Original unicorn design © 1993 by Oscar Borges The purpose of The Unicorn, St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School’s literary arts collection, is to encourage literary and artistic endeavours by publishing students’ work, and to showcase the many talents of St. Mary’s students to the community. Publisher: A. Della Mora Jurors: J. Cafiso J. Choi C. Gould J. Kielar C. Vitullo Faculty Advisors: E. Baguinho C. Falzon C. Giro Editor: Jordan Ronco Assistant Editor: Mary John Thayalanayakan Layout Editors: Jordan Ronco Mary John Thayalanayakan Scanning, Imaging, PDF File, and Website Link: Diego Ripley Typesetters: Diana Ribeiro and Jordan Ronco Copy Editor and Proofreaders: E. Baguinho and the Writing Class of 2008 Special thanks to the following for their invaluable support: St. Mary’s English Department The Writing Class of 2008 Ms. A. Romano Graphic Consultant: Anapaula Da Costa Printer: Carlos Pereira, TCDSB Printing We apologize for any errors and omissions. N.B.: Unicorn Publication provides a forum for the rights of expression consistent with the submission guidelines and our Gospel values. Each submission is pre- viewed, and may be edited. By submitting your work, you acknowledge that the Unicorn has the right to reproduce and publicize those works or any part thereof. Copyright © 2008 Copyright remains with the writers and artists. oetry Contributors PChristian Abcede Kevin Hana Ricardo Alves Ali Kassam Brandon Andrade Tristan Luyks William Andrade Philip Ionadi Manny Augusto Mary Chandrika John Thayalanayakan Ricky Araujo Paulin John Thayalanayakan Marko Bakos Randy Mathews Natasha Kathleen Bautista Sabrina McIntyre Michelle Belfon Brian Medeiros Apolonia Brasil Laura Medeiros Walker Cascales Beau Melo Tabatha Copping Carlos Mendes Ronark Correia Kevin Moniz Edgar Correos Christine Nanteza Diogo Costa David Oliveira Linda Cotrina Jessica Orense Vanessa da Silva Dias Carren Osorio Peter Dang Luis Plaza Nicholas Denis Grant Steve de Quintal Brandon Diaz Diana Ribeiro Julydelma De Ramos Diego Ripley Amanda De Sousa Eduardo Rodriguez Stephanie Dos Reis Jordan Ronco Laura Dubicki Wilfred H.B. Shakespeare Dennis Ferreira Anna Sierra Filomena Filippelli Candida Silva Mark Gahite Joshua Smith Thomas Gargula Diana Vaz Nigel Garnette Radek Wylupek Tiare Gutierrez V isual Artists Alex Saenz Amanda de Sousa Kristel Mitchell William Andrade O ur lympiads O First Place Winning Poem: Like an Unheard Song I am like an unheard song craving to be listened to. I speak a thousand words with a million meanings. I can be a tune of acrimony and bitterness but my chorus is authentic, passionate, charming. Those yearning to hear my harmony will soon realize my complexity. Fast, uplifting, crazy is my song with a never-before-heard one-of-a-kind beat a beat to a different drum, lyrics with intense emotion that will leave an imprint in your mind. my rhythm, overflowing with creativity. If you listen to this song you will discover no ending for this unheard song is still being written By Jessica Orense Second Place Winning Poem: Waiting Curly brown hair drops down my face a smile shining on my lips with my innocent sparkling eye glittering so bright my shadow dances in the moonlight. I waited all that time. Sitting on the orange road line the taxi I waited for never came. I wanted, I wished, to yell her name. ―Come inside Sabrina‖ – a murmuring voice – I sighed once again – she’s not coming. Walking in the door with tears in my eyes frustration and pain burning my skin. The picture of me in her arms when I was a baby – I ripped that picture in several pieces – like she tore my heart in several places. How can I ever call you mom? How can I ever have the joy with you, like before? By Sabrina McIntyre Honourable Mention: Light Great light illuminating all around, casting shadows beyond its reach in which things are hidden that the light would not go near for the light can only go where it’s wanted By Tristan Luyks F aceoff A Soldier's View Lock and load as I get ready to go My team with me, leading my force to victory We're in this for freedom hopefully to one day reach history We move on, undetected in the shadows laying low We move toward enemy territory My force is behind me all the way for better or worse I know if we make it back we will need a nurse Even though we might die, we had our time, we had our glory I cannot tell if I will come back in a body bag, but if I do, then I accept my fate I'm worried that no matter how much I pray I will not live to tell or see another day I can only do what I do best and hope that it is not too late By Brian Medeiros Amigo Amigo é paz. Inimigo é guerra. Você tem amigo pra quê? Você tem inimigo pra quê? Agente não quer só amigos. Agente quer paz no lugar de guerra. Agente não quer só a paz. Agente quer amigos em toda a terra. Agente não quer guerra. Agente quer mais que uma nação Agente quer dela a união Amigo é paz Inimigo é guerra Você tem amigo pra quê? Você tem inimigo pra quê? By Laura Medeiros Winter War I delve at the sword in the blood-covered snow The scene makes me aspirate I can no longer feel my pulse I feel like I am going to cry maybe just die maybe fly away from this pain There is nothing to gain so many reasons to care this war is not fair to fight this cold-blooded war I look up at the sky and ask myself why? Why do we have to watch people suffer? Why do we have to hurt our partners? Why do we have to fight this unbearable war? Why this winter war? By Amanda De Sousa My Plea I am not you but you will not give me a chance will not let me be me If I were you but you know I am not you yet you will not let me be me You meddle, interfere in my affairs as if they were yours and you were me You are unfair, unwise foolish to think that I can be you talk and act and think like you God made me as me He made you as you for God's sake let me be me! By Julydelma De Ramos Life’s Way Lived much too long all will is gone war raged and ravaged so much death so much decay sadness trickles tears fill an ocean Live so Oh, so long a life an end filled with song yesterday has gone today is Oh, so frozen The future bleak I was Oh, so meek morning fill with dew Twilight came about where dark and light come together By Christian Abcede His Nothing, Her Everything For all that we’ve spent and been through together only to throw it away really, only when I was with you was everything better gullible was I, but I will not end bitter in turn, I shall not harbour animosity towards you vengeance is good for nobody even for you; you will not ruin me never will I sink that low everyday from now on is a new one sad as it may be, we won’t be together sad as it may be, I forgive you for ruining everything By Tiare Gutierrez other M N ature Winter Haiku The silent snow falls Snowflakes soft as a feather White as a rabbit By Diogo Costa In the white winter Snow falls from the sky above And lands on my tongue By Brandon Andrade Cold weather all day People skating on the ice Snowballs being thrown By Joshua Smith Cold, snowy, windy Children laughing and playing On the empty streets By Philip Ionadi The Light His feet heavy on the cement sidewalk and his breath came in a gasp. One hand held to the wall of an old building supporting him as he walked the lone streets. The other hand was clamped to his stomach where read blood oozed through his fingers. He was dying. He knew it. His battle was over. He wondered on several things. Would he go to heaven? Was heaven even there? Did he waste his life? His life’s work was devoted to God and the church, to heaven and he didn’t even know if it was real. The pain in his stomach sharpened and the man in black robes dropped to his knees.. This is it he thought. The pain started to dull and his hand dropped from the wound on his stomach. The hand resting on the wall fell as a bright light hit him, blinding him. He fell as a bright light in the dirt of the old sidewalk, his own blood forming a puddle around him. One last gasp for air and he was gone, and so was the light. By Stephanie Dos Reis Mother Nature Wrinkles filled with wisdom, crows feet of the past. gray hairs of life, deep green eyes of love. She works swiftly with herbs. She lives life with a passion. She loves with all her heart. She cares with all her soul. She is my role model. The one I want to be. She is smart, elegant, beautiful. She is everything and everywhere. She has seen, felt, and heard what no other has. She is earth. She is rain. She is life. By Stephanie Dos Reis Daydreaming …At the beach, watching the sunset the sky’s light shade of orange the wind lightly blowing my hair such an inspiring view I look to my right glad to see we’re sharing this moment together forever at last… in my thoughts.