THE REVIVE MINI ISSUE
VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1, OCTOBER 2021
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Marina Loizides editor@blueprintmagazine.ca Literary Editor Sangeet Mutsuddi literaryeditor@blueprintmagazine.ca Art Manager Kyle Quilatan artmanager@blueprintmagazine.ca AV Editor Olivia McIntosh Interns Erika Dickinson and Ekjyot Singh
ADMINISTRATION
President, Publisher & Chair Brit Kovacs Interim Executive Director Kurtis Rideout Advertising Manager Vacant Web Manager Sam Nabi and Bryan Stephens Vice Chair Jacob Segal Rice Directors Rosalind Horne, Emily Crump, Arshy Mann, Mythra Kulan, Sara Sheikh
The Revive Issue
A goldfinch sits upon her four eggs. Soon the babies will emerge and new lives begin.
Considering the past year, we can all benefit from a good Pick-Me-Up. With that in mind, we wanted to focus on the idea of “Revive.” From amazing artwork that captures the beauty of life, to engaging writing that reminds us of what we have, we hope this Mini-Issue brings you light and refreshes your spirit. Thank you for supporting Blueprint! The Blueprint Editorial Team Cover Art by
SEBASTIAN WOO
CONTACT
Blueprint Magazine 75 University Ave W Waterloo ON N2L 3C5 519.884.0710 x3564 blueprintmagazine.ca Advertise blueprintmagazine.ca/advertise Contribute submissions@blueprintmagazine.ca
COLOPHON
Blueprint is the official student magazine of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Founded in 2002, Blueprint is an editorially independent magazine published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Content appearing in Blueprint bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. Blueprint reserves the right to re-publish submissions in print or online. Opinions in Blueprint are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Blueprint’s management, Blueprint, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. Blueprint is created using Macintosh computers using Adobe Creative Suite.
CONTENTS
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2021
POETRY
PROSE
Columbines
Together Again
ISABELLA ANDRADE
ASHLEY DI PERNA
Darling
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Cheer Up
EKJYOT SINGH
Columbia Lake AVRIL MURRAY
And the Sun Rises Again NADICA TERZIEVA
@blueprint_magazine
A black crowned night heron stands below Parkhill Dam, allowing the mist to hit her, washing away yesterday to a refreshing new day. JOE LETHBRIDGE
Together ogether Again ASHLEY DI PERNA
It had been nearly two years since all my family members were together like this for Thanksgiving, thanks to the five hour drive it takes us to get from Waterloo to Ottawa. I almost didn’t recognize the house when my parents pulled into the driveway, until I saw relatives out on the front porch. We each received long overdue hugs and kisses, one on each cheek. Inside, Nonna’s boiling pasta over the stove. My cousins, aunts and uncles were all huddled around the kitchen, rinsing and chopping vegetables, keeping an eye on the sauce as it bubbled. I was told to help assemble the lasagna with my second cousin Danielle, who filled me in on her figure skating competitions. As we worked on it, my Grandpa came up to inspect my handiwork. “That’s good that you’re helping, Liana. We don’t want no lazy people in this kitchen.” He then proceeded to sit down in front of the TV.
SEBASTIAN WOO
JAMES SILK
“Oh yeah, working real hard there Dad.” My Uncle Biagio said, causing all of us to laugh. As I put the final layer of sauce on the lasagna, I felt as though I had been transported to Italy. I’d never even been before, but something about seeing everyone together, cooking and laughing and catching up, gave me the strangest ache in my gut that told me I’m on Italian soil, that I’m home. When the cooking was done, we all sat around the table. Before she’d let us eat, Nonna told us to take a moment to think about what we are grateful for. I looked around the table, breathed in the atmosphere of it, and counted all my blessings.
BUKUNMI OYEWOLE
Together ogether Again ASHLEY DI PERNA
It had been nearly two years since all my family members were together like this for Thanksgiving, thanks to the five hour drive it takes us to get from Waterloo to Ottawa. I almost didn’t recognize the house when my parents pulled into the driveway, until I saw relatives out on the front porch. We each received long overdue hugs and kisses, one on each cheek. Inside, Nonna’s boiling pasta over the stove. My cousins, aunts and uncles were all huddled around the kitchen, rinsing and chopping vegetables, keeping an eye on the sauce as it bubbled. I was told to help assemble the lasagna with my second cousin Danielle, who filled me in on her figure skating competitions. As we worked on it, my Grandpa came up to inspect my handiwork. “That’s good that you’re helping, Liana. We don’t want no lazy people in this kitchen.” He then proceeded to sit down in front of the TV.
SEBASTIAN WOO
JAMES SILK
“Oh yeah, working real hard there Dad.” My Uncle Biagio said, causing all of us to laugh. As I put the final layer of sauce on the lasagna, I felt as though I had been transported to Italy. I’d never even been before, but something about seeing everyone together, cooking and laughing and catching up, gave me the strangest ache in my gut that told me I’m on Italian soil, that I’m home. When the cooking was done, we all sat around the table. Before she’d let us eat, Nonna told us to take a moment to think about what we are grateful for. I looked around the table, breathed in the atmosphere of it, and counted all my blessings.
BUKUNMI OYEWOLE
Darling
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Oh darling darling darling, What a dream come true you are to me A safe harbour from a stormy sea A winter’s day hot cup of tea A candle in the window Warm light beckons me. Oh thank you darling darling, For a cozy place to hide away For a smile warmer than a summer day Forgive me if I forget to say “I love you” At the end of each day.
CAITLIN HANNAFORD SEBASTIAN WOO
Columbia Lake AVRIL MURRAY
And the Sun Rises Again
ISABELLA ANDRADE
NADICA TERZIEVA
And the sun rises again, Next to you. Next to me. With the birds in the sky, The night long gone, As the dew melts away And the sky turns bright blue From a soft grey. The clouds disperse, Leaving us to feel refreshed at the solace that the new day brings. A tender kiss on the cheek, Sleepy eyes and soft hands. Forgotten coffee turns to stains on the table And the morning transforms into the afternoon. Work, study, thoughts of the sun, of you. The evening comes soon enough. The birds hide away once again, settling in their nests Just as we settle for the night, Sharing the moonlight and waiting for the sun to rise again.
People watching people watching geese in the grass at Columbia Lake. I wonder if it answered to another name before someone engraved the plaque; I wonder where I'd be without this year beneath the mask. No matter-I’m here with the signing red-winged blackbird. And a child with a camera round her neck runs wild while her mother tells the dog to fetch, and she gets better at it every day. She stops as her mother tells the dog to stay, and leans back to capture that familiar face. Later, she’ll trace the lines with an arthritic finger, and wonder who’s now running wild at Columbia Lake.
People watching people playing frisbee golf in far-off groups of twos and threes. I find myself grieving and soothing and healing each of my atrophied wounds. It is a kind of belonging simply to smile as they move about the green. It is a kind of belonging simply to scrawl these thoughts across the page.
Columbines ISABELLA ANDRADE
Columbines can bloom among the rocks Octopi can use their tentacles to walk And gorillas can use their hands to talk So I can, too.
I stop, and pick a dandelion from the midst of the fray. As the seeds drift towards the horizon, I open my eyes: We are each the seed, the wind, and the earth, here with the singing red-winged blackbird at Columbia Lake.
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Columbia Lake AVRIL MURRAY
And the Sun Rises Again
ISABELLA ANDRADE
NADICA TERZIEVA
And the sun rises again, Next to you. Next to me. With the birds in the sky, The night long gone, As the dew melts away And the sky turns bright blue From a soft grey. The clouds disperse, Leaving us to feel refreshed at the solace that the new day brings. A tender kiss on the cheek, Sleepy eyes and soft hands. Forgotten coffee turns to stains on the table And the morning transforms into the afternoon. Work, study, thoughts of the sun, of you. The evening comes soon enough. The birds hide away once again, settling in their nests Just as we settle for the night, Sharing the moonlight and waiting for the sun to rise again.
People watching people watching geese in the grass at Columbia Lake. I wonder if it answered to another name before someone engraved the plaque; I wonder where I'd be without this year beneath the mask. No matter-I’m here with the signing red-winged blackbird. And a child with a camera round her neck runs wild while her mother tells the dog to fetch, and she gets better at it every day. She stops as her mother tells the dog to stay, and leans back to capture that familiar face. Later, she’ll trace the lines with an arthritic finger, and wonder who’s now running wild at Columbia Lake.
People watching people playing frisbee golf in far-off groups of twos and threes. I find myself grieving and soothing and healing each of my atrophied wounds. It is a kind of belonging simply to smile as they move about the green. It is a kind of belonging simply to scrawl these thoughts across the page.
Columbines ISABELLA ANDRADE
Columbines can bloom among the rocks Octopi can use their tentacles to walk And gorillas can use their hands to talk So I can, too.
I stop, and pick a dandelion from the midst of the fray. As the seeds drift towards the horizon, I open my eyes: We are each the seed, the wind, and the earth, here with the singing red-winged blackbird at Columbia Lake.
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Cheer Up EKJYOT SINGH
Cheers to another day of dismay, in the hope of storming sorrow. Cheers to troubles still not away, shifting the burden onto the morrow. Never the darkest hour in the night. Never an hour of hope in the day. Hymns lost to the lyric birds write, turning into cannibals, they prey. Pity the constant state of despair. Beg the Lord to help make it better. The echoes seem to be lost somewhere, but He must have received the letter. The world outside embraces the fall, shedding the leaves in colours of all sorts. Apparent sounds of a breach at the wall, Huh! Someone let go of nature’s torts.
SEBASTIAN WOO
BUKUNMI OYEWOLE
CAITLIN HANNAFORD
Darling
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Oh darling darling darling, What a dream come true you are to me A safe harbour from a stormy sea A winter’s day hot cup of tea A candle in the window Warm light beckons me. Oh thank you darling darling, For a cozy place to hide away For a smile warmer than a summer day Forgive me if I forget to say “I love you” At the end of each day.
CAITLIN HANNAFORD SEBASTIAN WOO
Cheer Up EKJYOT SINGH
Cheers to another day of dismay, in the hope of storming sorrow. Cheers to troubles still not away, shifting the burden onto the morrow. Never the darkest hour in the night. Never an hour of hope in the day. Hymns lost to the lyric birds write, turning into cannibals, they prey. Pity the constant state of despair. Beg the Lord to help make it better. The echoes seem to be lost somewhere, but He must have received the letter. The world outside embraces the fall, shedding the leaves in colours of all sorts. Apparent sounds of a breach at the wall, Huh! Someone let go of nature’s torts.
SEBASTIAN WOO
BUKUNMI OYEWOLE
CAITLIN HANNAFORD
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Marina Loizides editor@blueprintmagazine.ca Literary Editor Sangeet Mutsuddi literaryeditor@blueprintmagazine.ca Art Manager Kyle Quilatan artmanager@blueprintmagazine.ca AV Editor Olivia McIntosh Interns Erika Dickinson and Ekjyot Singh
ADMINISTRATION
President, Publisher & Chair Brit Kovacs Interim Executive Director Kurtis Rideout Advertising Manager Vacant Web Manager Sam Nabi and Bryan Stephens Vice Chair Jacob Segal Rice Directors Rosalind Horne, Emily Crump, Arshy Mann, Mythra Kulan, Sara Sheikh
The Revive Issue
A goldfinch sits upon her four eggs. Soon the babies will emerge and new lives begin.
Considering the past year, we can all benefit from a good Pick-Me-Up. With that in mind, we wanted to focus on the idea of “Revive.” From amazing artwork that captures the beauty of life, to engaging writing that reminds us of what we have, we hope this Mini-Issue brings you light and refreshes your spirit. Thank you for supporting Blueprint! The Blueprint Editorial Team Cover Art by
SEBASTIAN WOO
CONTACT
Blueprint Magazine 75 University Ave W Waterloo ON N2L 3C5 519.884.0710 x3564 blueprintmagazine.ca Advertise blueprintmagazine.ca/advertise Contribute submissions@blueprintmagazine.ca
COLOPHON
Blueprint is the official student magazine of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Founded in 2002, Blueprint is an editorially independent magazine published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Content appearing in Blueprint bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. Blueprint reserves the right to re-publish submissions in print or online. Opinions in Blueprint are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Blueprint’s management, Blueprint, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. Blueprint is created using Macintosh computers using Adobe Creative Suite.
CONTENTS
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2021
POETRY
PROSE
Columbines
Together Again
ISABELLA ANDRADE
ASHLEY DI PERNA
Darling
ISABELLA ANDRADE
Cheer Up
EKJYOT SINGH
Columbia Lake AVRIL MURRAY
And the Sun Rises Again NADICA TERZIEVA
@blueprint_magazine
A black crowned night heron stands below Parkhill Dam, allowing the mist to hit her, washing away yesterday to a refreshing new day. JOE LETHBRIDGE
THE REVIVE MINI ISSUE
VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1, OCTOBER 2021