TThe he Apricot Apricot Journal Journal
A compilation of literary works written by A compilation of literary works written by South High Community School students. South High Community School students.
Editors’ Note Editors’ Note
Dear South High Community,
We are now in March, seen by many as the longest month of the year. There are no breaks, no random days off this month it can drag on and on and on. But when we are stuck in the middle of endless days of 40 degree weather, it is important to know we are not alone. We have each other; we have our community, our connections to other people. Many of the pieces in this issue are about connection, about different kinds of love and relationships. They explore emotions about our family, our books; they discuss celestial beings and historical figures. Our authors’ writing is creative, inspiring, and original, moving the reader to think about their own relationships and connections.
They have certainly made us at the Apricot Journal think about our connections to our community. This issue, our third issue of our third volume, marks our tenth issue. Plainly, it’s crazy. A little over two years ago, we had just published our first issue, and we had no idea what was in store. We had no idea how well our staff would work together to review pieces, having thoughtful discussions about content and volunteering for various projects. We had no idea how many people would join our Google Classroom or follow us on Instagram, how many people would submit their writing or read our issues. We had no idea the number of writing workshops we would hold, the people we would meet, who would come to have fun and write, and then would share their amazing writing with us. We couldn’t have imagined the community we would have.
We are so lucky to have all of you you are what makes the Apricot Journal what it is. As we continue, we hope to keep making more connections and relationships. We hope to keep building our community.
Enjoy the issue, and we can’t wait for what comes next.
All the best,
The Editors-in-Chief
Editors' Note
Table of Contents
The Tale of Two Tigers
Tevin Mbogo, Grade 10
Why It Feels The Way It Does
Luis Sanchez, Grade 12
Poetry and Structure
Heidy Rodriguez, Grade 10
Education
Paola Kasole, Grade 10
Souls
Grade 12
The Night Before The Passing
Cordelia Adu Gyamfi, Grade 11
Why Does The Moon Weep
Hermione Garcia Lopez, Grade 9
Solar Eclipse
Shannon Dennehy, Grade 10
Love
Nayalis De La Torre, Grade 12
Oda al Libro
Eileen Rodriguez, Grade 10
The Tale of Two Tigers
A poem inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.)
Tevin Mbogo, Grade 10
There were once two tigers.
The older brother, a proud beast who often flaunted his bold black stripes. The younger brother, a defect, for he was a tiger born without stripes.
The older brother often spoke of his disgust for his younger brother; “A tiger without stripes is a monstrosity, A barbaric animal that deserves to suffer.”
Every day was the same for the younger brother. Wake up, tend to his brother’s wants, eat the scraps left for him, Listen to his brother’s degrading words, sleep only to do it all over again the next day.
After years of this cruel torture, he finally mustered the courage to face his brother.
Struggling to keep his voice smooth as syrup, he approached him and said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. That is why I must stand up to you today. If not now, when will I?”
And with that, the older brother attacked. He killed his brother, for his ways had never been questioned. But his younger brother’s spirit had never succumbed, And it lives inside all of us to this day.
Why it feels the way it does
Luis Sanchez, Grade 12
close are hands to Heart and it beats faster for the touch makes the Heart jump
the moments when our Eyes eye each other and the hazel brown Eye shines towards my Heart it skips a beat
where space is limited Love is not we try to understand why Love exists within the look of the Eyes and the beat of the Heart
Poetry and structure
Heidy Rodriguez, Grade 10
Poetry. You know, a lot of people would say that a poem is, well, a poem. It's not a book. It's not an essay. It's simply a poem. But what makes a poem you ask? (You're probably not asking that question, but just go with it.) Structure. It all ties back to the structure. In every poem, even the seemingly meaningless poems, tell us a story; for example, Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb," has a structure that clearly expresses the writer's thoughts, and the message of the piece. The poem titled "The Hill We Climb," if you remember, was the poem told at the President's Inauguration in 2020, a time of fear, loss, but also hope. Not only did the title imply a theme of perseverance and togetherness, but the structure of the poem itself overall implies an idea of how we must persevere together.
But I'm sure you ' re getting tired of me talking about the poem and what it shows. Let's get started on how its structure represents the theme of it entirely.
Just as with any poem, Amanda Gorman's poem could be split into shifts, or places where the ideas shift in a poem based on its structure and transition phrases. Speaking of the “Hill We Climb” specifically, it has one major shift, where the writer goes from describing our unfinished nation, to demonstrating how we will unite to build a better one.
Now, we can use these differences before and after the main shift to clearly demonstrate the meaning of the poem. Before the previously mentioned major shift, Gorman writes, “We, the successors of a country and a time where a/ skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised/ by a single mother can dream of becoming/ president, only to find herself reciting for one. ” Here, she demonstrates that in this nation, time has progressed from the 1700’s where there was slavery, racism, and segregation. While these factors still limit colored individuals today, equity has progressed in a way that people such as Black individuals can be able to have opportunities that they didn't have before. This conveys the idea of progression, though an imperfect nation, where marginalized groups still cannot do what a regular white male can do, such as become president. So to sum it up, in contrast to the second part of the shift, the first part of the shift demonstrates an idea of an imperfect nation.
In the second part of the poem, Amanda Gorman demonstrates how we can make a better nation with more equity and equality through unity. In this part of the shift, she writes, “We will rise from the golden hills of the West./We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution./We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states.” Through the usage of “ we ” she demonstrates this idea of unity and not the idea of isolation or segregation which was common in the 1700’s. Unity between cultures, races, and people. Through this unity, she demonstrates the idea that we will persevere through racially motivated barriers mentioned previously and progress to create a nation that is finished, and overall gives more rights and freedoms to everyone.
Now, going back to the near present, where racism, segregation, and discrimination still rules this nation, this poem made the important point of unity. By the usage of " we, " and the idea of progression through trial overall, it helps convey this message of unity despite the challenges and hardships that we experience, in order to overcome those challenges.
Therefore, to go back to the question of “What makes a poem a poem?” Structure. It's all structure. Structure is something that is unique to poems, and clearly demonstrates the writer's ideas, and overall creates the theme of it entirely.
Especially in “The Hill we Climb” by Amanda Gorman, structure is important in clearly expressing the theme and message of the poem-that unity could help us persevere through hardships, and create a nation that prioritizes equality and equity. In a time such as 2020, and beyond, where there are still racially motivated barriers that divide us, still sickness, and still hardships, the message that this structure creates is essential in giving the nation a message:
A message that we must unite.
For a better nation.
For a better world.
For a better life.
For all.
Who knew structure was so important.
Education
Paola Kasole, Grade 10
So much depends on your Persévérance, So much depends on your Action, So much depends on your Future.
Souls
Anonymous, Grade 12
Souls
As fragile as glass. Yet, tempered with time.
One hit too many. Fracturing.
Covering cracking lies.
Memories jagged, broken and cutting.
Don’t fix the mirror. Don’t shed your blood. Don’t bother to help their worthless lives.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PASSING
Cordelia Adu Gyamfi, Grade 11
The night before was just waking up from a regular school nap that usually gets rid of my headache. I also washed my face and had some French fries and chicken nuggets from McDonald's. I felt normal and was a very happy person because I had a leadership academy with my best friends. I ironed my uniform, which was a green sweater and khaki pants with black shoes. I packed a couple of snacks, feeling my day was going to be normal because everything went well in school and at home. After I was done getting ready, I went to sleep earlyactually it was surprising though. Then when it was 3:30 am in the morning I got a call from my aunt saying my grandpa said his heart hurt, so they took him to the ER - we were worried but we had that mindset everything was okay. When it was 4 am my uncle called crying - my grandpa passed away - I was in shockthe world just froze in my reality - I was like wow. The sad thing is my grandma talked to him the day before and I couldn't talk to him before he passed. I had to get ready for school in tears like I couldn't stop crying nonstop. Everyone came to my house that morning to console each other. It was a pretty tough weekend for my family and I, but God held us through it. I will never forget my King David, aka my grandpa; he was like my dad to me because growing up my dad was never included in my life so I got the father figure from him. I will never stop talking about his good deeds. I miss him so much and I miss his voice when he used to call me and check up on me - till this day I still call him the number and leave messages every day to vent to him. I wish I would say my last goodbyes and keep him updated. I will forever love him till eternal. Rest in paradise, my angel.
Why does the moon weep
Hermione Garcia Lopez, Grade 9
The Moon, The Sun and Ocean rotated like clockwork
Sun and Moon would meet at daylight
Moon and Ocean would meet at nightfall
The Sun loved the moon but the moon didn’t love them
The Moon would rather have watched The Ocean's waves dance
Than let its eyes be burned by the Suns everlasting blaze
Ocean’s dance had no end, it only ever got stronger
At nightfall where she flew so high she would have painted the sky
As the Moon would watch she would yearn for Ocean’s touch
But she could only look from afar
Moon could only ever make Ocean’s dance stronger with her Gravitational pull, Ocean appreciated Moon's pull
Their love was identical to Jack and Rose
And if the moon and ocean are Jack and Rose
Sun would be Caledon Hockley
Sun would sit and stare in solitude
Thinking why the Moon didn’t choose him
He sat alone looking around
As his wary eyes met a sight he was never meant to see Ocean’s Dance
That was the straw the broke the camel's back
Rage filled Sun’s heart
Then he let all out, Envy, Rage, and Resent
Blindsided, Sun made his blaze stronger
So strong that it evaporated Ocean
“AHHHHHHHHH” Ocean let out a gut wrenching scream
An with that Ocean died.. Sun did not regret a thing
But the Moon… She shed tears of agony
And now every nightfall The Moon weeps.
Solar Eclipse
Shannon Dennehy, Grade 10
the sun and the moon, the perfect pair.
every year and half crossing paths, unable to avoid -to steer away held in orbit with their past, it seemed to be against nature to be friendly. the stars began screaming lies to anyone who would listen. the moon stealing the sun ' s light; her brightness covered in the eclipse. this isn’t about the stars the sun and the moon.
Love
Nayalis De La Torre, Grade 12
Love is an interesting topic, no one can ever understand. Some say love is pure, innocent and beautiful, while others say, "Don't do it, kid! It's not worth the heartbreak." Honestly though, everyone should experience love, but the good kind of love. The kind of love that hugs you on a bad day, the kind of love that no matter how big the fight they stay. The kind of love that when you can't seem to roll out of bed, encourages you to get up, get dressed up and go out for fun. The kind of love that when you miss one another memes are sent. The kind of love that brings you “Just Because” flowers. The kind of love that doesn’t wait for a special occasion to surprise with small gifts or a night out. The loyal, kindhearted, understanding, reasonable kind of love.
Love is what you make it.
Oda AL LIBRO
Eileen Rodriguez, Grade 10
eres mediano no tan chiquito no tan grande eres un genio me dices nuevas palabras todos los días me ayudas cuando estoy estresada caminas conmigo para todos los lugares que visito sabes a agua
hueles como una flor eres sauve como mi cabello negro tienes variación en color como el arcoiris estas presente en las buenas y las malas cuando estoy triste cuando estoy feliz estas creciendo conmigo siendo parte de mi corazón y alma
Oda AL LIBRO
Eileen Rodriguez, Grade 10
translation
medium small o big a genius me new very day me when essed with me places isit like water ke a flower y j t as soft as my black hair you have variation in color just like a rainbow you are present in the good and the bad when I'm sad when I'm happy you ' re growing with me being part of my heart and soul
Anya Geist
Editor-in-Chief
Christine Lam Magazine Layout
Benedict Morrow Editor
Natalie Boucher
Social Media Manager
Denisa Iljas
Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Arnold Editor
Jenny Huynh
Social Media Assistant
Ms. BishopAdvisor
Mrs. EressyAdvisor
Staff Staff Members Members
