CHRESTO MATHY Chrestomathy (from the Greek words krestos, useful, and mathein, to know) is a collection of choice literary passages. In the study of literature, it is a type of reader or anthology that presents a sequence of example texts, selected to demonstrate the development of language or literary style The Poetry Issue TOYIA OJiH ODUTOLA WRITING FROM THE SEVENTH GRADE, 2019-2020 THE CALHOUN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 SADIE HAWKINS Fairy Tale Poem I Am Poem Curses are fickle. You may have heard the story, I am loyal and trusting. Sleeping Beauty, I wonder what next and what now? The royal family births a child I hear songs that aren’t played, An event like this is to be remembered in joy by I see a world beyond ours, all. I want to travel. Yet it was spoiled, I am loyal and trusting, Why, you ask? I pretend to be part of the books I read. The parents, out of fear, made a fatal mistake. I feel happy and sad, They left out one guest. I touch soft fluff. One of the fairies of the forest, I worry about the future, The other three came, all but one. I cry over those lost. When it came for this time for the gifts it I am loyal and trusting happened. I understand things change, This is the story of Maleficent. I say they get better. This is my story. I dream for a better world, I try to understand those around me. It had come, I hope that things will improve, The birth of the heir I am loyal and trusting. To the throne of the kingdom All knew of the princess, even us in the forest. When it was time for the invites my three Haiku sisters got one The sun shines, flowers bloom, As everyone in the land did, The world continues and yet Except for one, Something has forever altered. Except for me. When it came time for the gifts I arrived. The petals once flew I bestowed one gift to the child. The grass once grew, but now all “Upon this child’s 13th birthday, remains still, worried. They shall prick their finger on a spinning wheel, Ode And there on the floor they shall collapse, Have you heard the story? Never moving.” The story of the little tree, Petty, I know. That grew despite all the tall trees But you see; Taking all of the sunlight from it. Curses are a fickle thing. That it grew till the sunlight would shine on its Over time it changed, evolved. leaves, Instead of certain death And the rain would splatter its branches. She would fall into a coma. It grew, till it was tall like those near it, This had one issue. Despite what was presumed of it. True love’s kiss When the tree had reached the top Now that it wasn’t certain, another sapling appeared below, fate could be rewritten. And thus, began the cycle. The coma lasted for years, May you always over grow your own problems. But as all things do It ended. The prince arrived, Gifts and knowledge were bestowed upon him by my sisters. 2 When that day ended KEITH JOHNSON a new queen and a king were crowned. Their reign was long and glorious, I Am Full of peace and laughter. Curses are fickle, but they're not always bad. I am funny and charming Snapshot of My Brother I wonder when the world is going to end You see the restaurant, outside with sun shining down heavily, I hear the sound of cars driving by as I fall Parasols used to create shadows above the asleep tables. The pebbles on the ground are shining in the I see the sun’s gaze upon my face as I wake up sun, The table in the center, four chairs around it, I want the world to be a safe place Almost just like every table there. But something is different, one chair with a I am funny and charming young child sitting on it. The chair is falling, the front legs of the chair in I pretend like I’m faster than everyone the air. The child's face, trapped in shock and surprise. I feel good whenever someone laughs at my Many people haven’t noticed yet. joke The moment shatters, the kid hits the ground. Everyone turns, seeing them on the ground, I touch a land where everyone is happy An employee rushes to check if they're okay, Their parents ask the same question, I worry that I’ll die in a painful way “Are you okay?!” The child reassures them both, I cry when I think about what might happen if A scrape is on the child's shoulder my family was to die The only mark of the incident. I am funny and charming Shadow Poem I understand that not everyone likes to joke The silent movement, around Warping and flickering. Quiet and sneaking, yet I say that in funny also joking and playful. A personality of a practical joke. I dream that people won't judge me Harmless, yet giving a small fright. Watching from a distance, I try to take people seriously Having an opinion, but never speaking. Watching, observing you, sometimes with a I hope that everybody stays safe from the quiet smile coronavirus Or a nervous frown. Worried for you. I am funny and charming 3 I Don’t Know Some people in different countries wonder when the next attack is coming, I don’t know why I think I’m fast Not like those who worry when their designer I don’t know why people have such strong bias clothes are coming. I don’t know the reasoning for life or death I don’t know the meaning for us to exist Images Poem I don’t know what goes on inside someone else's Optical illusions obsess me head I daydream about pictures that make no sense I don’t know why I don’t feel more attached to the things I should I return to the picture of me playing video games in times of stress Something that I could look at for hours is Haiku viewing something from far away The wind flows without When I look at this picture it allows me to understand how little we are, how vast our The tree sways unattended world is, Water runs silent how it is nothing more than a piece of cereal floating in a bowl World Issues Rant If I Owned a Word I hate the people who are still racist, still sexist If I owned a word I would use it for everything At this point and time in the world it makes no sense I would take pride in it How can you still be these things when the I would use to defend myself and attack if world is in such a bad shape? needed I hate people who complain about crazy things, I would use my word only once in a while, like if their new car they just got for their though, eleventh For my word would become dull if I were to birthday wasn't the right color abuse it Meanwhile Some people are on the street who I would make a rule that only those I allow still don't get enough to eat with no home in should use this word sight Unless I pass it on to another Even if they're drunk with beer, have no fear 4 Yellow You can say goodbye to all the confusion that you have been through, Yellow, All the worries, and all the self-doubt, It is the color of the heavens, Saying goodbye only matters when you care, It rains over anything in its way, It can be a pet, friend, object, family, It does not argue, for there is no need, It can be anything you want, Everything is meaningless in the presence of yellow, You can say goodbye to anything that you really care for, It keeps everything in check, Goodbye means a lot more than a "See you It shines down on those who do evil, later," It casts out all shadows, So don't use goodbye lightly Nothing is hidden from yellow, For yellow sees and knows all, LYDIA BAYKO When yellow is happy everybody should relish Me If yellow is angry then your skin shall be burned Lidian, Lillian, Lillia, Bella, Lila, Olivia, Livia. All names I have been called, and will be called. Yellow is the color that lines the heavens None of these names feel quite right, but I don’t feel like correcting them. Small birds and Saying goodbye squirrels scrabble on the inside of my stomach, searching desperately for the light. A kaleidoscope of emotions and a distorted For me, saying goodbye can be used for world-view shine through my irises. everything, Dreamer is written in dark red ink across my But please understand it is only used when you forehead; But how could I not? There is so care, much to see and do that my mind is the only If someone say goodbye with no emotion don't place I can truly be outside of a strict regimen feel bad, of day-to-day rituals. You can only change yourself and that's all that matters, I both adore and despise mirrors. Once you have found a resolution to your The only time I enjoy the sheets of glass is problem you can say goodbye, when the Sun has gone to sleep and everything 5 is blanketed in shadow.