Acknowledgements Thanks goes to all of those who helped with Verdant: all contributors of writings; ​ ​ Principal Ginger Gustavson; Assistant Principals Marie Eakin, Maria Edwards, Chenita McDonald and Robert Silvie; Librarians Mr. Kevin Allen, Mrs. Annette Williford, and Ms. Pamela Williams; Captain Shreve’s English teachers Mr. Michael Scott and Mrs. Maureen Barclay. Staff Editors: Brian Chauppetta Rachel Dupree Emily Hurst McAuley Ferrell Grasyn Turpin Faculty Adviser: Michael Scott Verdant 17 is a collection of Captain Shreve’s best student writing from the ​ 2016-2017 school year as selected by the Verdant editorial staff. In this collection ​ ​ you will find essays, narratives, and poems that have received recognition from the Scholastic Writing Awards, Seedlings, Artbreak, and the PTSA Reflections Arts Program. Entries are copyright of their respective owners, and may be reproduced for personal or educational purposes only. For more information, please contact Michael Scott at [email protected]. 1 Table of Contents Prose Letting Go……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 ​ Lilyth Foley Looking Back while Running Forward………………………………………………………………. 11 ​ Lonniqua James Mamboing Back Home………………………………………………………………………………………. 13 ​ Caellen Kimble Breathe in, Breathe Out, Flex Fingers………………………………………………………………. 16 ​ Parker Smith Dear Mr. School Board……………………………………………………………………………………….. 19 ​ William Cooper Letter to My Brother………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 ​ Jordan Jones Love Trump’s Hate……………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 ​ Allison Howell Tan White Girl…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25 ​ Josie Larkins Shout…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28 ​ Amira Thomas A Regular Sunday……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 ​ Tyran Jackson All White Shoes…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35 ​ Jordan Jones Common Sense…………………………………………………………………………………………………... 37 ​ Rachel Dupree One Last Orange………………………………………………………………………………………………... 40 ​ Grasyn Turpin Dear Brown Girl………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 ​ 2 Jayla Williams Poetry The Big Day…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44 ​ Emily Hurst Nine Years of Holding On…………………………………………………………………………………… 46 ​ Grasyn Turpin Heart…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 49 ​ Brian Chauppetta A New, Old Acquaintance………………………………………………………………………………….. 51 ​ Caellen Kimble Bohemian Disaster…………………………………………………………………………………………..… 54 ​ Anne-Marie Auer Beginnings, Middles, and Ends………………………………………………………………………….. 55 ​ Austin Waldon No Mona Lisa………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 57 ​ Lilyth Foley Abandoned…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 58 ​ Erin Smith They Always Talk About My Schizophrenia……………………………………………………… 59 ​ Trevor Herrick The Reason…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 61 ​ Kelsie Payne Dis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63 ​ Cassie Snow The Collector………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 64 ​ Anne-Marie Auer The Dead Ones……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 65 ​ Trevor Herrick Stress et Anxiété………………………………………………………………………………………………… 67 ​ Erin Smith 3 Bath Bomb……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. 68 ​ Victoria Robinson Living in a Tower Built Upon Glass……………………………………………………………………. 69 ​ Austin Waldon #growingupblack……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 71 ​ Jamiah Marshall Old Man, New Man…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 73 ​ Ashlin Thomas To Those with a Brother…………………………………………………………………………………….. 75 ​ Amanda Hightower Airplane Mode……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 79 ​ Chelsea Fuller Heroin…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 81 ​ Emily Colgin The Highwaywoman……………………………………………………………………………….............. 83 ​ Georgia Hilburn Empathy…………………………………………………………………………………….............................. 85 ​ Tanner Hines Rich Runaway…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 86 ​ Alexis McClain Complicated Femininity…………………………………………………………………………………….. 88 ​ Tyran Jackson Warning Label Needed………………………………………………………………………………………. 90 ​ Amelia Snow I Am a Man………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 93 ​ Cade Davis Life Changing……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 95 ​ Carly Davis Expectations……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 97 ​ Cassie Snow 4 Frosty………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 100 ​ Joshua Mills Thanks………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 102 ​ Kelsie Payne Mute………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 105 ​ Claire Guin The Innocence of the Child………………………………………………………………………………. 107 ​ Sherridan Wilson Songs to Say Goodbye………………………………………………………………………………………. 109 ​ Emily Colgin Yes = No…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 113 ​ Parker Smith City in Flames……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 116 ​ Shakira Frierson My Feet Swing Back and Forth………………………………………………………………………… 118 ​ Alexis McClain An Ode to Musicians………………………………………………………………………………………... 121 ​ Charlie O’Brien Annalise…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 123 ​ Brian Chauppetta A Response to a Quote by Osho………………………………………………………………………. 125 ​ Chase Harner The Further……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 127 ​ Dawson Weathers Opinions, Hand-Delivered…………………..…………………………………………………………… 128 ​ Jacob Wise Because I’m not a Writer…………………………………………………………………………………. 131 ​ Jamiah Marshall Dear Photoshop……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 134 ​ Taylor Guin 5 Star’s Sky…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 136 ​ Jayla Williams Expect Something…………………………………………………………………………….................... 138 ​ Sherridan Wilson 15 Years, but 4 Hours……………………………………………………………………………………….. 139 ​ Laura Leigh Lawrence 10 Year Old Kid…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 140 ​ Liberty Johnson Anxiety………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ​ 141 Lindsay Reynolds There’s No Freedom…………………………………………………………………………………………. 144 ​ Lindsey Kelly Deformity………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 146 ​ Malina Martinez Spots………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 148 ​ Mary Catherine Douglas We Will Never Know…………………………………………………………………………………………. 150 ​ Olivia Hilburn Just Me………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 152 ​ Samaria Tillman Father/Daughter………………………………………………………………………………………………. 154 ​ Taylor Guin Day to Day………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 156 ​ Francisco Guzman Thrice Pondered……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 158 ​ Rachel Dupree Sirens………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 159 ​ Tanner Hines 6 Trapped…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 161 ​ Lindsey McGeorge Save Yourself……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 162 ​ Laura Leigh Lawrence Reflection………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 165 ​ Emily Hurst Violated…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 167 ​ Lindsey McGeorge The Friend That Never Came…………………………………………………………………………… 171 ​ Mary Catherine Douglas Wendy Darling………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 173 ​ McAuley Ferrell 7 8 Letting Go Lilyth Foley Auribus teneo lupum, ‘I hold a wolf by the ears’ ​ This water between us is so coated with algae that I can’t see the blue of clear skies anymore. My reflection is lost in this ugly shade of green–not like the ripe color of your eyes. You’re too pure to stick your toe in, but I’m too selfish to find my way across. You promised to teach me how to swim when we first found this place, do you remember? When we were kids, stumbling into something precious with the foolish idea that we would own it forever? Maybe we should’ve been more careful about getting our hands dirty. But it was so tempting, all perfect and untouched, do you remember? Back then I could’ve traded your eyes for mine and everything would’ve looked exactly the same. What’s changed with you? You look different from this side of the world, something about the way the sun hits your hair. The reflection of the light off your already golden head. Tell me, do you feel brighter now without my shadow at your feet? I know the birds sing louder over here without your voice to suffocate them. Do people see you clearly now that my presence isn’t there to keep it all out of sight, out of their minds? Tell me. Why is it that the ground at your feet looks so clean, when my vision erupts into chaos every time I look at you? When trees are clashing, when the river is spitting up water, when wind is tearing away any sign of life, there you are in the midst of it all, oblivious. Too busy laying ruin to the thoughts inside your head to see what you do. Or maybe you do; maybe you’re not as blind as you pretend to be. Or maybe you’re right and I’m just too cynical. God, when do I stop making excuses for you? You are perfectly capable of coming up with your own stories–better than anyone I know. 9 When am I going to stop treating you like that fragile little bird I found who wasn’t ready to be freed from its nest? We both know the image you painted in every one’s mind isn’t of you; you stand taller than me. So when am I allowed to stand on my own? When do you give me my freedom? I want so desperately just to take it from you, but every time, I can feel them watching me out of the corners of their eyes. Even now. Why is it that I’m the only one who sees what you do? Is it because I love you so well? Because the heat that you enkindle in my veins burns through the delusions that you inspire? God, I hate you for it. But even for that I hate myself. What I wouldn’t give to be soaked in oblivion by your purity, your sanctity, your innocence… I wouldn’t give anything. The truth of it is: this water between us is too deep to work through and I don’t know how to swim without you. 10 Looking Back