The Tenth Muse Science Park High School Literary Magazine 2016-2017 Advisor Mr. Townsend Executive Council Amber Haynes, Jahlin Fernandez, Joanne Mouynivong, Franchesca Ortega, Eric Lima, and Joao De Andrade The Tenth Muse is dedicated to the Executive Council. Table of Contents Title Author Page(s) Let Her Go Pedro Dias 1 Pistanthrophobia David Asafu-Adjaye 2 Self-Apartheid Qua'janae James 3 The Black Woman Imani Taylor 4 Restoring Our Race Maryum Bhatti 5 Overthinking Isn’t Fun Jhon Beltran 6 Reasons Amanda Barreto 7 Too Fast Nancy Ayala 8 Always There Sianna Arruda 9 Empty Words Darryn Brown 10 Momentary Escape Henry Cardona 11 The Concrete Jungle Devan Chattergoon 12 Stayed Too Soon Luana Chociai 13 The Transition Klaivert Chuquirima 14 Ravishing Reverie Ann Darrosa 15 Route 280 Joao De Andrade 16 Renewal Alexandra Dipre 17 The Blissful Secret Rubelquis D’Oleo 18 Sweet Dreams Lucianna Duarte 19 Guiding Hands Nicole Elorduy 20 Our Little Prince Louis Fernandes 21 Insomnia Jahlin Fernandez 22 My Bella Cristina Ferreira 23 Harambe Skye Ferreira 24 America’s Pastime Justin Fidalgo 25 War on Love Ricardo Figueiredo 26 For Park Sarah Freitas 27 Life Katherine Gil 28 No Longer Tania Gafanha 29 Spice Keven Gomescoello 30 Scared Puppy Yamirka Gonzalez 31 Finding Toulouse Liandra Gutierrez 32 Eternal Separation Amber Haynes 33 My Lonely Life Trinity Headen 34 Going to the Show Yunior Hernandez 35 Serendipity Kiera Husbands 36 Nightmares Joyce Jimenez 37 Angel of Joy Lovely Laguerre 38 Winter Blues Katelynn Lavin 39 Darker Than Black Yaxel Levin 40 Trapped Eric Lima 41 The Captain’s Ship Ernesto Molina 42 The Great Struggle Jadzia Muñoz 43 Dependency Adriana Noboa 44 Time Regina Oliveira 45 Cycle Ana Pinto 46 Melted Snow Jaylene Rodriguez 47 A Distant Love Sabrina Santos 48 Fluffy Friend Danny Jimenez 49 Light Daria Timura 50 End of Spring Wesley Ureña 51 The Missing Piece Kathleen Vega-Conza 52 Just Another Brick in the Wall Brian Zeas 53 All Is Lost Rocio Uzeta 54 Longing For Her Julio Torres 55 Bare Flower Danté Thomas 56 Soccer Ana Lucia Silveira 57 True Wealth Theodoro Silva 58 All The Same Wilson Pratts 59 Escaping to the Sound Jaylene Rodriguez 60 - 72 One Last Song Brian Zeas 73 - 84 Brother Trinity Headen 85 - 98 Vintage Apparel By Mr. Townsend Eradicate all metaphors and puns That fix the mind on multi-layered meaning; Forget alliterative verse that shuns All those who think sweet melody demeaning; Eradicate inversions that invert Main clauses with their modifying phrases; Forget archaic words that do revert To courtly poets’ ornamental praises; Eradicate the meter that does hold The rhythm uniform from beat to beat; Forget constructed rhyme that does unfold A pattern of related sounds complete; For to rely on these conventions past Prevents the muse from being hence recast. Let Her Go By Pedro Dias The moon so beautiful stands in the sky, Providing solace in the midst of night, Displaying her grace to all those with eyes, With her amazing gaze she shines so bright. She stands so close, yet I cannot touch her, Her beauty shines brighter than all the stars, Time looking at her goes by in a blur, When she leaves, I hope my heart has no scars. Will she be there when I need her the most To light up my sky in the wake of dark, To make my heart move like waves on a coast, To give me hope with her dazzling spark? I ponder if I should follow her glow, Or lose my emotions and let her go. (Winner of Mr. Townsend’s AP Lit 2016-2017 Sonnet Competition) 1 Pistanthrophobia By David Asafu-Adjaye The calming winds are silent ’gainst a shriek, A sea of thought, all intellect devoid; The frame by which those lovely words you speak, Would, into pieces die, quickly destroyed. The waves which ’gainst the sandy shore will beat, Might forward bring the blare of beating drums, And pools of hope be soaked up, then deplete, A coward’s gloomy chant calls death in hums. And yet the air you breathe has given life, Though one should sadly find their windpipe choked, But fear the wisdom of the christened knife, Which out of birth, holds danger when provoked. The threat which stands will stem for those betrayed, The objects of trust now make you afraid. (Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s AP Lit 2016-2017 Sonnet Competition) 2 Self-Apartheid By Qua'janae James The history that is taught is filled with lies, To be born “black” is something I despise; My soul does shriek like children’s piercing cries, The stories of the past are so disguised. While you can trace generations back, Your great grandparent’s friend or foe, I think we need to face pressing facts, Being “black” is all I will truly know. Your land is but a few stops from my own, Just tell me from where did your blue ships sail, Self-hate is what we too are sadly prone, Like in the past my people will prevail. To create change, learn info that’s not new, Because like me, the truth was hid from you. (Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s AP Lit 2016-2017 Sonnet Competition) 3 The Black Woman By Imani Taylor In generation after generation, Your beauty has been questioned and thus doubted. The crushing pain became the base foundation, From which a black, fierce flower thus sprouted. Buried so deep like the forgotten treasures, Concealed below the feet of the rude tyrant, Suppressing cries to catastrophic measures, The strong black woman always stands more virent. When your skin glistens under the bright sun, It’s clear that you are perfectly unique. Dark, fluffy curls, makes hair days much more fun, Great qualities make you so far from bleak. Take pride and strut through life like a sweet queen, Black beauty is an honor to be seen. (Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s AP Lit 2016-2017 Sonnet Competition) 4 Restoring Our Race By Maryum Bhatti It's the presence of black and brown bodies That threatens the liberty of the white man; The hate has become part of their hobbies, And slavery is where it all began. From the early mornings in the cotton field To ceaseless cruelty and oppression, Slavery was a wound that never healed, For it fostered a lot of aggression. Racism itself is existing still, Since unjust acts leave people horrified, Getting our rights is what we will fulfill, For this is the reason why many died. Let us continue to uplift each other, Because we have to move our race further. (Finalist in Mr. Townsend’s AP Lit 2016-2017 Sonnet Competition) 5 Overthinking Isn’t Fun By Jhon Beltran The thoughts I’ve dreamt will never leave the mind Though fear in strife does always love to cloud; I see that life and pain are intertwined, The worries in my head are much too loud. My home is full of oceans that are rough, I pray every day for them to recede, But hurricanes will be there sure enough, Thus, sadly, I cannot move to proceed. And once my thoughts take my mind as hostage, The storm’s waves splash and make my mind go round; Gone and dark in this horrific wastage; No! Fight, I will, to reach the clear foreground. If I could control the way my thoughts arrived, Distinct I’d be in the world of deprived. 6 Reasons By Amanda Barreto The pretty colors danced a thousand hues; When you laughed, butterflies came out to play; In that moment, I knew that my world was you, You made me believe things would be okay. Spring changed into summer; I looked for shade; Your smile was warmer than the blazing sun; I couldn’t get enough, I grew afraid, Nothing lasts, but I didn’t want to run. Winter arrived, you had to say goodbye, As the snow fell, you forced me to let go; You could not stay, I will never know why, You left too soon, I could not blame you though. You were with me one day and gone the next; That’s how life works, what more can I expect? 7 Too Fast By Nancy Ayala I feel my heart strike hard against my ribs; My body, fighting the deep shifty sea, The darkness and the water calling dibs, On me, how, oh! How I wish I could just flee. Then, my body goes crawling with fervent fear, I can't give into the strong evil gloom, Things slowly become a bit more unclear, And just too quickly it starts to consume. Unexpectedly, I see the bright light, Red complexion followed by orange hues, Warmth spreading like exploding dynamite, Sending away all of the sea’s abuse. And now my lungs can breathe with all their might, Leaving the dark behind, I welcome light. 8 Always There By Sianna Arruda A common thought creeps slowly in my head, Why am I always thinking of just you? They say, “stay away,” I scorn them instead, You are harmful, but I cannot break through. You are always there when I am in need; You are heavenly and sweet and a blessing; If I let you go I will not succeed, But you have other lovers I am guessing. Chocolate, many don't know you’re my center, You make me feel like I’m finally whole; All I have to say is bless your inventor; Chocolate, you are a part of my soul. If you ever leave me, I will be lost, I would not replace you at any cost.