Belmont Day School, Echo Magazine, Volume VII, Issue 2

MAGAZINE

Volume VII, Issue 2, Spring 2021

Introduction to the Theme Movement and Stillness: Routes and Roots Among the challenges of this pandemic year, we were struck by the need to balance safety and risk, connection and separation, growth and preservation. For the first time, our schedule left us no time for regular magazine club meetings, virtual or in person—and side by side with that challenge, our classmates still have a need to express themselves and explore ideas.

Our theme, Movement and Stillness: Routes and Roots was chosen to reflect this experience.

We are on the move, breaking out of a long year of confinement and restriction, figuring out where to go next and how we might get there. We are also very much aware of the importance of honoring where we come from and where we have been, of pausing to appreciate this moment before we leave it.

Thanks to the many talented artists and writers who shared their thoughts about movement and stillness in this issue!

Movement and Stillness, Routes and Roots Echo Magazine, Volume VII, Issue 2 Spring 2021

Contents Fire, Emma Kass ’22................................................................................... 5

Sunset, Angel Geng ’23.............................................................................50

Assumptions, Audrey Chuang ’23............................................................ 6

Paper Crane, Sophia Tang ’21..................................................................51

This Star Is on Fire, Ripley Bright ’21..................................................... 7

Fly, Little Bird, Elise Goodman ’23........................................................ 52

Moving Water, Emma Kass ’22................................................................. 8

Snow, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23.......................................................... 53

Beauty, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23......................................................... 9

If Only, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23.......................................................54

Unused, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23..................................................... 10

Quiet Hallway, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23......................................... 55

Moonlight, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23.................................................11

I’ll Be Gone, Ripley Bright ’21................................................................. 56

Roots Over Earth, Sebastian Colberg ’23.............................................. 12

Pinecones, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23................................................. 57

Pointe Shoes, Vivian Chuang ’21............................................................ 13

Pretender, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23................................................ 58

Entrances, Sophia Tang ’21...................................................................... 14

Window, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23.................................................... 59

Things I Know for Sure, Audrey Wu ’21................................................15

Glass Walls, Angel Geng ’23.....................................................................60

The End of the Road, Cam Colbert ’21................................................. 16

Lines, Audrey Wu ’21................................................................................ 61

Road, Elise Goodman ’23...........................................................................17

When the Gun Fires, Ripley Bright ’21.................................................62

Journey, Angel Geng ’23........................................................................... 18

Washed Over, Kenna Schneider ’21........................................................ 63

The Ocean Will Rise 1, Henry Buckley-Jones ’21................................ 19

Leaving Her, Him, Ripley Bright ’21......................................................64

The Ocean Will Rise 2, Henry Buckley-Jones ’21...............................20

Flower, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23....................................................... 65

Eye, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23............................................................. 21

41%, Ripley Bright ’21...............................................................................66

Stereotypes, Angel Geng ’23....................................................................22

Happy Birthday Avery, Kenna Schneider ’21....................................... 67

We Are Friends, We Are Family, Vivian Chuang ’21.......................... 23

Dreams, Elise Goodman ’23.....................................................................68

The Little Things, Audrey Chuang ’23..................................................24

In the Moonlight, Audrey Chuang ’23..................................................69

The Sirens, Ripley Bright ’21................................................................... 25

A Very Thin Line, Elise Goodman ’23...................................................70

Take Me Home, Kamila Ruiz ’23...........................................................26

A Myriad of Thoughts, Thierrence Mathurin ’21................................71

Margret’s Words, Ripley Bright ’21........................................................ 27

Names, Angel Geng ’23............................................................................. 72

Proud?, Audrey Chuang ’23.....................................................................28

Planting New Roots, Sophia Tang ’21................................................... 73

Don’t Move, Sophia Tang ’21...................................................................29

Stillness, Elise Goodman ’23.................................................................... 74

Word, Angel Geng ’23...............................................................................30

Running on Fire, Sophia Tang ’21.......................................................... 75

Gears, Ben Dowers ’23.............................................................................. 31

Code Switching, Angel Geng ’23............................................................ 76

Poems, Elise Goodman ’23....................................................................... 32

In My Head, Audrey Chuang ’23............................................................ 77

Dark Spot, Ripley Bright ’21.................................................................... 33

The Only Light in a Dark Room, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23......... 76

The Sun and the Sky, Kenna Schneider ’21...........................................34

Missing in Plain Sight, Audrey Chuang ’23.......................................... 79

Wave, Angel Geng ’23................................................................................ 35

Watching from the Shadows, Audrey Chuang ’23..............................80

Universe, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23................................................... 36

Just a Shadow, Angel Geng ’23............................................................... 81

Meow, Audrey Chuang ’23....................................................................... 37

Midnight, Angel Geng ’23........................................................................82

Stillness, Sahana Miduturu ’23............................................................... 38

Spring , Sophia Tang ’21........................................................................... 83

Movement, Sahana Miduturu ’23.......................................................... 39

If Only, Angel Geng ’23.............................................................................84

Hurtful Words, Angel Geng ’23............................................................. 40 Petals, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23......................................................... 41 Instead, Ripley Bright ’21.........................................................................42

Contributors.........................................................................85

Untitled, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23....................................................43

Editorial Staff...................................................................... 86

Dyslexia, Kenna Schneider ’21................................................................44

Faculty Advisor.................................................................. 86

Everything She Tells Me, Ripley Bright ’21..........................................45 Broken Strings, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23........................................46 Questions, Angel Geng ’23.......................................................................47 You, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23............................................................48 Flying, Kenna Schneider ’21.....................................................................49

Design and Production.................................................... 86

Fire Emma Kass ’22

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Assumptions Audrey Chuang ’23 Then it happens that dreaded moment when the teacher asks you: How do you pronounce this, Melody?

You feel your face burn as all eyes turn to you, waiting.

You bite your lip not sure what to say.

You can feel the class getting impatient.

You tell yourself: he must have forgotten that I don’t speak Chinese even though I should.

You concentrate and let out a hard breath and you try to do the tones right but you stutter and all the kids laugh.

You look down at the carpet to hide the tears slipping down your cheeks and close your eyes wishing you could go home.

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This Star is on Fire Ripley Bright ’21 She gave me a burning leaf today its crimson veins waved about dancing - as if I couldn’t see the tears in foliage.

No matter - the fire raged along to the black hair of our star-girl and she didn’t care.

Yes sir, she didn’t care As those midnight locks sang like firebirds she skipped - and sang along.

I didn’t bother to put it out she seemed to know or did she just not notice how she left a trail of ash as white as the moon she favored as the paper that fell behind her.

Start calling star-girl she’s not coming the fire whipped her out except those eyes like inked pools to wade in to drown.

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Moving Water Emma Kass ’22

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Beauty Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 perfection isn’t enough she wants to be like the other girls to fit in she’s gorgeous but it will never be enough. nothing will be enough. the words tumble over her like bricks falling each insult leaves a cut so deep it won’t ever heal. the world is falling apart what if they don’t like her? what will become of her? why isn’t she good enough? how can she be good enough? beauty isn’t an easy thing who said it was even real? a social construct that had so much power over one single person it might even tear her apart.

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Unused Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Moonlight Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 It was a misty night when Ashlyn stepped out of her house without anyone knowing. Mom was all wrapped up in her dramatic novel, and Cooper, her little brother, was playing with his many action figures.

The warm California air made Ashlyn’s light brown hair plaster to her sweaty face. She didn’t want to go outside, but when she was just minding her own business, she started hearing these soft whispers. They filled her ears with nonsense, but made so much sense at the same time.

They were pleading for her to come outside. “Ashlyn...come on…we know you want to...” they had said, scaring her out of skin. At the same time they were making her feel like the only thing she wanted to do was step outside of the cozy cottage she lived in. Like she was floating through midair, hypnotized by those voices. Those hungry, vigorous voices.

Pulling her limp body into the hot air.

So, finally, she had slipped on her favorite blue shoes and went outside. All the whispers in her head had immediately stopped. It was like a heavy rainstorm had ended in one snap of a finger. It was misty and warm, and the forest near her house seemed to be glowing lightly.

The whispers have stopped, she thought. I should probably go inside. Still, someone or something was luring her toward that forest. The glow was captivating her, making her feel, no, know that there was nothing better than to go in that forest.

Even though all her life she had hated that terrifying forest. Like that time she went for a walk with her friend during that cold winter day. The trees had swayed slightly, dancing to the music of the wind. And way far ahead of her, she could see a mysterious figure with bright gold eyes staring right into her soul.

She had grabbed her friend’s arm and ran. “What’s wrong?” the friend had asked when they got back, panting and exhausted.

“Oh nothing…” Ashlyn responded quickly, reassuring herself. She was seeing things, right?

But now it felt like her whole life depended on going into that forest. So, she went.

As soon as she got in, the light immediately stopped glowing.

She kept walking. Steps that made her feel like her whole life depended on them. Honestly, who knew? Any second, the ground could open, and just eat her right up. She turned around and tried to force her body to walk back, but she had no control. An invisible force turned her around and made her trembling feet keep walking.

A loud scream echoed behind her. There was the most helpless running Ashlyn had ever heard. A voice came from the direction of the shout, “NO! It’s going to get me!”

Ashlyn quickly turned around towards a blinding light, but it was too late. She had blacked out.

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Roots Over Earth Sebastian Colberg ’23

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Pointe Shoes Vivian Chuang ’21 The pointe shoes, Light pink satin Silky and smooth Ribbons tied in a perfect bow.

The pointe shoes, The rich cocoa Lightly blending And extending The leg.

Glide over the slick black floor Jump and twirl, Leap and float.

Your foot is your pencil, The ground is your canvas.

Throw away the tutu and the tiara.

Bright like a neon light, Flap your arms like a wild duck, Stomp like an angry kid.

Don’t be graceful, Your dance is your story, Your story isn’t pretty, It isn’t neat and organized, It is not written down In a hero’s arc.

Be yourself, Bend and twist, Show your pain, Show your struggle.

Be the one, The one who takes the music Into their heart, And spills it all over the floor, In a flurry of movement.

The one who pushes the crowd back With agony, And brings them together, With love.

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Entrances Sophia Tang ’21

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Things I Know for Sure Audrey Wu ’21 The sky is green if you look close enough Strangers are easier to talk to than people you know When someone offers you an orange they love you Ferrets look cute in knitted hats There’s a difference between death and dying Falling asleep while listening to music makes you smile Headbands absolutely make your brain smaller Don’t touch the toaster Cut your hair There’s a ghost named Francis in your ear Cereal tastes better after midnight Meringue tastes like moldy snow Reading books backwards is like speaking inside out Some people are better than others Don’t hurt yourself because I love you Horses don’t have fingernails Tinfoil is the most beautiful thing Kayak is a palindrome Flip to page 179 for an adventure Leaving voicemails and writing letters There is no such thing as manbugs, that’s just men in general Catcalling is not calling for a kitten Baths are better than showers If someone swears at you recite Whitman back to them “Frothy” is such a good word You make me smile Graveyards are magical places Eat strawberry wafers just before painting your nails God is just a very large mothball Onion rings make excellent glasses Candles and rain are the best kinds of serotonin Delirium tastes like black licorice and kulfi Look up

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The End of the Road Cam Colbert ’21

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Road Elise Goodman ’23 a long road all i see is what i can’t find fields as far as the eye can see miles and miles of road will lead me to where i need to be i don’t know where i’m going but i know i need to go it all blurs as i speed up faster faster faster i don’t know when to stop i suppose i’ll feel it but i know if i stop now i’ll leave again tomorrow

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Journey Angel Geng ’23 I traveled from the highest mountains To the depths of the ocean Only to find my place In my world everyone has their place Only I don’t I feel out of place in my family With my friends I want to fix things By finding my place In this universe In this world In my family And in my friendship But the question is is there a place left in the world for me?

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The Ocean Will Rise 1 Henry Buckley-Jones ’21

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The Ocean Will Rise 2 Henry Buckley-Jones ’21

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Eye Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Stereotypes Angel Geng ’23 They say I eat with chopsticks They say I wear red and gold robes everyday They say I drink tea And wear a long black braid They say I eat rice for every meal They say I’m smart since I was born They say I have small eyes They say I practice martial arts They say I have teeth like a rabbit under my mask.

They think that I’m biased That China is the best They think that I have no friends And I am a loner But the truth is I was born with black hair And black-brown eyes I will eat pizza like everybody else And tea tastes bitter to me I wear t-shirts and shorts I don’t know a single thing about Martial arts I’m like everybody else, a normal girl living a normal life.

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We Are Friends, We Are Family Vivian Chuang ’21 We are friends, we are family: My cousins and I don’t look like cousins.

Kyra has dark brown hair Poofy crazy curls that cover her head.

Mia with her lush soft waves That are almost but not quite black.

My hair that is straight and black Falls down like a stringy black waterfall But when we laugh, Plummet down our snowy hill, Head first on a sled, We are alike.

When we gleefully Spring off a trampoline, Kick our legs up, Try to get as high as we can, We are best friends.

And when we dance, And dance, And dance, And dance, When our hair becomes a scragally mess, And we are giddy with delight, We are the best of cousins.

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The Little Things Audrey Chuang ’23

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The Sirens Ripley Bright ’21 I’d rather drown in the green sea I live in foaming waves to tease at the ever-pumping veins to my heart.

Gulls flap - and dip below the surface but none stay long enough to kiss the whale.

He who dances - in the water may tread to gold sand bars - but in my defence their strength is none compared to sirens oh! They could not resist a gray bird’s song such enchantment is far to come by.

Never mind that - I’d rather he drown and I stay up and floating bare to the gulls, the sirens are coming

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Take Me Home Kamila Ruiz ’23

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Margret’s Words Ripley Bright ’21 The first thing we did was cry at birth because the road wasn’t long enough.

We had turned the corner so many times up and down didn’t matter any more.

“I love the sound of your laugh when you sleep because I never know what you’re able to see.

I just know that it’s beautiful and if I saw it it would kill me.”

It seems the world has forgotten how to lie because every word I’m writing is the truth.

Truer than any fragment of day can be a history of the same verse repeating itself eternally.

“I love the sound that the world makes at 2:59 pm because everything is so quiet and then it gets so, so loud.”

And it’s like a gorilla is beating his chest to the sound of a sunrise - and I can’t blame him.

A tree once told me that every time I spoke the world broke just a little.

I don’t think that was meant to silence me and it didn’t.

Bare feet on wood are better than bare feet on sky and my feet are both at the same time.

Be silent - louder than that!

Just let Margret’s words destroy you.

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Proud?

Audrey Chuang ’23 I turn the page and once again, skinny, tall, blonde, white.

Picture perfect.

And a cloud of jealousy appears over my head even though I am supposed to be proud.

Proud of my stained, hand-me-down sweatshirt that makes me feel gross.

Proud of my dead, black hair that falls straight down.

Proud of my slanty, black eyes that make people accuse me of glaring.

Proud, even when the “perfect” girls in magazines and books look nothing like me.

Proud, even when all of the popular dolls look nothing like me.

And yet they say that I should be proud.

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Don’t Move Sophia Tang ’21

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Words Angel Geng ’23 Words are what we speak Words are what we say Words make what we want every single day They are names, objects And people They make the books we read They make the things we say They make what we need We say them everyday Words are everywhere Words are all around us What will we be without them?

They are used to communicate They are used to understand There are many we haven’t known yet They make our everyday You learn them from a young age You learn many more everyday You see them everyday What will we be without words?

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Gears Ben Dowers ’2

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Poems Elise Goodman ’23 How do people Write poems?

Their words S L I D Off their tongues Onto their pages While mine tumble into a pile How do people say what they want?

My words seem

STUCK

in my mind

Their letters, each one, like a rose That just bloomed Fresh Clean Beautiful

How do people have the confidence To let their work out to the public?

While my poems sit in a notebook Far from anyone but me I hide my words So no one judges

Me

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Dark Spot Ripley Bright ’21 I’m not sure what he meant when he said that he’s coated in the color of red confined to bed with bones in his head time is ticking down, tricking everyone to think that he’s fine asleep at a quarter to nine dining on the scraps that he can find And for some reason he’s hungry.

And for some reason he’s ugly.

And for some reason he’s ripping out his hair without a care acting like life is a dare while the world begs him to be quiet, go silent no need to be so defiant and he doesn’t listen because he knows what must happen if he wants to glisten the world is his mission and the sun doesn’t make the decision to rise but it still has a collision with the sky.

He opens an eye just one before the other will cry just one to catch a glimpse of the planet he’s leaving the air that he’s breathing the world is receding but he won’t be grieving.

He’s dead another page unread they said it was the bread and buried him in lead from the words of the blooming red now we have a new body for the same head.

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The Sun and the Sky Kenna Schneider ’21

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Waves Angel Geng ’23 I feel the calming waves of the ocean.

The waves crash against the shore As I walk along the shoreline Seashells glistening with the sunlight.

The water’s surface sparks like the brightest of fireworks.

I think about how stressed I am If only the sea can heal my stress.

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Universe Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 think about this the universe is swirling colors, giant, giant thing

it’s almost like a snow globe, clutched by the hand of the milky way

never ends, but does it?

two trillion galaxies maybe more universes

filled with galaxies, galaxies like our own, and galaxies way, way different creating the cosmic web

one solar system eight planets one sun

the ocean is deep a scary thing, undiscovered I guess you could say it’s like the universe. the milky way is swirly like swirly plants, or maybe even those little swirly straws you used to use when you were a kid stars are big when they look small. like an illusion. maybe like how a person with a big personality has a shorter height or when a big person feels small then our solar system, neptune, uranus, saturn, jupiter, mars, our earth, venus, mercury, and the sun.

but only one home, earth. are we really that small? how can one be that small when their feelings are so big? or when something so small feels so big to them? and the truth is, when a person passes, one dot is erased from a big piece of paper and a new dot is drawn

the sun is also a star, but only a medium one our life feels so big, yet it’s so small

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Meow Audrey Chuang ’23

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Stillness Sahana Miduturu ’23 Silence Tranquility Inner Peace Love Learning Nature Environment Sensation Stillness

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Movement Sahana Miduturu ’23 Marching Optimism Variation Evolution Mobility Exercise Nervousness Transportation

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Spring Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Hurtful Words Angel Geng ’23 Words people say about me Words people read about me Words written down on paper about me Words that hurt more when heard Than said Language that hurts Like a knife cutting through the surface I’m sometimes like flesh Being hammered to the ground I’m not like the egg with it’s protective shell I’m not like peanut Its outer shell so thick Words cut through me Like a knife on butter Words some delightful While some do harm

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Petals Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Instead Ripley Bright ’21 She grows daylilies in the concrete I’m shooting past fireworks ablaze in the midnight sky my embers - like tears deck the harbor as the last puffs of smoke disintegrate This short-lived legacy how many words will be lost collected from the edges of scrap paper the snow ceased to fly 14 more minutes 12 more minutes left until our flowers crumble “please, take me in” she wept on the floor of the cellar and they slit the ice -

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Untitled Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 “I hate you!” I scream at your torn face. Your smile quickly changes into a confused frown.

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Tears fall from my red face. Anger is searing through my brain. I have wanted to say those words for so long. See your arrogant smirk fade away. You think you’re so great, huh? You never knew that what you have said to me hurt. They say words should never hurt anyone, but yours always do. You leave scars that cannot ever be healed. This time I’m the one stabbing you in the back. A taste of your own medicine, is that so?

Your speechless face stares at me in disbelief. You never thought I would have the courage to fight back for myself.

“Go upstairs!” you scream, tears forming at the corners of your eyes. But this time I am the one smirking at you. But before I trudge upstairs to be trapped in the caving walls of my room, I take one more stab.

“Why can’t you be better?” I whisper. I turn around, but not fast enough because the tears come flooding like a waterfall and don’t stop until I collapse on my bed.

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Dyslexia Kenna Schneider ’21

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Everything She Tells Me Ripley Bright ’21 The rose is breaking.

Her browning beetles turn to ash in the wind the white wind with a knife.

The rain has hints of salt like the sea a sailor’s eye and glass to hold it.

The dirt tastes of far away lands like the ones she told me of when I pretended to sleep.

And so I sleep tonight forever - and more.

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Broken Strings Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Questions Angel Geng ’23 You fade into the nothingness nothing, nothing, nothing No happiness No sadness just a blank, blank space.

Where are you I wonder Where am I? I have a million questions I thought I had lost you Will you come back?

Do you know where you are?

Am I lost?

I have billions of questions Where will we be?

When will you come back?

But still I get no answers

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You Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 You are imperfect, imperfectly perfect.

You’re strong, but only on the outside.

You hide your emotions.

You’re a fake a phony a narcissistic loser.

Your mind is dancing but nothing comes out of your mouth.

You’re playing a mind game. but only by yourself.

You are sensitive.

You are sad.

You are irritated with the world when it has done nothing but love you.

You are the protected one.

You are the safe one.

You are the bystander.

You are a puzzle and the last piece is lost.

Your head is a storm, with lightning and thunder.

Your feelings locked in a safe, and no one can remember the code.

You are imperfect.

You hide your emotions.

You take them out on others.

You are a liar.

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Flying Kenna Schneider ’21

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Sunset Angel Geng ’23 So bright and beautiful Above the highest mountains Above dark blue ocean The colors blue, pink, orange and red Surround the sky Birds fly by, fish splash around I’m left alone In the wandering world The sun has fallen Night has come Stars appear, in the night sky

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Paper Crane Sophia Tang ’21

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Fly, Little Bird Elise Goodman ’23 Fly, little bird, Fly far away from here Your safety is fleeing Fly, little bird, I know you wish to stay But I only want Your wings to stay as blue as the sky Fly, little bird, The world can be cruel And if you fly high It won’t touch you Fly, little bird, Keep your head up as you go If you look down, You’ll see our world Fall apart

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Snow Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 I lay down in the white bed it’s too cold to open my eyes my nose is red the snowflakes decorate my body my face is wet, but I love it it’s really coming down now i stick my tongue out taste the snow. cold water snow cones that’s what it tastes like. sirens are blasting, but I decide not to hear it this perfect little moment, forgetting the troubles, makes me feel so alive but then, I get up. brush the snow off my face, stare at the snow angel I left and go inside

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If Only Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 if only if only you could be here with me stargazing dreamcatching wishing if only if only I could see you soon but the past is over and the future is on its way if only if only you would see me how much I’ve grown the stars are bright tonight the dreams rest in the clouds waiting to burst and rain down on our smart, young minds if only if only I was running through the field clutching your hand in mine but today I just smile remembering the memories the ones that are so far behind us now

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Quiet Hallway Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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I’ll Be Gone Ripley Bright ’21 A galaxy of light where the only sound is rumbling and it rumbles like the sky is living.

The unshed leaves of March - pasted on the sky birds, floating as angels from the heavens. A street lamp flickers and becomes a mechanical firefly under its stage dance the tiny particles of life.

Another yellow window, and another black one with cracks of warmth fading out from the edges because light can never be masked. Sirens are the force of justice for some - but for me they are a call to hide.

If someone screams while I sleep in a bed that’s slightly warmer do not stir. For even if we are dead at dawn, we will never be forgotten. If my penetrated corpse is found let my casualty be no cause for your fret. An honorable name at the end, perhaps that will be all.

On the day my casket hits the earth - your tectonic plates may shake and a tree might fall, and more might cease to be but don’t stir - don’t say a word!

I’ll be gone and your words will ignore me.

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Pinecones Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Pretenders Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23 we were pretending pretending that we weren’t sitting so close to the dead body of someone we love “we were celebrating their life” but we weren’t we were remembering that we would never see them, talk to them, hear their laugh ever again we were pretenders

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Window Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Glass Walls Angel Geng ’23 I once was blocked by a glass wall Millions of feet high.

A wall that surrounded the earth Separating races apart One side is white, One side is where the other races live.

On our side of the wall Live only the bad.

I would sit and wait from day to day Waiting for the wall to be removed.

There’s no way around And no way up.

I can only look across the wall And ponder the origins of race.

How did it start?

Why do we have this?

I feel like we’re in a video game Where you have to follow the rules A never ending video game.

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Lines Audrey Wu ’21

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When the Gun Fires Ripley Bright ’21 When the gun fires bullets will rain on the crops a monsoon of miniature relics commemorating the falling of their victims.

When the gun fires your baby-blue sky will have a miscarriage the sun bleeding as an open wound.

When the gun fires he might scream as he drops down and the world is rid of him but let’s not pretend he didn’t see it coming.

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Washed Over Kenna Schneider ’21

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Leaving Her, Him Ripley Bright ’21 I smell blood in the pond - nothing silver turns to gold unless you break it. so he breaks it. moondust fills the stage - she turns to stone as he sees our laughter petrified in her throat - his name trapped.

They call her “lady gray” and she does not correct them. his moon dust - in her making their baby - lifeless.

The stone cracked - but never broke and the stage told her “be ashamed” so a forest fire burned - inside her heart but never warmed the world.

It’s not roses that grow - but dandelions crowning his hair leaving her - forgotten.

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Flower Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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41% Ripley Bright ’21 I believe the sun has set - again over moonrise kingdom.

The little bird sleeps as the raven folds her wings and fallen nests collect in piles and knowing smiles with charcoal in the sky her eyes go out and in light you find them churches crumble and the bell rights finally - home is burning.

The wrath of heaven seems so innocent from here below the surface.

Find us our mutilated bodies hidden under still reflections our eyes poking out sky-bound.

When water is blood we are found and lost again.

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Find another lantern in the forest break it because you must it is only nature, after all.

If by chance the knife is found it will be craft again as the silence warned the fogging horn that life was my wit’s end.

Blue sky, black sky God’s eyes on water.

Look up, look up echo drains another body and the body is found.

Ink like ash and ash like fire and fire like the sun is duality.

Black like you found under her fingernails because she was running and glazed like you found her eyes when I stopped.

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Happy Birthday, Avery Kenna Schneider ’21

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Dreams Elise Goodman ’23 I fly up above the S T A R

S The clouds float below my feet The way I S O A R Without leaving my bed The way I leave M Y S E

L

F And see the world from space How do I move so quickly All while asleep?

I can touch the sun Without opening my E Y E S Though morning is approaching For those down on earth I can see the sky from a whole new view Pulled D O W N

D

O

W

N

D

O

W

N Against my will I want to stay with the stars The asteroids The comets I don’t want to go back to life on Earth

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In the Moonlight Audrey Chuang ’23

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A Very Thin Line Elise Goodman ’23 There is a very thin line Between being asleep or awake.

One second you’re awake, The next you’re asleep.

There is a very thin line Between close and far I take one more step And I’m too far for comfort.

There is a very thin line Between family and friends One is blood, the other not Both are who you appreciate.

There is a very thin line Between peace and war It only takes one word, one movement.

There is a very thin line Between grounded and soaring You just got to let your feet off the ground.

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A Myriad of Thoughts Thierrence Mathurin ’21

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Names Angel Geng ’23 My name means happy And joy and fun My name makes my identity Who I identify as Who I am Everyone, everything has a name Without them what will we all be called Hey there…

What will a chair be called if it didn’t have a name What will our teachers be called?

What will our teacher call us?

Hey! Yes you!

Maybe everybody’s name will be “you” If we didn’t have names Maybe everything will become “thing” Names are who you are Names are how we are identified A name takes part of everyone’s identity.

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Planting New Roots Sophia Tang ’21

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Stillness Elise Goodman ’23 In my stillness I can feel all the S A D D N E S S Melt away I can feel the sun D R I P Onto my face My eyes closed, Yet I can see the clouds above me The sky D A N C E S My fear away In my stillness I can hear the bird Sing H A P P I E N E S S Into my ear

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Running on Fire Sophia Tang ’21

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Code Switching Angel Geng ’23 From my neighborhood to my private school My style is different From bad girl to a softie My life comes from two worlds I am very cautious of what people think about me I want to fit in not stand out The neighborhood is my home A place to do whatever I want The schools are a place to fit in And have respect I switch how I look My hair and my clothes The way I speak The way I move

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In My Head Audrey Chuang ’23 feel the wind in my hair birds gliding through the clear blue sky listening to the waves crashing to the shore thinking of her She is strong on the night they left her on her own She is pretty so effortlessly, with a smile so contagious She is kind so selfless, sweet, and understanding She is funny always ready to make someone laugh She is smart always changing impossible to possible she is flawless but i know it’s all in my head so i close my eyes stop the seemingly endless ocean and let my mind build a bridge to the other side

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The Only Light in a Dark Room Nina Cohen-Perlmutter ’23

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Missing in Plain Sight Audrey Chuang ’23 In school they paint a canvas with different groups, Black, White, Egyptian, Wampanoag, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, and many more...

But the painting is missing something because although this group is over sixty percent of the world we are somehow failing to paint them into children’s eyes as more than a religion.

Where did all the Asians go?

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Watching from the Shadows Audrey Chuang ’23

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Just a Shadow Angel Geng ’23 I often think and worry about how people see me Do they see me as nice or mean?

Ugly or pretty?

Smart or foolish?

I often think the others hate me I get excluded from their games They don’t talk to me or any of that I often say good things about them I want them to notice me But no matter how hard I try I am nothing but a shadow to them A shadow that they ignore I only fit in when there is another Chinese girl around Alone, in need of a friend That happened in second and third grade But not any more I’m just a shadow that everybody ignores

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Midnight Angel Geng ’23 It’s been 2 years since I’ve seen the sun When are you gonna wake up?

The days are dark as night The sun still hasn’t risen I’ve seen nothing more than darkness I got everybody on my side Everyday, every night The stars hang in the sky I miss the sunlight I miss the sunrise I want to feel the rays of the sun, On my face, again.

When will the sun rise again?

Will it always be midnight?

Where will I be when this all ends?

But still, no answers have come.

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Spring Sophia Tang ’21

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If Only Angel Geng ’23 If only I could fly If only I could soar above the world If only I had the power to be a better person If only I did the right thing I could fix my past mistakes I want to find where I belong If I had a place In the big wide world I want soar across the sky I want to be what I want to be I’d be a better person If only I had the power…

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Contributors Ripley Bright Since this will be my last time contributing to Echo, I decided to submit some of my more personal poems. It’s been really amazing to see how my style of writing has evolved since the first time I submitted work in sixth grade, and I’m going to miss working on the Echo staff. Thank you all so much for reading my work, it really means the world to me.

Henry Buckley-Jones I created my mural “The Ocean Will Rise” for my capstone project, inspired by protest art and climate change. The ocean and protest art embody both movement and roots.

Audrey Chuang For most of my poems, I tried to use the “you” perspective because I think it helps to get the message across. Most of my poems are inspired by personal experiences because I like to try to put readers in my point of view. A couple of my poems were from my freedom week project, one of them being slightly edited.

Vivian Chuang I wrote these poems to show what makes me, me.

Nina Cohen-Perlmutter I loved writing and taking many pictures for the magazine. I wanted to have different types of pictures and poems and stories, and I enjoyed taking pictures and writing whatever I wanted. I hope you like them, too.

Sebastian Colberg I made these drawings one day while thinking about movement and how different colors can work together.

Cam Colbert I took this picture on my way back from school one day because the sky looked beyond beautiful. I felt the routes theme was very fitting for the location of the picture, and this being my last magazine submission as I graduate from BDS. Thanks for all the great artistic memories!

Ben Dowers I thought gears fit the theme well, so I drew them.

Angel Geng I wrote some of these poems for fun and time wasting; the others were taken from my freedom week project.

Elise Goodman My poems were just whatever came to mind. I tried to take the advice Mr. Spencer gave me, and Ms. Juster. I tried to use the space of the page and the different forms. Enjoy!

Emma Kass My artwork was inspired by the beauty of nature when I was walking in the woods.

Thierrence Mathurin My drawing is based around the expression of the person in the drawing with the background representing the thoughts in their mind.

Sahana Miduturu I made two acrostic poems, one about movement and the other about stillness. The words in the poems have lots of variety. Some could mean the physical meaning of movement or stillness, but other words in the poems have a deeper meaning to them.

Kamila Ruiz I was thinking about the strength we draw from people in our lives who keep us grounded while still looking up.

Kenna Schneider “Dyslexia” was made to practice my character drawings. “Flying” was a happy discovery‚—I was testing out some brushes when making the background, and I liked how it looked so I added some birds. For “The Sun and the Sky” I used digital watercolor brushes to make the colors in the wave and the sun background. I started “Washed Over” with a pencil outline, then I inked it with a Sharpie, and finally added watercolor. I made “Happy Birthday Avery” for my sister’s birthday

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present. First I outlined the butterfly in pencil and then posca paint markers. Then I painted the butterfly and the background. Finally I went over the outline of the butterfly again with the paint marker, and I added some gold glitter!

Sophia Tang My deer and cat were inspired by the stillness theme. My doors are the route theme. My bird was inspired by the movement and roots theme. My paper crane was inspired by Kendree and the theme stillness.

Quincy Treisman I create art to make the person viewing the art happy, to make them see something that even I may not have seen creating the piece. That is why I paint.

Audrey Wu Since this is sadly my last Echo magazine edition, I wanted to sum up what I’ve learned and the routes that have taken me places in this poem. It’s been a work in progress (more of a compilation of random thoughts) for many years, and I hope to continue to add to it as I learn new things each day. The photo shows different paths and voices and directions that have impacted me. Thank you to the Echo team and huge thanks to Mr. Spencer for guiding us through these past years with patience and warmth, and Ms. McQuilton for being so amazing and making this all come to life.

Editorial Staff Ripley Bright, Kendree Chen, Audrey Chuang, Vivian Chuang, Nina Cohen-Perlmutter, Owen Huang, Sue Kelman, Thierrence Mathurin, Quinn McCaffrey, Aviva Pearlmutter-Bearson, Jacob Stephenson, Quincy Treisman, Ezra Wolfson, Audrey Wu

Faculty Advisor Dean Spencer

Design and Production Koreen McQuilton

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Echo Magazine is a publication of

BELMONT DAY SCHOOL www.belmontday.org