played on me. I am forced to escape my only fears While hiding the pain you still cannot see. But I am strong and refuse to forget, True love will help me find a new sunset.

Dark Sky Paradise By Jeremy Pedro

You fell in love with my flowers not my roots, So when autumn came and the leaves fell down, You stepped on me with the soles of your boots, And all I was left to do was to frown. As the stars shine from here, there, everywhere, I remember when we first met in May; Oh how I wish so much that I didn't care, All my feelings led to that fateful day. Approaching your house, I was very scared, Watching your face to tell your emotions, Your teasing, your taunting, oh how you dared, I was under your spell drinking potions. Thinking all the way to that day in May, You are the sun to my cloudy day.

Not Planned, But Loved By Evonny Portilla

The new member many would not accept, She will be the center of attention. Everything will have to include her now, Here are a few things if I may mention. She would break everything she sees on site, Be alarmed when strangers would come by now, Not that intimidated by her height, When tired of the real world she’d lie. The color of her fur is white as snow; Her barking is so loud, it hurts your ears. When she has done wrong, she drops her head low, She does many tricks to impress the crowd. In the end, I know she will leave me first, I will never hear her loud bark burst.

Babble Has Broken By Toyosi Dickson

Words spoken are sometimes without meaning, Empty in their word of gratuity; Exist as tasteless comfort for the fleeting, Fixed space impeding continuity. Left to the open unknown of our own, Yet we cannot just be as ourselves, With reflection’s dishonesty, the known, We are the parts that make others themselves. For the path we live is never alone, Even though we must live and die in such a way; Endeavors through our book of the unknown, It’s marked from the connections of every day. Since we lack flair in the words we say, It’s the relations we forge that sway.

Visionaries By Kaelaan Maynor

They dare to understand intelligence, A visionary perceives the meaning; Your time and space becomes irrelevant, Because there’s no such thing as intervening. And sure they will try to box you in, They simply cannot see your full picture, Because their imagination wears thin, So they are nothing but simple fixtures. You know that your mind will change everything, Because there is nothing left to stop you, Ever prepared for the changes you’ll bring, The very beginning of a breakthrough. And the only one thing left to be shared That when the time comes, will you be prepared?

From Darkness to Light By Vety Martinez

I was so lost looking for a meaning, And wondering how I would conquer all, My thoughts running loud and intervening, So afraid that I would just quickly fall. I was trapped for so long in darkness, Dark as night trying to find a way out; I couldn’t make a move and was hopeless, I was drowning in the night and would doubt. Searching for the light that was hard to find, It was hidden as deep as the ocean; I was trapped and the darkness kept me blind, Sadness was no longer the emotion. He then reached out to me and made a way, My life then became full of joy each day.

Climb Mountains By Maria Lopez

It is that gaping fear of the unknown That keeps people stuck in their distant past; Sadly, they do not realize on their own That the breath they just took could be their last. Why is it that reminders people need That they are only slowing themselves down? Like in a race, consciously losing speed Or in ferocious waves choosing to drown? This is why to everyone I must say, To climb mountains you have the power, Take adventures and slowly find your way While enjoying every single hour. In plain ambiguity, please do not stay, Or from your hands watch your life slip away.

Mini Me By Janet Barrera

The four eye creature that I baby sit, Who likes to be alone to do his tricks, Without his way he tends to throw a fit, Creative enough to make toys out of his sticks. With hair black as coal it could even stain, A personality as strong as love, His pale skin so white it often looks plain, Short but he acts like 6’4 or above. I look at him and see a reflection, Crazy, funny, and so loving little guy. My world he is and so much affection, I have for him, I will cry when he says bye. My nephew is and will always be great, It is my honor to present you Nate.

Our Love By Tiffany Hayes

Sometimes his love is so hard to explain, Although at times we can both be so wrong, But he completes me, I cannot complain, And when I’m down, he always makes me strong. We have walked down this road for two years now, Sometimes we fight and things become a mess; A love forever is what I do vow, And where we are now was worth all the stress.

Loving him is not something hard to do, Since day one he has always had my heart; He shows the same with every ‘I love you,’ And him leaving would just tear me apart. How much he means to me I doubt he knows, Each day that passes by my love just grows.

Entertainment By Alexis Smith

Assignments finished, day’s work is soon done, Now I am home, with leisure time for sure. What to do now? Shall I go have some fun? This plague of boredom, there must be some cure. There on my desk, a silver laptop sat, A shining portal to the Internet. There next to it, many art tools lay flat, But inspiration, I will need to get. Here on my bed, my handheld game does lay, A universe of worlds to save, compressed. My TV’s up front, new shows every day This time, a hero goes on a great quest. My time for contemplation has run out, The time for washing dishes comes about.

Fashion Kyyller By Mikyyla Williams

It’s not what you do wear, but how it looks, I dress to reveal my creative self, My fashion sense does not go by the books, Even if it did not descend from wealth. Reef Krakoff, Hugo Boss, and Delpozo, Just a few fashion designers I love, Artistic insight; my virtuoso, My style will always be put high above. Colors that are often considered strange, I will find a way to make them trendy, All of the pieces that I collect range, Louis Vuitton, and don’t forget Fendi. You might think you’re the best at what you do, But your clothes will show the ultimate truth.

Maturing By Jennifer Dios

All that I thought about was recess time, And who went to play softball yesterday, Or who’d climb fences with no fear or grime, Or going home with your best friend to play. Not listening to teachers when in class, Focusing on what your friends have to say, Never getting caught without a pass, Questions like when is graduation day? Forced to sit through early hour long lectures, Now as an adult you can’t make mistakes, Just full of your job’s everyday pressures, Left with only time for friends during breaks. As time progressed, my priorities changed; All my life’s transitions made me deranged.

Prevailing PoC’s By Saija Fernandez

Our cultures generate certain beauty; Together we create a melting pot, To inform the masses is our duty, Forever cease to exist, we will not. I am a fierce, beautiful Latina; They accuse me of committing violence. Their words do not bother, ‘yo soy fina.’ Won’t keep quiet, I will end my silence. Racism has been going on for too long; Fighting for our rights, crimson blood splatters. Our cries and sorrow have become our song; Men in uniform, don’t black lives matter? Look in our eyes, we are not criminals. As one, our message is subliminal.

Awareness By Saleh Houshmand

Not a position, but rather a process, Unknown to my primitive, former self; Vexed at my being from which I digress, Yet life resonates at my mind’s highest shelf. Sensing warm winds of rejuvenation, Must I be bound by shackles at my gait? Summoning me to new revelation, Why kneel to mediocrity as my fate? With resources left to my convenience, Transcendence is positively child’s play, Oust ignorance; derive obedience, And pure fulfillment shall follow someday. Hence live as if death shall come whenever; Learn as if you are to live forever.

Driven in Darkness By Jaeline Granda

A simple leaf detached from a grapevine, Pushed by the winds of fierce deceitful grace, Trying to find just where the stars align, As it struggles and fights though the dream chase. For like a nomad searching for a home, It wanders and has no definite course, And as this leaf continues on to roam, It feels contained by an undefined force. Yet like a wave that crashes on the shore And fades away with all its mighty power, A leaf that’s left searching for something more, Endless possibilities to devour. It lives in constant fear of the unknown, Finding an identity of its own.

Friends for a Lifetime By Sofia Cabodeira

We knew each other for so many years, In the beginning we were opposites; You could hear our disputing in your ears, But we soon left our fighting in the past. For it was like a duet that came together, Our voices joined to form a harmony, And our common song was like a tether, The reason we fought was now a mystery. There were still times when our notes did not match, Those lulls in our song were always short lived, For it's just like disclosure that we latch, Devotion assured our ballad survived. These years and experiences are the glue That has made them the person I turn to.

Tempest By Fahad Fardeen

And there I lie and look at the sky light, The essence of the wind that calls me forth; Down comes the thunder darker than the night, And another day, summoned for my worth. The flute that sings the song of memories, A wrongful deed which I did not commit, Yet, my own kin unleashes his furies, Burdened by fate to which I might submit. And still I travel across distant lands, Finding hints and prints of the broken wind; Fragments of my past that seem just so grand; This quest for redemption, could I rescind? This journey makes me tire, yet I must bide, Death is like the wind, always by my side.

Chaos and the Calm By Barbara Batista

The sun does melt into a final glow And stars will dot the vast expanse of black; The cold hands turn to hit a striking blow As scythe of Chronos ends hope to come back. For just like a storm brewed from the horizon, Time, ruthlessly, will claim all in its path, And bring destruction without any reason, Once it consumes all with undying wrath. Deafening like thunder, the ticks count down; The walls will fall and crumble into dust When youthful leaves of green do fade to brown And giant towers of steel start to rust. Once all is still, the sky will clear and then Dawn will come, and the sun will rise again.

With Rose By Yasmim De Almeida

Flushed is the land with roses and with thorns, The blood is stained and nothing but adored, As its withheld, the beauty never warned, When pricked and nicked the mistress is restored. For like a babe that is a miracle, Until it steals a breath that causes death, A blessing and a load, how cynical? It’s innocence no longer held, its death. The thorn of Rose makes all cry out in pain, Her beauty is enchanting all the same, Again she strikes with stealth, he’s left in shame, One never learns until it is too late. The garden made for lovers is to stroll, To learn about the beauty Rose once stole.

An Unscripted Quest By Natasha Cunha

They say that life is like an open book, The pages that we write portray our dreams, But it is once we stumble that we look, And notice things are not just what they seem.

We turn to a new page once every day, And hope that it’s more vibrant than the rest; Our souls are like the bards that write away, And venture out on an unscripted quest.

Great power lies here vested in our hands, Which is what people tend to fear the most; They don’t want to question where their fate lands, And live their life as if they were a ghost.

Some day the light will shine upon their eyes, And life to them will not be a surprise.

Dysphoria By Ines Borralho

Confused by what is far and what is near, So deep in thought and thinking what might be, A life of hurt, comprising this deep fear, The whereabouts unknown of this one key.

Deceived by truth, persuaded by the lies, The struggle to reveal what truly is; The depth of things unknown just never dies. Sunshine after clouds, a false sense of bliss.

The master key remains untouched and seen, Neglected by the fear, disguised by havoc, And like a bird who is no longer keen, The disarranged dark thoughts resembling traffic.

Seldom do lost keys find their matching lock, But life continues like an ancient clock.

Finding Purpose By Joseph Arewa

Gazing upon the northern star, it seems Far away, beyond this world there is some force As though there lies a world with light and dreams, One without limits where life runs its course.

Towards such beauty one moves eagerly, Just as birds will migrate during the day, But as wings flap and days pass, the journey Gets longer, with beauty farther away.

What’s the point of it all, why try so hard? We always strive for success and purpose, But fear during the process we’ll be scarred; Yet we hope, depicting a faux surface.

Fate is never sure, nothing is certain, All one can do is accept this burden.

Transitions By Ashley Morales

The long path ends as a new one begins.

Aware of change, the mind becomes alert

With intense emotion that may divert

The young and lost traveler from gaining wins.

And like a fish swimming without its fins,

The mind has no choices but to revert

To sitting still and try to reassert

A plan that will prevent it to form spins.

The traveler now has a direction,

The road is no longer fogged but now clear

With a sense of knowledge of the right route,

Now there will be an intense connection

With the future because success is near, The new flower of life can now go sprout.

The Art of Music By Adriana Dias

The art of music mostly starts out slow And then it builds into extreme chaos, But if it starts high, there will be no flow, Done right, it can never be a disgrace. It rattles you like the speed of a train, Its fast intensity ceasing never, The certainty of demise is your pain, It’s the most agonizing ride ever. Then everything seems very slow and calm, For that instance you think you’ve reached your stop, But it just goes faster, there is no balm, There is no way to ever stop this drop. The art of music is to feel something, Kind of like having a tingling feeling.

The Key By Thomas Loureiro

Against all odds, I will fight the power, The one who tries to tell me what to be, Whether it takes years or a few hours, My true potential everyone will see. The streets of the city that watched me grow Taught me that not everyone is your friend; I learned from experience, now I know That on others you must never depend. I once was foolish and quite uncertain, The vision of my future somewhat blurred While waiting behind a theater curtain, I found that confidence is the key word. I have discovered the key to success, If you’re independent, you will progress.

Troubled Times By Grace Burga

From time to time life does bring us strife, And sometimes confidence does not suffice; It happens to all in their walk of life, Directing some of us to our worst vice. Like the snake that tempted Adam and Eve, And led them both to be corrupted indeed, And both of whom were a tad bit naive, Ending in evil they could not impede. Due to this some of us become obscene, Inept to fight that which keeps us from flight, And sometimes we are really not seen, Because we often hide in the dark night. However, sometimes wonderful things occur, And someone great will suddenly start to stir.

Egg By Mathushanth Ravichandren

Upon the birch tree lies a brand new nest, The nest is sculptured by twigs and leaves; The home attracts many unwanted guests, The forest filled with con men and with thieves. In the nest, resting, are five brand new eggs, Innocence emanates within their shells; Innocent flies are caught in spider’s webs; “Forced Miscarriage!” does chime the forest bells. One or two meet their gruesome doom indeed, Freefalling among the birch tree’s slim fronds, But two more take their place, two more to feed, The mother, from their true birthplace absconds. She moves on from the cries that are unheard, Caring hers not, but the young of the cowbird’s.

Breaking Chains By Katya Lijo

I struggle to escape all of my pains, My only dream being to break away; Steered by the wanderlust that fills my veins, With every passing breeze I start to sway. Like a caged bird I wish to be set free, To spread my wings and soar to the unknown, Going places I never thought I’d see, Experiencing life all on my own. And like a coursing river I will flow, Free moving and deciding my own path, Exploring past what I already know, Thinking of now and not the aftermath. The path to freedom may be hard to find, This is one dream I will not leave behind.

Sweet Symphonies By Qian Weng

I stare at the old man who stands behind, The raindrops hang upon the dirty glass. The melody does play as beats remind, Some memories, sweet symphonies that last. Below the red flag spreads the cheerful sound Of laughter, whispered some brave dreams of youth. All vanished into air, or ruined, or drowned Into illusions yet still claimed as truth. The thinking of the past, so they announced, Has made the sweetest harmony of life, Yet it is harmful, so I then denounced It, for it leads to pain and so much strife. The pouring rain has stopped, the clouds are gone. I look and stare at the arising dawn.

Time’s Up By Pamela Cardoso

The journey to the beach seemed like an endless road; The sun was soon to shine as rushed ashore; Promising arrival, I did nothing but owe, Holding regret throwing me overboard. Gambling rushed time my faith was a time bomb, Flames in the air unable to retrieve, I would give up to see the high tides calm, I no longer standing, the blame conceived. Talk lightly, soft then loud, when time is up Many hands of times, they tick like they talk; When time is done, people think it’s abrupt, Bells sing, chimes ring, time starts again to tock. Burning flesh clashing words the underdog strived, Deceived path led me, wouldn't had arrived.

A Costumed Land By Lindsay James

Familiar faces are surrounding me, All are worn by people I do not know. In parties, it’s a common sight to see, One’s costume bared and worn from head to toe. Like vacuums, I was sucked up away to A crowded land filled with jesters and bats, And hidden amongst the crowd, I found you, Surrounded by many maiden clad cats. Together we ventured to the next land Where many patrons flocked to artist’s wares That shone like the heavens in their gloved hands, Their chatter and shouts assaulting the ears. For now, let’s make friends with faces unknown, ‘Til tomorrow comes and we wake up home.

Entrepreneur By Ferdinand Loperena

Performers try to work hard for the best; Producers strive to be the best there is; Performers build what can be a success; Producers achieve since they are the wiz. I cannot live in a life of today With my mind greater than others; I see Numbers flying up and down the display, Art this is, because I’m the referee. I am the mastermind behind this work, Commanding to create masterpieces, Selling society products for perks, So they can exceed and get releases. They say that I am an introducer, But I call myself a great producer.

Awake By Leonid Rempel

My candle lives throughout the restless night, I hold onto its wax with all my life; Stay with me friend and loyal candlelight; Tomorrow edges like a sharpened knife. The world outside never ceases with lies, Sometimes the fruit it gives to hungry lives, Sometimes the axe it gives to humanize, Then it sweeps yesterday into archives. But alas, soon I greet the next day’s reign When sleep, my mistress, brings about my fall; A sweet dream plays inside my tired brain, My candle and my spirit leave to pall. We hope the time ahead will not be dread, Forgetful of the past we’ll join as dead.

Live Through the Game By Nicole Pimentel

The game of basketball reflects my zeal, The sweat and blood of players to prepare Produces in me feelings I cannot conceal, And I know that because no game compares. For like my lungs the game is breathing life, But losing can create a sense of pain, And with that feeling comes a strife Between the loss and what is left to gain. The game is applicable to our lives, No harm no foul is not just any rule, It is a law that always will survive, Since teaching the game is a useful tool. Live through the game to make it eternal, And in return it will live internal.

Mental Paradise By Maya Beckham

The warmth of the fierce sun, upon her skin While hues pervade the early evening skies, She senses intense delight from within On the shore of Maui is where she lies. The island is as bare as a desert With no one to deprive her of her peace, No one to judge her for her torn up skirt, For the judgments of others, she will cease. Nights overflowed with dreams and fantasies And mornings with life’s surprises to come, Once awakened her calm is extinguished, Woke is the life with nothing but a crumb. Delight is found among those with closed eyes, Where dreams are born and reality dies.

Perplexed Heart By Ivana Freitas

Infiltrated inside my joyful home, Used it, broke it, no longer is complete, Put up a wall where no one else can roam Although away it keeps the best and sweet. For love is like the wide uncharted seas, Uncovered yet the mystery still stays, Will bring us glee with the fond memories, Will bring many heart aches and pains for days. Should I let stay the wall I put in place To risk to push a love I meet away? Or be okay with letting my heart race, Though frightened, my heart they will then betray. A gate is a solution I see fit, Where I invite only the adequate.

Life’s Perpetual Gift By Dileyanne Spezio

Deception surely has a way to grow, Betrayal will quickly come as shock someday; It’s then a someone will appear as foe; Attention must maintain despair at bay. The one that is always to blame is hope, It is pleasure’s reaper, trust is slaughtered swift, Ambition lost creates a state of mope, Avoid deception, gladness is a gift. This sorrow pops up from within the soul, Beholder has the pain for it’s a choice; There’s no preventing anguish by control, A bliss achieved, a moment to rejoice. If to have faith is truly your deep wish, Do know delight is cut with piercing swish.

Seize the Day by Michael Figueira

The stars above do not work for the sun With a radiant shine that conquers all; Not a soul to thank for what it has done, Just the joy by itself as it stands tall.

Alpha takes charge as a wolf in its pack, Many will compete, but not all will pass; Rise and move onwards without looking back, A car equiped with just a pedal for gas.

You have one life, so why not make it great, Take charge of your future, be your own boss; Do not pay mind to those who trust in fate, There is no luck involved, not a coin toss.

All of your dreams are right within your reach, Life full of bliss, like a day at the beach.

Driven in Darkness By Jaeline Granda

A simple leaf detached from a grapevine, Pushed by the winds of fierce deceitful grace, Trying to find just where the stars align, As it struggles to complete its first race. For like a nomad searching for a home, It wanders and has no definite course, And as this leaf continues on to roam, It feels contained by an undefined force. Yet like a wave that crashes on the shore And fades away with its mighty power, A leaf that’s left searching for something more, Endless possibilities to devour. It lives in constant fear of the unknown, Finding an identity of its own.

Worthless Life By Elena Malova

The flower blossoms with the morning light, And with a friendly greeting in his arms, Welcomes the bees and trees on sunny farms, And birds sing happy songs in soaring flight, While rabbits with squirrels play in delight. Although the going day moves with no harms, The flower hides in fields and feels alarms, And with these thoughts it does not fight. The gentle night glows when the sun sets to lay, And with the flower’s beauty left untouched, The clock of life strikes hands twelve to nine, And ‘tis time the creatures to hide away, But night finds the flower’s life he clutched, In his hand he holds nothing more divine.

Falling By Humberto Machado

The sunset burning in the vast cold skies, The leaves begin to crumble away, gone, Tips of green fly away, forever die, And never seen again the break of dawn. Leaves crumble with the fiery passion, Wood crackling with sparks as you step around, All that is left is the dust, the ashen, But nothing is heard but the wind, its sound. It sings its song whispering in your ear, It rattles the leaves as it makes its way, It does not stop anywhere, it is here, It beats the wind, prepared to play today. And in the autumn paradise he sees, The cubby puppy falling in the leaves.

Eternal Beauty By Nurys Cedano

There she stood high in marvelous red heels, Her ladylike nature high above all, Everyone’s sight she effortlessly steals, Her beauty never did hit a brick wall. But a great fear starts building up within, She has feared all her life this dreadful hour, Abruptly she feels her days growing dim, Time is attempting to steal her glamour. She is an eagle rising up so high, She’s undefeatable even in this hour, As if reborn she soars up in the sky, The ticking clock will not steal her glamour. Again she stands in her red heels so high, She knows her inner beauty will never die.

Nature vs. Nurture By Karine Duarte

Here lies an egg, attempting to come out, To be impatient is its signature. This strange place is what learning is about, Born into this world, now a visitor. His mother holds him tightly full of doubt; His independence was the prisoner, And so he tried to fly away to sprout, Said, “Everything has its time, Christopher.” He failed to understand, patience is key, And so he learned how to accept delay with wait. Soaring at the greatest height ceaselessly, His mother taught him errors make our fate. And everything you need will come to you, So find a purpose to test what you do.

Set Free By Quadriyyah Bell

Wishing I could let go but it is hard, So many things you don't want to forget, But I do know it's best to just discard, Sorry, you can’t erase this awful debt. For like a bleeding wound that has no cure, My heart experiences too much pain; I just wanted love that was truly pure, Now free from heartache I had to obtain. A nonconformist, I am so set free, The love I once did had for you is gone; Now cleaning up this leftover debris, The bright future for me is to hang on. For happiness will finally come, Love is what I need to stay away from.

My Number One By Dayana Fernandez

You’re the greatest; no one can take your place, With every smile, you light up my day, I knew you were the one when I saw your face, And even now, though it may sound cliché. There is no greater love, not that I know, I can’t see life without you, it’s a blur, All that is visible is your shadow, As you approach me then slowly deter. I can never deny your affection, Because I know one day you will be gone, And I will sit here longing for protection, Along with your wholehearted will to fawn. My best friend, the only pup I adore, I love you, everyday a little more.

Senior Year By Jason Ulloa

Four years of high school are ending soon, Time has gone by so fast seems like seconds; We will all graduate one day in June, Then we all go opposite directions. I've played my last game of high school soccer, Been to my last pep rally and school dance, Began to clean and empty my locker, Because now it is time for me to advance. We all will say goodbye with tears in eyes Because we won’t see each other again, But this belief is just a bunch of lies, Wherever we go our friendships will remain. Soon all that will be left are memories, And the unknown future of mysteries.

Free Will By Luis Duran

Never settle for something you don’t want, Always do what you want to do in life, Don’t let life in the past come and haunt, It will come back and stab you like a knife. When you look back at a choice that you made, Don’t regret and dwell on that decision, Simply let that past memory just fade, For going back in life just blurs your vision. Like a day that passes, you cannot get back, But this should not be viewed as something sad, Do not dwell for this will make you draw back, In life not focusing on now is bad. But whatever you choose to do is your choice, And just do what is important to rejoice.

The Dying Tree By Jessica Vega

The falling leaves that sway towards the ground Will slowly approach their familiar death, With blooming flowers nowhere to be found, This travesty leaves many out of breath. Just like the sunset comes to end the day, The fall arrives to finish off the year In an alluring and attractive way, That’s meant to make this season very dear. Like a photo that brings back memories, Autumn helps us to reflect and look back To when our lives were free of all worries, And cherish the time flowers never lacked. Although the crisp air makes us all feel cold Soon you will learn, there is nothing to scold.

Helpful Handicap By Jennifer Santos

I cannot ever leave my comfort zone Without a helping hand, for I get lost; If I am ever left just on my own, Surrounding faces blur and lines do cross. I’m safe when I am snuggled in my bed, My sleepy eyes stay closed while I am here; The haze is normal when I rest my head; I do not need to see the world so clear. I’m isolated with this handicap, Kept from the world I want to be part of; Dependent on this more than a new app, To be thus free to roam this world I love. And with my glasses, I can finally see, I see more than what’s in front of me.

So Long By Jarad Sneed

The end of an era is near my friend, The road we have walked on has been a test; Four years in school, for that I can commend, When we depart we start our private quest. We made it through the good and the bad times, From pep rallies to homework and all-nighters; The feeling we got when the last bell chimed, Persisting through the game, we are true fighters.

Can you believe our time is really up? We now must move to the next stage of life; We have grown into dogs from baby pups; We all are done with this everlasting strife.

So when we finally pass through the door, We have surpassed the rest and now we soar.

Chapters By Gabrielle Brasil

From the day we met, I knew it was you. Every aching moment away made sense, I knew that this bond would be true, Starting to feel like I’m behind a fence.

Being with you is all that comes to mind, My life is now here tearing us apart, But, now I’m leaving its staying behind, While killing me softly with your kind heart.

I worry not for us cause we are red, Though we bicker with each other day and night; From day one when you let me sleep in bed, Now we wait until you can hold me tight.

Back at home with the one I really call friend, It’s you ma mere my water, house, and bread.

A Lucid Dream By Josue Rivera

All can strive to become the very best With them being fueled by their desires; People would like to fulfill their great quest, And always preserve their eternal fires.

For like driving a car that is empty, It will be hard to reach for the sky’s stars; Your car may have oil, and of that plenty, But without fuel, there is no point in cars.

Like puzzles that are missing the last piece, Life will never fully be that complete, Without this piece our dream will soon decease, And you will find it hard to reach your feat.

The one thing missing is your attitude, And it will determine your altitude.

Momma Bear By Sara Dos Santos

A vulnerable child came to this earth In search of life, of happiness and light. To her, I vowed since the day of her birth To protect her with all my strength and might.

Athena she is, and I her aegis, For when disaster strikes I will shield her, And as she grows and graciously ages, She'll learn to be a fearless brave leader.

Just like the walls around a kingdom and Just like the guards within a castle’s walls, I'll keep all enemies off my queen’s land And pick her up if ever she may fall.

But should I not be here when she needs me, I pray that joy and light she will still see.

A Beautiful Lie By Paige Jurado

The most perfect place in the universe, A world all of its own so pure and well, A colorful land which is so diverse, The adventure awaits no time to dwell. The trees so high, the sea a crystal blue, Time forever stopped as a broken clock. The morning sun shines on the green grass due, A scream in the air, the crow of a cock. But alas the land cannot stay so long, The freedom will cease, the stress will come back, At twelve, the clock will ring its haunting song, The oceans, the island will turn to black. Awake, my never land I cannot keep; For this reason I will forever sleep.

Blessed…Phenomenally By Queenstar Banini

I am phenomenally blessed. It’s hard to see at times, for life’s is a mess. Through my distresses, I may have regressed, If constant battles do cause me to stress.

I look to heaven where my hope is found, Where righteous joy is thus everlasting. I want for nothing when I do realize, That to worries, I am not confounded.

When I remember His grace in my life, I rest at ease under His caring wings. When fear arises with gusto in life, His calming assurance of his love takes flight.

In victory I stand on solid rock, All other ground caving in sure defeat.

Some Fool By Bryan Palacios

At first glance of her, you felt a breeze, You tried, what did she say? Was her reaction good? I tried, but yet all I could do was sneeze, With a sulk and regret, he understood. And yet in time, they met again with some glee, And solely with the greatest of intentions, He felt nervous, and all they did was disagree, Where happiness should be, there are only questions. With tension rising and feelings falling, An extra try wouldn’t feel as great as it did, Can he get out of the mood of bawling? No, the courage isn’t actually there, kid. It’s pretty clear that some people don’t match, Everyone can’t be friends, just find the right batch.

Mirage By Enrique Domenech

Death to the image of a former self, No point in holding on to what is dead. A worn book seeking rest upon a shelf, Another is appointed in its stead. Paths lie before me into the unknown, Recklessly choosing one on just a whim. Hoping fruit will grow from the seeds I’ve sown, Much may they bear with a light far from dim. The will to succeed is what lies within, Gaining strength from each obstruction. Looking to the future, I wear a grin, What I do now is for its construction. Eventually this part of me will fade And with it so will this masquerade.

One Day By Enrique Vargas

September concludes a fun summer, Yet writes the start to a new semester, The leaves will soon fall on the ground they cover , Teachers prepare each day a new lecture.

The fallen leaves soon evolve into snow, Students anxiously approach their winter break, Fierce cold winds will later begin to blow, Cupid soon aims arrows for hearts to take.

The cold frozen snow becomes a heavy rain, In a few days it will be memorial day, Finals will surely cause new stress and pain, Before you know graduation will be today.

Everyone will go their separate way, Hopefully they will reunite someday.

Confused By Angelee Caraballo

He left without explaining things to me, These nights by far were just about the worst; He didn’t leave a thing for me to see, Looking for him felt like I’m getting cursed. The lonely walks around the empty park, I am just thinking about your lies, With each and every step we lost the spark, Wondering if our love would ever die. Lost for words and with a broken heart, I stared into the night that is so bright, But how could we stay for long so apart, My momma said that all will be alright. But I miss you as days go flying by, You will forever be my favorite guy.

That One Key Moment By Erik Lijo

In water, there's a moment that is clear, Between the strokes and the breathes you feel it; Time stops for you, but you cannot show fear, It doesn't matter, just have to commit.

In water it is either sink or swim, Like a clock you must always move forward; You can’t stop or you will surely feel grim, To be the victor you must go onward.

Victory is not given, it is earned; It is won by the one who works the most, Winning after all the lessons learned, It is only then when you can truly boast.

Although the pressure is very taxing, The feel of the swim is quite relaxing.

Darn By Nathalia DeSouza

When I was young, I thought that I would be So blessed in everything I tried to do, I thought my dreams would probably come true, The center of my universe was me.

I now see that is it not a straight road, There are cracks and bumps along the way, Lucky you will be and worthy of good pay If you listen and do as you are told.

So close your eyes and take it slow, Like seriously, it is really hard; So, why the hesitation? Why the guard? Relax, lay on down and rest your soul.

I would tell my younger self to sit down, Take a look around, tilt your head and frown.

Clarity By Meiryn Castaneda

It is so sweet and nothing does compare, Comes to you right on time, it does not fail, With neither soft nor tenderly affairs, Showing you everything under the veil.

Hands tied, eyes shut, it can be the savior; It's revealing relief can be freedom, With such a deceiving behavior, It can be trusted, it is not random.

With its cool and refreshing morning breeze, It will come to you as the time comes by, So just let it in, it will come in peace, It is now clean to see and clarify.

The good things in life don't last forever, The more you try to hide the heavier.

The Game of Basketball By Christopher Velasco

James Naismith is a mortal god to me; Thank god someone invented basketball; It is the center of all life you see, And I’m not really even all that tall.

The game of basketball is so much fun, Whether a three, a dunk, or just a steal, No other game can compare to this one, It is the best just like Shaquille O’Neal.

I dribble down the court as fast as I can, This guy who’s guarding me does not have reach; I can see they are playing man for man, I’ll give him a lesson that I can teach.

In the end, I will always love the game, As old as I become, my passion will stay the same.

These Days By Nestor Yupa

Some days I look up to see where I am, When I look up and see an empty sky; Sometimes that clear sky makes me give a damn, Thinking to myself if I should fly by.

Some days I look around to find you there, Standing there with nothing but innocence; Some days you stand out like a billionaire, Standing out like a broken instrument.

Some days you’re like white paint on a white wall, Those days you’re more than irretrievable; Some days you’re like a tree that’s so tall, Those days you’re nothing more than a fable.

But not one day passes, you stay in mind, Whether or not, in sight, you make me blind.

The Gift Unchosen By Cindy Cueva

So cold in my bedroom sleeping upstairs, Reindeer on my mind and his sleigh roof bound, Presents downstairs that say handle with care, The only gift under the tree, I found. One red bow wrapped around paper so white, Startled and questioned what can this gift be, Blessed with the spirit of Christmas delight, If I open this gift, what will I see? But he will know and might not come next year, Tomorrow’s Christmas might be my last one, I put the gift down in faith of good cheer, I go to bed, proud of what I have done. Tired and warm, the morning will come soon, “Ho Ho Ho,” he then screamed past the moon.

Long Awaited By Te’Asia Alston

I have been waiting for you to arrive, You wait on no one, especially time; Seconds tick tick by – Am I still alive? Passage across will cost me my last dime.

Like a flower that refuses to bloom, In a field with others that are full grown, You will become the last to meet your doom, And spend the rest of your days all alone.

A butterfly stuck in a chrysalis, You are all too desperate to leave home, The perfect moment, you don’t want to miss, Nothing to do but spread your wings and roam.

Tormented and worthless, you’re but a pawn. School isn’t right for you, but life goes on.

Untold Anguish By Arianna Ocasio

The mist of darkness lingers around me, The beauty found in the darkest corners. This sensation in me won’t let me be, Forever thinking of the night horrors.

This love is dripping with impurity, Yet, at night, I strive for its well-being, But this just shows my immaturity, Darkness and light have begun colliding.

Your darkness is overwhelming my heart, My existence is now fading away; I should have run from this pain from the start, Now I can’t say goodbye to yesterday.

Let my heartache be a lesson for you, I wouldn’t want you to be tainted too.

Granted Love By Anye Sharif

I stare out of my window and ask why, I think of all the good times by your side, We could have been happy, why did you lie? But now you’re gone, and I am not a bride. I thought you were different from my last, Hurts to say you were completely the same, Just like garbage, you treated me like trash, You left me alone as soon as she came.

Since we have come to the end of our road, Things have definitely changed for the good, I realized my worth and dropped that bad load, I am now living my life as I should. I am no longer taken for granted, My new love turned out to be enchanted.

For Love? By Yaa Sarpong

For love you live to see another day When with that special someone by your side, Which lifts you up and makes you want to stay, But true love goes away with all your pride.

A precious gem in which you held so dear, The kind of precious one you want to conserve; This love has become apparently clear, And I want to give you what you deserve.

Yet you let it go and shattered my hopes, Letting me believe that I had a chance, Now always I’m entangled by your ropes, The forbidden whispers found in your dance.

But in order to restore hope again, I leave you alone with the heart I stain.

The Boy I Once Knew By Gisselle Burgos

My carefree way of being, you don’t like, Yet I never paid attention to you. You, the boy, I refuse to even like, But just like me, you need some kind love too.

This is what I was pondering for days, It’s like I’m getting older each second. Could I rewind time? Watch it as it plays? All I can give you is love that is new.

I fell for you while looking at the moon. This illusion, I suffered from ever since. This I really know, when I see you swoon. You are more than I deserve, my dear prince.

What is going to happen between us? Why did this turn into such a fuss?

Intelligence By Fabio Pires

I know they question my intelligence, But see, when I show them, they look surprised, And they will finally see my brilliance, Ever sorry to dare to criticize. I'm not going to stand here as you judge me, I’m surely not going to change my mind, The will I have is never ceasing, Trust me that type of strength is hard to find. They think they can tell me what I can't do, Like my whole life has been planned out for me, Do they know the future because that isn’t true, Well it’s my decision of what I’ll be. And I know these next years won't all be fun, But before I walk, I guess I’ll just run.

We Lost By Aquib Ramkishun

The speed of the baseball is up to par, Pitchers do not need more velocity; The batter will not hit the ball too far, The great Royals embrace prosperity. Baseballs rain like dogs and cats upon fields, Very rude and kind way to express themselves; The only one that can solve this, James Shields, And San Fran soon will end up on the shelves. Flames shoot out of his hands, furiously, Soft wind from strikes blow sweet, the solution; Batters, like mice, approach real cautiously, Bang! Pow! Gloves cry out loud, the pollution. Bats break rupturing loud the creeks, crazy! The lost left hearts loosely, very lazy.

My Day By Maurice Ware

Sittin’ in class and bored out of my mind, No notes taken, just staring into space. The teacher calls my name, I try to find, The homework that I put in my briefcase. I look around and see the students stare As if I am some masterpiece of art, And suddenly I get the urge to swear, And just tell them to look at my flip chart. I think about what I’ll do after school Although it’s cold I want to play some ball; The students think that I am very cool, Because I can drive to the shopping mall. Sometimes it is so hard to just be me, But someday when you’re cool, you will then see.

There’s No Crying in Baseball By Brendo Campos

Let this reverberate under your skin, All I was told in life I will tell you. Forget the ocean the sky all so blue, How all sharks think we cannot see the fin. In such a sad state, this world has been, So forever we will ask what is true, In a world full of lies there is no clue, Whether feather or scale we are all kin.

For vampires who don’t even bat an eye, I will hit homeruns until tomorrow. A good pitch, a good catch, kids in the rye, So alone so hollow souls in sorrow. I know all you ever get is goodbye, But a hello from me you may borrow.

Libertas By Jaysson Diaz

There was a funeral four months ago that ended with the burial of a man who died too young and lived too poor. His name was Wat Tyler De Groot but that fact is most likely irrelevant to you. It seems that way for the rest of the world. His tombstone is on the De Groot family farm; it would have been too much of a hassle otherwise. Only five people went to the funeral: his mother Ellis, his father

Gustave, his aunt Mary, his uncle Daniel, and his daughter Esther. These people make up the De Groot family, a family of little wealth and many worries.

The De Groot family lives on twenty acres of farmland that was once healthy and abundant in crops. That’s the past. Now, there is nothing to reap and the De Groot family has resorted to rationing their limited supply of potatoes. The

De Groot family is waiting for their potatoes to be served in the dull, gray dining room on a star-lit night in May. They are all tired of being tired.

“This is an excellent dinner that Ellis has prepared for us,” said Uncle

Daniel, with a hint of dissent, “Let us all pra-”

“I am sick of eating these same potatoes day after day for months!” said

Father Gustave, in desperation. “We are nothing but skin and bones!”

“Well, do you propose any solution to our dilemma?” said Aunt Mary, in resignation, “Because yelling isn’t going to fix anything.”

“Well, thank you all very much,” said Mother Ellis, with a sense of enmity.

“I have worked tirelessly to turn scraps into something edible but no one appreciates anything. Not even a single ‘thank you’.”

The young Esther is silently waiting for her food while she stares off into the night sky that is visible from an open window. She recognizes a particularly bright star that Wat previously referred to as the North Star. The bright star seems distantly close from her vicinity which soothes her. To Esther, it seems like a floating island with a solitary torch that stays lit on dark, treacherous waters.

“Actually, Mary, I do have the solution. Why don’t we all just go up north and make a name for ourselves in the city,” said Father Gustave. “It’s a whole lot better than lying here on the dead carcass that was our farm.”

“Easier said than done,” Mary responded, “and just how will we be able to adjust to the city life.”

“We’ll handle ourselves,” said Gustave, “just like how our forefathers handled our farm…through trial and error. Nothing’s ever easy in life. Nothing’s ever handed to you...What about you Ellis? I can tell that you are thinking exactly what I’m thinking.”

“You have no clue what you are saying. You have a one-step plan for something as big as migrating to the city,” Mother Ellis told Father Gustave.

“If our forefathers were able to cross the Atlantic and settle down in

Columbia, then what’s stopping us?” Father Gustave said with eyes wide. “Our yellowness is the main culprit.”

Frightening clouds are approaching young Esther.

“Everyone calm down. It’s not that bad. Our limbs are still moving. Our lungs are still breathing. Our hearts are still beating. What’s the big deal?” said

Uncle Daniel.

“What’s the big deal?” Ellis said to Uncle Daniel. “What’s the big deal!?

I’m not sure if you have noticed that we are running out of our potatoes. What will we eat when everything has gone down our gullets? What will we eat when the earth’s soil has dried up?”

“I can see brighter days ahead, Ellis,” Uncle Daniel said reluctantly. “After the bad weather stops, we can all help around the farm. This farm can be our

Garden of Eden.”

The clouds have arrived and the rain is pouring.

“Stop it with your gospel. Everyone is just saying what they would want to do but they don’t know how!” Mother Ellis said.

“Our farm is dead!” Father Gustave said. “It’s all decayed now. The vibrant meadow has turned into gray and white splotches on this earth. The green is no longer in the leaves.”

“Then, where did the green migrate to?” Father Gustave said.

“To Empire City, of course!” said Ellis. Her constant irritation toward

Gustave’s irrationality has switched course.

The torch is extinguished. The clouds have reached their peak, and Young

Esther is blinded by the darkness.

Wide-Eyed Mother Ellis said, “All of the green is there! Empire City has sucked the life out of our roots. We must adapt against the change in the air. I am tired of being hungry. I am tired of being thirsty. I am tired of being yellow. I want to be green.”

The rest of the conversation is a blur for Young Esther. They fought over whether to leave the farm or stay. The conclusion is the only thing that mattered to

89 her. Her parents have agreed to leave the farm tomorrow to head for the city while her aunt and uncle will remain on the farm.

She returns to the farm. She arrives at Wat’s grave for the first time since the funeral and she looks upon the tombstone. It has a skeleton and a broken sword poorly engraved onto the stone.

It reads: HERE LIES WAT TYLER DE GROOT. I AM THE

RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH

HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE: AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND

BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. JOHN 11: 25-26.

She looks upon the sky once more and the North Star reappears as it shines its light on Esther. She looks up at the night sky and returns to her lonely island.

Something has washed up on the shore of her island but she cannot see what it is.

Esther grabs the burnt out torch and tries to start a fire.

She can’t see anything until a lightning bolt strikes her raft and ignites the torch as well as the island. The land is now an inferno. The thing that washed up was the corpse of Wat.

She realizes that it is sinking or swim, do or die. She is back on the farm and sees that the crops are on fire. Her elders are screaming at her to run.

She runs and runs and runs—

A Recollection: Reclaimed By Ines Borralho

“Mom, can I sleep in your room tonight?” I whispered this as I crept through the darkness, searching my surroundings until I could find her bed.

“Trouble sleeping again?” she questioned as she made way for me to lie beside her. It had been my fifth restless night. In the days prior, I spent the night staring into the darkness that occupied the space between my four walls, but the darkness wasn’t all. My eyes had grown accustomed to outlining what appeared to be a dark shadow, a figure that stood at the foot of my bed every night. It stood for hours before becoming one with the darkness. The time was always 2:23 a.m.; it was always then that I would become motionless, vulnerable in a place that should’ve been my safe haven. At times the pursuit was so intense that I would catch myself gasping for air.

I could no longer recall what it was to sleep through the night. Every night, upon closing my eyes, I was tormented by these piercing whispers. They resembled a man’s voice, deep but soft enough to keep me from screaming. In fact, they were so soft I could never quite understand what was being said. One thing was for sure, among all the noise, the same painful cries prevailed. The burden was great. Had I become the physical representation of some entity? If so, why was I the one?

Every night I was left optionless. It had become routine to direct myself towards my mom’s room when the clock struck 2:23 a.m. I was hopeful that there

I could find enough comfort to close my eyes for even just a few minutes.

Why was I the target? Was I imagining this? Had I developed schizophrenia like my great uncle and need psychiatric help? The thoughts persisted, and sleep had become impossible. The sun peaked through a crack in the window as I lay on my mother’s bed. I was envious of how comfortable she looked, deep in sleep. I was restless. After about an hour, she had finally woke up. Her face expressed some degree of confusion as she rolled over to find me wide awake.

It wasn’t long before I felt compelled to justify my odd behavior. Before I could finish, my mom interjected, “…Before we moved, I heard rumors. I was told that the reason why the previous owners had left so suddenly was because they feared for the well being of their son. They were afraid something was trying to hurt him.”

“Something?” I interrupted. There was no disguising the fear in her eyes.

“It was in the early 1960’s. There were a history of complaints from neighbors of hollering and yelling. A man owned our home at the time. I was told he was an alcoholic. It was a custom of his to come home completely intoxicated.

Apparently, he would abuse his wife, which was presumed to have been the cause of the ruckus. He was seriously disturbed, so much so that people kept their

92 distance from him. One day when his wife was in the garden, he barged into the house extremely inebriated and for some reason believed his wife was plotting to leave him. He became defensive and attacked her. In doing so, he stepped on a rusted nail. From that point forward, he was on bed rest for the remainder of his days. His foot became infected to the point where he could not be saved. His wife had so much anger built up inside that she made the decision to let him suffer. In just two months, he fell victim to the infection and died. The time was 2:23 a.m.”

I froze in disbelief.

She continued, “They believed that his spirit never left the room and that his damaged soul made several attempts to hurt their son. In several instances, Jacob would wake up with bruises that resembled those of a severe beating. He spoke of voices that he claimed would threaten him at night. In panic one night, his mom

Margette made the impromptu decision to leave.”

At last, the reality of my current state had settled. I was in a position where confessing the severity of things could mean the difference between freeing myself of this trauma and having to start fresh elsewhere. Before I could conceptualize this sudden urge of power that I had, it was time to get ready for school, so I made my way bravely down the hall.

When I approached the doorway, a cool breeze blew across my body. A strong nauseating aroma filled the air. A force was stopping me from advancing

93 through the doorway. I was stuck. The coldness penetrated through my bones.

Then, in an instant, it was gone. I was free to move again. In the days that followed, my routine returned to normal. No longer was I up at night, having stare- downs with an unknown figure. No longer was I fearful of my every step. No longer was I afraid for my life. But a sense of discomfort lingered still in my heart.

Never before had I been appointed a task of such weight. What was asked of me was something far beyond the sheer panic that overcame me each time. In my heart, I felt a sense of responsibility. I felt like I had purposely been selected for it.

It was my duty to project what another could not. The unsaid words, the unexpressed feelings, the lack of affection—they all spoke to me. Suddenly, the message was clear, and it wasn’t one of ill intentions. What I had been experiencing was the loss of a husband, a father, a friend. While a victim of his own battles, the resilience of his love remained. Now a victim of his past life, the persistence of his memory reclaimed.

The Night By Thomas Loureiro

Night had settled in already, and apart from the streetlights and the moon, nothing else lit up the streets. There were no cars, people or any houses with their lights on. Getting up from his sleep, Tom threw on some clothes and wondered how long this had been going on. At first Tom had not given it much thought. He always had a hard time sleeping and his recent break up could have played a role too. A few months had passed, yet Tom has not been able to fully move on from his ex-girlfriend Amanda. In an effort to calm himself and clear his mind, he got ready for a late night stroll.

As he stepped outside, his mind began to wander. The smell of wet grass and trees reached him, soothing his thoughts. It had just finished raining and the sound of water dripping seemed to have put his mind at ease, with a slow, constant rhythm of sound. Only one thing managed to make his sleepless nights bearable: a single girl managed to light up his entire night. It all began when he wandered into a peculiar café called Terrace. Unlike most of its trade, this one never did close for the night. The owner was an old man who had recently lost his wife due to cancer.

The café helped Mr. Wilson to overcome his depression and provided a will for him to carry on with his life. The only way he could stop the pain and loneliness in his soul was by staying up at night. The unusual thing is that every day after

95 midnight, the place seemed to get deserted with little to no people. Once in a while a few tourists exploring the city would stop by here to eat and enjoy themselves for the night.

This particular night was different, however. After roaming around the city streets, Tom settled in at the café and ordered a coffee. Afterwards, he found himself reminiscing about his Amanda. Frustrated, Tom got up and said goodbye to Mr. Wilson and proceeded to the exit until he noticed a familiar face. For the past few months, Tom has been noticing this woman around this area. Each and every time he saw this woman, he grew more and more curious about her.

This woman was nothing like his previous girlfriend. She had bright blue eyes and had dark, thick, long hair. This mystery lady always seems to be sitting by the corner of the entrance, drinking tea, and looking outside the window. Not once had Tom seen her with anyone else, adding to his wonder and curiosity.

Before opening the door to leave, Tom hesitated. His hand was on the nob but for some reason he could not turn the handle to open the door. He was overwhelmed with the thought of this mystery woman, yet he knew nothing about her. Tom let go of the handle and walked towards her. With each step he took, a small cracking sound from the wooden floors would reverberate through the air of the empty place, echoing in a timeless manner.

“Sorry to interrupt you miss, would you like some company?” said Tom. For a while there was no response and the mystery woman continued to look out towards the window. “I have seen you around here a few times. Do you remember

97 seeing me here?” murmured Tom. Again, a few moments passed by with no response.

Growing uneasy, Tom raised his voice and yelled out “UMM HELLO!”

However, this time, the mystery women turned her head towards him. Her facial expressions remained the same and her face appeared empty with no emotion.

“Do you see that outside the window?” whispered the lady in a soft, yet chilling voice.

Tom glanced out the window and did not notice anything unusual. Puzzled, he looked out again, focusing his eyes out towards the sky and street lights. The moon was fully bright and the streets were empty with nobody around.

Tom saw Amanda standing outside. She continued to gaze into his eyes.

Frightened, Tom looked away and turned back to the mystery lady, but he only found an empty chair and fresh hot tea on the small table.

Tom was in a state of confusion, unsure of what he had just seen. Words could not describe what he felt that next moment, for both women were looking straight at him.

He stood there frozen, with a frightened glare as he tried to make sense of the situation. They continued to look back at him as they slowly vanished into thin air. He was left with the beautiful night sky and the silence of the wind.