Jongleur 2018
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PUBLICATION The Jongleur is an annual publication of student work that is formatted and edited by a student staff. It is created for both the benefit of Louisiana State University at Alexandria and the distinctive voice of its students. Individual authors and visual artists retain copyright. © Spring 2018 Jongleur Louisiana State University at Alexandria 8100 Highway 71 South Alexandria, La 71302 2 EDITOR’S NOTE It has been a year since the smell of fresh pages have graced our noses (what we can smell despite the pollen anyway). Many students have graduated, many more have enrolled. LSUA is growing community of both artistic and analytical minds, and we aspire to give a platform for them both. This year we were reminded to include pieces from Humanities Conference, an annual event that helps students practice speaking and researching skills. It is important that hard work is rewarded, and these students worked their tails off. Additionally, due to last year’s success, we got more people submitting! Our numbers are slowly growing, and I am ecstatic of the progress. This year, we were not able to accept everything due to length requirements, but the work we have chosen represents only a portion of our diverse individuals here at LSUA. I continue to encourage those who have something to say or express to act. It does not matter if your medium is Times New Roman, colored pencils, or a computer mouse. You, matter, and only you can see the world through your eyes and we’re all anticipating seeing it. I want to leave off with a quotation from Linda Thompson, “Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life molds us into fascinating begins. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this together.” If this was one of the hardest years for you, you are not alone. If it was one the greatest you’ve ever had, you are not alone. If this year, you managed through, you accomplished what you set out to do but not much else, you are not alone. Take pride in what you have completed. You worked hard for it. Always, Kennedy Runyan Editor, 2018 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There is nothing like holding your work, or anyone’s work for that matter, in your hands. A concrete representation of all the effort, the struggles, and the triumph. For this opportunity, I would like to thank the CFO of LSUA, Deron Thaxton, once again. People are slowly being consumed in the digital world, and it can be a magazine such as this one that reminds them they can’t live there, but they can thrive here. Furthermore, I would like to thank our English Dept. for fronting the funds for the contest once more. I am eternally grateful that they see as much potential as I do in the Jongleur. This year, I was not the only student staff member, which is fantastic! Our small student staff of one transformed into a crew of four. While working on this project we had many unofficial meetings on the library floor, discussions between classes, and 3am conversations. Sometimes we didn’t always agree, and we took the skills we’ve learned here at LSUA to back up our cases. However, there was not one unenjoyable moment. So, to Carli Smith, thank you for emailing students during the email changeover where many things were lost and recovered, and thank you also for your constant communication throughout. To Victoria Bloodworth, thank you for having strong opinions of your own but listening to others. You are able to see the work as it stands and not because of who stands behind it and that is a valuable skill. To Brody Kennen, who not only helped me with formatting and layout, but who entertained my constant ramblings at all hours about the Jongleur. Lastly, and certainly not the least, I’d like to thank Dr. Gallagher and Mr. Alai for their continued influence and advice. They are constantly checking me, showing me my mistakes, and teaching me how to fix them. Enjoy. Kennedy Runyan Editor, 2018 4 WINNERS Prose: 1 Place: “A Concert From the Muses” Kennis Gremillion 2nd Place: “See You Around” Brandon Pitchford 3rd Place: “My Sunshine” Gabrielle Hooper Honorable Mention: “The Alexandria Conspiracy” Ben Gremillion Poetry: 1st Place: “Little Toy Boats” Kennis Gremillion 2nd Place: “The Silence Between” Kristin Lea Curtis 3rd Place: “She is the Flowers” Cortland Castro Honorable Mention: “Even Though You Have Gone Away” Cecilie Ting Mortensen Papers: 1st Place: “An Examination of the Chivalric Code in A Song of Ice and Fire” Kristin Curtis 2nd Place: “Icarus’ Influence on Suffering: Affected and Unaffected” Komal Shabih 3rd Place: “Dr. Faustus” and Unsound Theological Reasoning” Benjamin Sanson Honorable Mention: “SAA: Smartphone Addicts Anonymous” Cailey Scadlock Art: 1st Place: “Untitled” Brianna Morace 2nd Place: “Smoke” Saije Cousin 3rd Place: “A Personal Visual from Nirvana’s “Help me, I’m Hungry” Kenady Dauzat Honorable Mention: “Untitled” Harli Matt 5 CONTENTS Publication ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Editor’s Note ................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 4 WINNERS ...................................................................................................................................... 5 A Concert from the Muses .............................................................................................................. 9 An Unprecedented Reunion .......................................................................................................... 11 The Alexandria Conspiracy: A Joel Knight Story ........................................................................ 17 My Sunshine ................................................................................................................................. 24 See You Around ............................................................................................................................ 26 An Excerpt of The Cadmian Awakening ...................................................................................... 28 Little Toy Boats ............................................................................................................................ 33 Me and Poetry ............................................................................................................................... 35 Haiku #15 ...................................................................................................................................... 35 A Mother’s View on Adolescence ................................................................................................ 36 Superheroes ................................................................................................................................... 37 Night Child’s Prayer ..................................................................................................................... 38 To Be Continued ........................................................................................................................... 39 She is the Flowers ......................................................................................................................... 40 Madea’s Porch .............................................................................................................................. 41 Blank ............................................................................................................................................. 42 Mall Bird ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Even though You Have Gone Away ............................................................................................. 43 Haiku #3 ........................................................................................................................................ 43 To Be a Poet .................................................................................................................................. 44 Contemplation ............................................................................................................................... 44 The Silence Between..................................................................................................................... 45 Haiku #12 ...................................................................................................................................... 45 My Muse ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Passion .......................................................................................................................................... 47 6 Connection .................................................................................................................................... 48 Fluorescent Lights ......................................................................................................................... 48 Grief: Stage One ..........................................................................................................................