KatelynMoses
AdugoOkafor
KasiOkafor
AngieLaguerre
AnnaMaliakal AshleyCarranza
AvaRosa
BetseyVera ChristineCaravajal
DestinyMoreria EmilyEccles
JaydenVierschilling
LillianStead MonaPerez OliviaFakhry OnyekaIfejika TaylorEccles
MiaKelly
CatherineCar EmilyCordeiro
ClubModerators
Mrs.RotoloandMrs.
ClubMembers2021-2022
Perugini CoverArtcreatedbyCatherineCar
MyThoughtson“Fixing”People
Ialwaysgoforthebrokenones theonesincapableoflove theonesthatyouhaveafewamazingmomentswith, butyou’retoostuckinyourownhead torealizethatotherwisehedoesn’tcare. Itriedfixinghim.
Whatawasteofmyvaluabletimeandenergy. WhenIneededhimthemost Herepaidmewith“Youarethehorriblepersonyoubelieveyourselftobe,don’tyouknow that?”
“I’matoxicperson.I’mnotsurewhyyouputsomuchenergyintome.”
BecauseIcared.
Throughyourbroken,shatteredheart, SometimesIcouldputthepiecesbacktogether andseewhyIfoundhappinesswithyou. Ishould’velistenedtomyfriends. ButbeforeIrealizedIcouldn’tfixyou,youbrokeme. BeforeIrealizedIcouldn’tfixyou,youtoldme,“I’vemovedon,Idon’tneedyouanymore.I honestlyneverdid.”
-LilianStead
ForgetMeNots
Isprinkletheseedsintothesofteningground plantingthesebeautifulflowersontheland Iwaitfortheseseedstobloom intopreciouslittleplants flowersnowsproutinthisplaceeachyear oncebarrenearthnowvibrantwithlife alittlebeautyIwillleaveonthisworld forgetmenotForgetMeNots mayyougrowforever
-JaydenVierschilling
Almost Almost
That’safunnyword
Awordcaughtbetweentwopoints
Suspendedinmidairholdingitsbreath
Andforasplitsecondeverythingfreezes
Likethelakesinwinter
Itcouldgoleftorright
Onewayoranother
Itmightbegood,itmightbebad Butthereliestheproblem,doesn'tit?
Almost waitsformetochoose
Butitdoesn’tsaywhichisbetter Situationslike….
I almost fellinlove
OrI almost gotmyheartbroken
Isitrighttotakeachance?
OrshouldIsavemyonlybulletforaclearshot?
I almost lostmyway
OrI almost stayedwhereIwas IguessIdidchoosetowrite
AndIguessI almost finisー
- Katelyn Moses
Untitled
Thisweathermakesmetired
AndIknowthesunshouldmakemeinspired ButallIwanttodoisclosemyeyesandletthissunretire NowyoumightcallmealiarbutallIwanttodoisshutoutthisbigballoffire ButIwilladmit,tosleepinthisbeautifulsunnyandwarmdayisagreatdesire
Icanjustseehowalltheanimalsbaskinthiswormcozysun
Tosleepunderthelightofthesununtilthedayisdone Andtowakeuptoabrightandbeautifulmorning Whereasyougetupandstretchfromyourslumberornap,andfeelthesofteningofthesun
Youcanhearthechirpingofbirds,thewhirlingbreeze,andthesperlingoffreshpollonsprings
Oh,howdeservingitistosleepunderthewarmsunandwaketopeacefulmumsofspring
-DestinyMoreira Peace
Layingunderneaththenicewarmsunwhilebirdschirp Peace Readingabookwithablanketwhileitrainsorsnows Peace
Beingabletotakeadeepbreathwithoutfeelingtrapped Peace
Wemayhavepeacenow,donottakeitforgranted
Otherscravethepeacethattheydonothave
-BetsyVera
SpiritAnimal
Playful,majestic
Insideeveryboyandgirl Captivatinglight
-KasiOkafor
StealingtheSpringAway
Springisintheair
Andthefieldisrakedwithcare
Thegrassislushandgreen Andthedugoutsareclean
Teamscometobattle It’scompetitiveandbrutal Eachwantingvictory Longingtogodowninhistory
Theythrowcatchhitandrun Andplaybecauseit’sfun Theyworkasateam Toachieveashareddream
They’redoingeverythingintheirpowers Theystruggleforhours Theystealspringaway Everytimetheyplay
-AnnaMaliakal
Untitled
Buildingsexploding Childrencrying Parentsdying
Thesearethesignsofwar Buildingsreconstructed Familiesreunited Lifeisbrightened Thesearethesignsofpeace -KasiOkafor
OldWoodenHeart
Oldwoodenpianoinanoldwoodenhouse
Thepetalsclickinsyncwiththefloors
Agasstoveislitwithamatch
Alifestorythroughtheeveropendoors
Thumpthumpthumpinginahouse
Aheartbeatvibratingthroughtheplace
Dimlightingthatflickersatjusttherighttime
Everybodybecomessilenttolistenandwait
Boyonthepianopushesthepetals
Keepingthelifeofthehousebeatingstrong
Everynoteistranslatedthroughthehouse’sdemeanor
Thepausesofsilenceareneverlong
Feelingspooroutwitheveryrichnote
Stealingthebreathofeverylivingcreaturearound
Theheartofthehousewillneverdie
Becausetheboyatthepianolovesthesound
-AvaRosa
AlmightyLove
Heisunselfishinmanyways
Amanthatalwayshasalovingface
Hegiftsuswithhislovinggrace
Allpowerful,butneverawful
Heistheepitomeofloveandthegiftofabove
Evenwhenpeoplearehateful,Healwaysremainsgraceful
He’salwaysbesideme,evenwhenIfeellonely
Iamthankfulforallhisgloryandmighty
ForIwillneverbesorry
-DestinyMoreira
Untitled
Iamcold
Everythingcouldbursttoflames
AndI’dstillbecold
Nomatterwhathappens
Iamalwayssocold
Despitethewarmthothersgive
Iamstillcold
Despitealltheloveintheworld
Iamfreezingcold Alone,dark,desolate
Andso,so,socold
-EmilyCordeiro
Untitled
WhydoIneedtobeonedayinlove?
WhydoIneedsomeprincecharmingtobeaprincess?
WhenI’malreadyaQueen Theyclaimedtheword“engaged”asawayofequalmarriage
But,whyisitthatIammaintained,slavedandcontainedtomylovinghusband Andheisclaimedtonothingandremainsunfazed I’mamazedofhowmuchpraisehereceived WhenallIgotarecomplimentsofhowluckyshouldIbe Sodon'tbebetrayed,whenIrunaway.
-DestinyMoreira
BreaktheSystem
WhenIwatchthenews Istarttogettheblues Seeinghatredanddestruction Abuseofpowerandcorruption Howcouldtheworldcometothis Toenterintoadarkabyss
Ichosetobreakthesystem Nothateothersbutlovethem Theycaninsultmealltheywant Theymaytease,theymaytaunt
ButIknowIchosetherightpath Andthatwillsustainmethroughtheirwrath
Soontheywillseetheerrorsintheirways Theywillchangeandbringaboutbetterdays Whenloverulesoverall Andhatredwillhaveafall
- AnnaMaliakal
Mistletoe
Glisteningsnow Joyfultunes
Oldcartoons
Gingerbreadhouse
Fitforamouse
Withtheclickofapen
It’sDecemberagain
-EmilyEccles
WorldPeace
Wetell childrentobekindandloveeveryone
Wetellchildrentobeniceandgoodtoeachother
Nowinthenewsweseehatredandviolenceandwarshavebegun Weseetheseawfulandterrifyingstoriesoneafteranother
Ijustwonderwhenthishatefulnessintheworldwillend Whenwillthewoundsthatthishatehasleftontheworldmend
Wehearthepageantgirlssay“WorldPeace”
Iwonderifthisispossibleorpartofsomefairytale
BecauseI’mnotsureifthisbitternessinourworldwillevercease Whendidthelessonswelearnaschildrenstarttofail
Whyisthisworldfilledwithhateandhostility Whenitcouldbefilledwithpeaceandtranquility
Noonewantswar,justtheseselfishmeninpower Liveslostsotheycangrowtheirdomain
Theseself-centeredpeopleturntheworldsour Theycaremoreaboutstrengththencausingpain
Weneedtostandwiththosewhoaresuffering Weneedtohelpthemwhilethey’rerecovering
- JaydinVierschilling
HerSirenSong
coolpadsofprunedfingertipsgrazedatanoldsailorsarminanguish hewouldnotgiveintotemptation hewouldnotfallunderthespellofhersirensound notwhensaltywaterwasdrawnintoherheavinglungs notwhendesperatecriesforhelptoreathervocalcords andespeciallynotwhensaltytearswouldclingtohereyelashesandrolldownhercheeksadding anotherdroptotheendlessroaringwatersthatsurroundher
- AM
IAmBlack
IIAm-
IAmBlack-
IamBlackbutthat'sjustthecolorofmyskin
Iamnotadog,Iamnotinhumane
Iamapersonjustlikeyou
Sowhytreatmethewaythatyoudo?
Wearethesame
Yes,Isaid,wearethesame
Webothbleed
Webothheal
WearebothmadeinGod'simage
Butwearedifferent
Ihavegonethroughthingsyouhavenotviceversa
Icanfeel painthatyoucannotviceversa
Ihaveseenthingsyouhavenotviceversa
ButIguessinaway Wereallyarethesame Sowhytreatmedifferently?Becausethecolorofmy skin?
I’mnotscary.Idon’tbite.
AlthoughIhavethickskin(Iamnotasuperhuman)
IwillhurtbutIwillgetbackup
That'swhatIwastaught
ButIknowonethingforsureGodiswithmeatalltimes
Youlearntotoughenupinaworldofdiscrimination
Wedealwithiteveryday
AlthoughIcansay I’mnotsurprisedI’mjusttired
Whenwillitstop?
Idon’twantmyfuturekids
Tostillbedealingwithhateandracism
Whenarewegoingtolearnweareinthistogether?
Notagainsteachother
Isaidtogethernotagainst
Whyisitsohard?
Whyhasitbeenover200hundredyears?
Whyisitthatyoucantalkmytalk
ButwhenIdoit,it’sghetto?
Whyisitthatyoucanwalkmywalk
ButwhenIdoitit’sghetto?
Whycanyouwearmyhair
ButwhenIdoitit’sghetto?
Whycanyoudothingsthatarefrommyculture
ButwhenIdoitit’sghetto?
IIAm-
IAmBlack-
IamBlackbutthat'sjustthecolorofmyskin
Myskinisbeautiful -SimoneTaylor Nigeria
Mostpeoplethinkit’sadesolateplacewithnotechnology.Thatitspeoplearepoorwith nowaterandfood.I’mheretotellyouthatthatisnotthetruth.Nigeriaisaplaceofthriving commerce.Weareinfactthe15thhighestcountrywiththemostoilproduction.It’saplace bustlingwithpeopleandasenseofcommunity.Weareallbrothersandsistersevenwithout blood.Weworktogethertosurvive.Ourcultureisbeautifulwithtraditionalclothingandjewelry wornbyourpeople.Festivalsthrownalmosteveryweekend.Nigeriaisaplaceofexcitement andjoy.
-KasiOkafor
AvaRosa
KatelynMoses
DevanMoses
HannahBarrone
Mixed
“Mixed”,atermIneverunderstoodorknew
ItwaswhenIwas6yearsoldwhenIthoughtthattermwasrude But,tobehonest,Ihadnoclue.
Ihadaskedmyfatherisitbad HestaredatmeandsaidthatIshouldbeglad FornoteveryonehadthesamequalitiesasIdidtohavethat
HesaidIsharedtwocultures AndthatIshouldembraceitwith“amor”
Isharedthecultureofmyfatherwithmylongandbeautifulcurlylocksthatneverseemedto stop.
IhadthefaceofmymotherwhoshowedmewhatastrongbeautifulPuertoRicanwomanwas andbigbrowneyesthataredeep
HesaidthatIamthemodelofanewgeneration
Wheretheexistenceoftwoculturesaremydeclaration
Whereitshouldbeembracedandnotforgotten Butincommon.
-DestinyMoreira
Winter
Shiversintheair
Becarefulofwhatyouwear Teethchatteringaway
Butnotinagoodway
Thisisthetimeoffluseason
Sobesuretodresswithreason Baby,it’scoldoutside Butatleasttheyhaveitworseinthesouthside
-KasiOkafor
ANightInNewOrleans
Thedrummer'sbeatswings
Andamansings
Thesaxophonecarriesthemelody
Youfeeltheband’schemistry
Astheysoloandimprovise Thecrowdgrowsinsize Thepeoplelaughanddance
Theareallcaughtupinatrance
Onlyjazzcanbring Thoughstrangeitseems ThatisjustanightinNewOrleans
-AnnaMakliakal
Untitled
asthenightfalls andtheskyturnsintoamistygray thewitcheswillcome it'stherenighttoplay onallhallow’seve astheyhavebeensummoned bysomedumbchild whohasoughttoforgotten blowingtheblackflamecandle willbringoutacurseoncenearlyforgotten
-
MK
Flicker
Aren’tweallcandles?
Itsoundsabsurdatfirst Butthenpictureyourplacein
Anemptyroom
Onefilledwithdarkness
Filledwiththelostuntil Anoldmansaid‘lettherebelight’
Noweachcandleburnsbrightlyona Mahoganydesk,ancient
Enoughtohavelastedmillennia
Thereitstaysaslightand Darknessbecomeone
Wholitthematch?
Perhapstheoldman Perhapsitself
Nomatter,inthebeginning
Itstandstallbutunstable Itswaxmustbecomestrong Becomesitsfoundation
Suddenlythewindowopens CreakinginthedeadofNight Whoopenedthewindow? Perhapsathief Perhapstheoldman Perhapsitself Regardless,abreezeentersthe Illuminatedemptyroom
Thespecksoffiredimandsway Lightsburnbrighter Lightsgoout
Theoldmanlaterremovesthefaded
Therearelongcandles
Shortcandles
Candlesthatrolledoffhisdesk Candlesinoddshapesandcontortments Candlesthatsetothersaflame
Wheredoeshetakethem?
Perhapstoagarbagecan
Perhapstoanattic
Perhapstoatreasurechest
Whereverhegoes,hecomesbackwith Newcandlestolightupthisemptyroom
Butonecanspotthemeltedwaxsomany leftbehind
Seepingintothewoodandothersaround Nowit’snothingbutamessydesk
Butisthatsowrong?
Becauseallthosefragilecandles Litupsuchanemptyroom
-AdugoOkafor
TheComplexSimplicityofLife
Longingforcomfort
Alongstandingdistress Lingeringscentsinahome
Notabletoforget Aredcardinalonafence.
Alonebutterflypassingby.
Senseofcalminthemadnessoflife. Broughtfromlovedoneswhohavedied.
-AvaRosa
Halloween
Nightsasdarkasmidnight
Childreneverywhereinsight
Alldressedupascreaturesofthenight
Bereadytotakeflight
Trickortreatiswhatyouhear
Onthisnightoffear
DoyouknowwhatitisIspeakof?
Ofcourseit'snoneotherthantheholidaynotcelebratedupabove Halloween
-KasiOkafor
Untitled
Dandelionsdie,
Summerbreezesaysgoodbye, Theyearbeginsagainasyouletoutasigh.
Nomoresuninyoureyes, Nomorebrightblueskies, Butanoddnewfeelingdrownsoutyourwhy’s.
Yourbreathintheair, Orangeleavesinyourhair, Perhapsthischangeisoneyoucanbear. Acrunchbeneathyourfeet, Anabsenceofheat,
Awarmercolorpalettehasarrivedonthestreet. Pickingoutyourhalloweencostume, Thereisasenseofenjoyabledoom. Thesmellofpumpkinarrivesintheroom.
-EmilyEccles
AutumnChill
Autumnhasneverfeltthiscold, Icy,freezing,gloomyfrost
Asitdoeswhenunforeseeneventsunfold Piercing,bitter,disdainfulfrost
Aseasonfilledwithourmemories
Pure,intricate,delicatefrost
TurnedgrayandicywhenIamremembering Frigid,forbidding,unforgivingfrost
-AvaRosa
DoNotOpenThatDoor
Donotopenthatdoor.
Spidersandcentipedescrawlatopthefloor.
Ontheothersideliesyourworstnightmare. Youmustn'tdisturbthewitch’slair. Thewallsarecoveredingooeyslime.
Theroomsmellsofdustandgrime. Horrifyingbeingsrushpastyou.
Theyareallapartofthewitch’screw.
Youtrytoreturnthroughthedoorbutthedeedhasbeendone. Youturntoseethewitch,leavingyouinastun. She’llpointherbonyhandatyou,andshe’lllureyouin.
She’llgiveyouaheadstartsoyouthinkyoucanwin.
Sprintingswiftlydownthetunnel,shebecomesfurtherandfurtheraway Inthemuggy,staleair,you’replayingagameyou’dneverwanttoplay
- EmilyEccles
CreepsAroundintheNight
It’sHalloween. Everyone’scostumesarelookingsoscaryandmean. Bewarywhenyouleavehome
Becausesomethingcanbefollowingyouwhenyouthinkyouareallalone. Whileyouareouttrick-or-treating Themonstersareouthuntingandeating. Becautiousofwhereyoustray
Orelseyouwillbecomeamonster’snextprey
Sobecarefulwhenyougoouttonight
Becauseyoudon’tknowwhatcreepsaroundinthenight.
-OnyekachukwuIfejika
Goodbye
GoodbyeissuchahatefulwordthatIdespise, Itisawordthatlonginglyandloudlycries, Itmakesyouthinkwhy?
WhydoIhavetosayGoodbye?
Whycan’tyoujuststayandmakesomemoretime?
IknowthatIshouldbeaccepting, ButifIwas,Iwouldjustspreadmorelies Thereisnothingbuttearsinmyeyes Oh,HowmuchIdespisegoodbyes!
DestinyMoreira
Untitled
It’swarmoutforfall
Yettheleavesstilldrop
Thesummersunshouldbelonggone Butitshinesbrightly,dryingouttheleaves
Imissthechillthatcomeswithfall Oftencomplementedbyagentlebreeze
Asthewarmthofpumpkins,sweatersandapplecider Prepareusfortheoncomingfrost
Fallisgettingsohotthatitlosesitswarmth HurricanesandfloodstakeoverHalloween Daysoncespentwithfamilyandfriendsspentinisolation Nothingmorethananostalgicfeeling
Astheclimatechangeswechangeto Lifegetsalittlecolder Theearthgetswarmerbytheday Whenwillwerealizethatwearemakingamistake
- AvaRosa
APieceOfPeace
apieceofpeaceisalliwant achunkofhopeisallineed fightingforstupidreasonsiswhatwehavecometobe aworldwhichlackslove,respect,anddignity alldestructionwillonlycometoanend whenonecangivecharitytocherishinstead apieceofpeaceisalliwant achunkofhopeisallineed formetodomepartandgivereligiously
-AngieLaguerre
HalloweenNight
Watchingspookymoviesinthedark
Afullmoonfillsthesky
Asmysteriousshadowslerk Childrenwalkdoortodoorindisguise
Blackcatsonthestreetwalkwithcaution Anticipationfortricksinstillsfear Candlesburninwornoutjacko'lanterns Ashiddencreaturesgrownear
Whilethedaygrowsolderandthechildrenrunhome
Thespiritsgetbolderandsneakintotown Visitingpeopleandplacesthatfeltfamiliar Butnooneseemstobearound
- AvaRosa
Dandelionsdie,
Summerbreezesaysgoodbye, Theyearbeginsagainasyouletoutasigh. Nomoresuninyoureyes, Nomorebrightblueskies, Butanoddnewfeelingdrownsoutyourwhys. Yourbreathintheair, Orangeleavesinyourhair,
Perhapsthischangeisoneyoucanbear.
Acrunchbeneathyourfeet, Anabsenceofheat,
Awarmercolorpalettehasarrivedonthestreet.
Pickingoutyourhalloweencostume, Thereisasenseofenjoyabledoom. Thesmellofpumpkinarrivesintheroom.
EmilyEccles
MyFavoriteActor
She’ssogoodatplayingthepersonshe’snot infactnooneeverhadasinglethought forme,atleast,ittookaroundtenyears torealizethatsheisnothowsheappears.
Theactorquestionediftheendedfriendshipwasamyth, andIsaid,“It’snexttotheknifeyoustabbedmeinthebackwith.”
Theactorthinkstheworldrevolvesaroundher Imeanwhowouldn’tfallforthepreciousvictimthatyouwere?
Shefeedsoffofthejoyofbeingthecenterofattention buthowlongcanshegowithoutawrongsteporexpression?
Onedayshewillnotfoolasoul,andeveryonewillknowthatthewholetime, shewassimplyplayingarole.
-LillianStead
Untitled
Empty.
Whereyouoncelived,isnowfilledwithsilence.There’snowathinlayerofdustonallofyour belongings.Picturesofyoustillremain,withtheadditionofyourmemorialcard.Yourdrawings hungup,foralltosee.Yourseatremainsempty,waitingforyourreturn.Yetyou’llnevercome back,andforthisImourn.
-MonaPerez
ForJake
Gosh.HowdoIevendescribeyou?
Youknowwhat?It’sthelittlethingsforme.Thethingsthatotherpeopledon’tsee.Thespecial moments.
It’sthelovepoems,theslowdancesinthedark,thelaughinguntilourstomachshurt.
It'stherespect,kindness,andpatience.It’sthefeelingofhomeandsafety
It’sthefactthatIknowyouwouldneverhurtme,notlikeothershave.Itrustyou.
It’sthewaywearesosimilar,youcanfinishmysentences,youknowwhatI’mthinkingfrom justaglance.
Mybestfriend.Mypromdate.Myfavoriteperson.
WhatwouldIdowithoutyou?
-LillianStead
Betrayal
Youallowedmeinhere YourGardenofEden ofexoticwildlifeand Lushflowers
Themarkofmyfootprints Wereleftinyoursilkensoil Markmyselfforever
Inyourhollowpockets
Ipluckedeachdaisy Youpresentedtome Playingmygame
OfIloveyou Iloveyounot
Butyouarenothing Justabarrenwasteland Yourpainhasovergrown Liketheweedsthatgrow Inandoverthecracks Ofthedryground
Yourtreesembracedeath Andyourriversgaspforwater ForitwasIwhoshriveltheirleaves Andtookthewaterformine
Youallowedmeinhere YourGardenofEden ThinkingIwasEve ButIwastheserpent Seekingyourend
-EmilyCordeiro
EmilyEccles
