Etc. Magazine 2024

etc...2024

Etc Magazine Publication Team Senior Editors Mason Utset, Maddy Reda

ETC Staff Alexa Brown

Adrianna Caliendo

Abigail Hwang

Heather Jones

Violet Williamson

Natalie Zamirowski

Moderator Cindy Bannon

Etc. is Notre Dame High School’s annual art and literary magazine. The publication is a showcase for the creative talents of Notre Dame students and includes poetry, prose, artwork, and photography.

The staff of Etc. would like to thank the students who submitted their art and literary works. We extend special thanks to Mr. Ken Jennings and Ms. Michele Martinez for their support of the Arts at Notre Dame as well as Mrs. MacIsaac and Mrs. Duff for their keen eyes in helping us edit.

Etc. wishes the Class of 2024 all the best in their future endeavors.

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Literary Contents Title

Author

The Scent of Nature Story of a Tree The Soldier The Shield My Sister and I Brotherhood of Love The Lonely Bush Floating Flowers Secrets of Nature The Murmurs of Birds Untitled Amica (Italian Poem) Friend (English Translation) Sweet Melody A Glimpse The Heart Beat She Gave How to Be Starved for Water Refraction Untitled The Cathedral Uomo Nella la Luna (Italian Poem) Man in the Moon (English Translation) The Midnight Train Painted Sky

Mason Utset..........................4 Angie Siguencia....................4 Heather Jones........................5 Kylie McCabe.......................5 Kylie McCabe.......................5 Andy Zigbuo.........................6 Isabella Lenzo.......................6 Isabella Lenzo.......................6 Dominic Spoto.......................7 Ava Sulkowski.......................7 Kaleigh Wheeler...................7 Anonymous ...........................7 Anonymous ...........................7 Andy Zigbuo.........................8 Isabella Odina......................8 Andy Zigbuo.........................9 Violet Williamson............... 10 Kylie McCabe.....................11 Violet Williamson................11 Violet Williamson................12 Natalie Zamirowski.............13 Rachel Mann.......................14

Page

Title

Author

Page

Title

Author

Page

Rachel Mann.......................14 Natalie Zamirowski.............15 Ashlyn Soltysiak................. 16

I Remain Jake Reinstein..................... 16 Aurora Borealis Ava Sulkowski.................... 16 Just Once Brielle Jimenez.....................17 the house Isabella Odina....................17 Before Destruction Andy Zigbuo.......................18 Destruction Andy Zigbuo.......................18 In the Meadow Dominic Spoto.....................18 In the Shadows Dominic Spoto.....................18 Senza Titolo (Italian Poem) Delanie Meszaros...............19 Untitled (English Translation) Delanie Meszaros...............19 Nature Kaleigh Wheeler.................19 To Be Wrong Mary Kerwick......................19 (A Korean Poem) Abigail Hwang................... 20 You and I (English Translation) Abigail Hwang................... 20 Accepting Me Brielle Jimenez.....................21 The Mistreated Grass Angie Siguencia..................21 Soar Around the World Riley Winkler...................... 22 Senza Titolo (Italian Poem) Jason Bridge....................... 22 Untitled (English Translation) Jason Bridge....................... 22 Beginning Andy Zigbuo...................... 22 Una Luce Nella Notte (Italian Poem) James Falcone.................... 23 A Light Through the Night (English Translation) James Falcone.................... 23 Humans and Nature Jake Reinstein..................... 23 Autunno (Italian Poem) William Napier.................. 24 Fall (English Translation) William Napier.................. 24

Untitled (Italian Poem) Nicholas Merlino............... 24 Untitled (English Translation) Nicholas Merlino............... 24 Right where he left her Natalie Zamirowski............ 25 Marzyciel (Polish Poem) Olivia Pomin....................... 26 The Dreamer (English Translation) Olivia Pomin....................... 26 Monde De Musique (French Poem) Isabella Odina................... 27 World of Music (English Translation) Isabella Odina................... 27 LA RECETTE POUR UN SLAM Honors French 3 Class (Recipe for a Slam) Fall Semester...................... 28 Origami Anonymous......................... 29 Cielo Stellato (Italian Poem) Madalena Creo................. 29 Starry Sky (English Translation) Madalena Creo................. 29 Tsunami Ashlyn Soltysiak................. 29 The Strength of a Still Rock Angie Siguencia.................30 Two Green Turfs Jake Moog.........................30 Yellow Jacket and the Butterfly Kerith Watson......................31 Museum of Lost Toys Abigail Hwang....................31 The Magnificent Tree Isabella Lenzo.....................31 Fate Anonymous......................... 32 Correre (Italian Poem) Stella Bove.......................... 32 Run (English Translation) Stella Bove.......................... 32 The Sound of Nature Ashlyn Soltysiak................. 34 A Feeling of Spring Ava Sulkowski.................... 34 A Rabbit’s Twilight Riley Winkler...................... 35 The Grass Beneath Us Jake Reinstein..................... 35

Title

Artist

Title

Artist

Title

Artist

Urban Knights Caballero Serenity Toxic Masculinity A Look Into the Future Artist Deep Sea Guardian Fading California Chatter Space Oddity Self-Portrait Christmas Cookies Ceramic Teapot Ceramic Eggs Ceramic Teapot My Hands Are Tied Right Now Silence Between Songs Nurse Motherhood 2 Girls and Yarn Girl with Mask Blue Vase Gilded SelFISHness Stages of Life Home to Another One Secretary Inner Beauty Icarus Ink Girl in Space Imagination-School The View A Cinderella Retelling All About Me When Can I be Enough Almonds Prunis Dulcis Autumn Nights

Mason Utset......................F.C. Mason Utset..........................4 Mason Utset..........................4 Sarah Colon..........................4 Elena Abreu...........................4 Elena Abreu...........................5 Mason Utset..........................5 Kylie McCabe.......................5 Maddy Reda.........................5 Kaitlynn Kelley.......................6 Elizabeth Socha ...................6 Elena Abreu...........................6 Elana Ruppersberger............7 Cameron Beetel....................7 Simone Pintinalli....................7 Kylie McCabe.......................8 Gabriela Pasqualone...........8 Elena Abreu ..........................8 Ava Stazzone........................9 Ella McColgan......................9 Lina Yang...............................9 Jenny Begley.........................9 Maddy Reda ..................... 10 Natalia Rodriguez-Ibanez... 10 Isabella Vilarelle................ 10 Gabriela Pasqualone........ 10 Elena Abreu........................ 10 Isabella Carrero..................11 Kylic McCabe.....................11 Elena Abreu.........................11 Lina Yang.............................11 Shana Ignacio.....................12 Elena Abreu.........................12 Shana Ignacio.....................12 Katelynn Kelley....................12 Lina Yang.............................12 Shana Ignacio.....................13 Isla Christall.........................13

Good Night House with Path Leap of Fate Effects of Social Media Pink Skies Rolling in the Deep Prison Break Reflection Stay Warm Rainbow Fish Strength Untitled Untitled If the World Was Ending Sweet Escape Sunny Days The Best Parts of Me Enemy or Energy Drawn Butter Fisher of Men Artists in their Element Dunes of Time The Color Violet The Cottage The Hitchhiker Flamingo Focus Honey Bees Round and Round We Go The Star Till We Meet Again Orange You Glad I Didn’t Break Your Heart Vulnerable To What’s Beyond Untitled Road to Nowhere Covering Mouth

Katelynn Kelley....................14 Katherine Hering.................14 Ella McColgan....................15 Ava Stazzone......................15 Willow Paterson................. 16 Gabriela Pasqualone ....... 16 Mason Utset....................... 16 Mason Utset........................17 Elena Abreu.........................17 Madeline Adams................17 Karleigh Iraca......................17 Ava Stazzone......................18 Ava Barone..........................18 Abigail Hwang....................18 Ella McColgan....................19 Isabella Carrero..................19 Shana Ignacio.....................19 Ava Stazzone..................... 20 Sophia Komjati................... 20 Maddy Reda...................... 20 Mason Utset....................... 20 Mason Utset....................... 20 Gabriela Pasqualone.........21 Elena Abreu.........................21 Christopher Cantarero........21 Maddie Adams.................. 22 Katelynn Kelley................... 22 Shana Ignacio.................... 22 Maddy Reda...................... 23 Karleigh Iraca..................... 23 Mason Utset....................... 23

Untitled Peony Prism Multimedia Mixed-Media Mixed-Media Set Rainbow Porcupine Sometimes Untitled Crotalus Atrox October The Ladder Down Harvest Twin Flames Fragaria Ananassa Blue Pitcher Peigler Buck Moth Untitled Listening at Door Breaking News Frame Story Anxiety 3 Friends Felis Catu Exquisite Mountain Range Don’t Wear Animals Savannah Grasslands Maine Coon Citrus Sinensis Churros Fingers Coca Cola Untitled Wonderment Wire Tree Burning Inspiration

Sabrina Leiggi.................... 26 Sophia Manato.................. 26 Mason Utset....................... 26 Katherine Hering................ 27 Sophia Komjati................... 27 Sabrina Leiggi.................... 27 Jenny Begley...................... 28 Kelsey Kramer.................... 28 Ella McColgan................... 28 Sophia Monato.................. 28 Matthew Ryba.................... 29 Katherine Hering................ 29 Maddy Reda......................30 Jiya Parasher......................30 Maddy Reda......................30 Liz Halloran........................30 Katherine Hering.................31 Isabella Carrero..................31 Lou-Victoria Martens..........31 Ella McColgan................... 32 Willow Paterson................. 32 Maddy Reda...................... 32 Isabella Vilarelle................ 32 Lina Yang............................ 33 Lina Yang............................ 33 Willow Paterson................. 33 Olive Foley......................... 33 Elena Abreu........................ 33 Willow Paterson................. 34 Madison Fajardo............... 34 Felipe Samuel..................... 34 Lou-Victoria Martens......... 34 Anna Guido........................ 34 Juliana Peregrin.................. 35 Abigail Hwang................... 35 Patricia Nazario-Lugo....... 35 Kylie McCabe..................B.C.

Art Contents

Page

Page

Kylie McCabe.................... 24 Gabriela Pasqualone........ 24 Ella McColgan................... 24 Lucas Chuderewicz ........... 24 Maddy Reda...................... 25 Lina Yang............................ 25

Notre Dame High School • 601 Lawrence Road • Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 • Volume 36 • Issue 1

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Toxic Masculinity Sarah Colon

Caballero

Mason Utset

The Scent of Nature Mason Utset

Floral notes filling the air, Delicate as its owner, a flower so rare, The lavender bushes prepping their smell, Soon to be released into the air to dwell, A cold breeze, so dull to care, But hidden within, holds a fragrance that one must be aware, The scent of nature builds the beauty, Of a world that must be protected–that is our duty.

A Look Into the Future Elena Abreu

Story of a Tree Angie Siguencia

Once a tiny seed, buried in the earth, A tree began its journey, its extraordinary birth.

With each passing day, it grew with might, Stretching its branches, reaching for the light.

But as time passed by, the tree began to grey, Its branches grew brittle, its trunk started to decay.

And when its final days approached, with strength, The tree fought but was unable to continue its length.

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Serenity

Mason Utset

The Soldier Heather Jones

Life is beautiful Old and New For when one’s scarred What’s revealed is true I know a tree It stands tall and proud With a short stump And marks so loud For the tree has been in battle To Hell and back Yet no one would have known If it wasn’t for the crack

California Chatter Maddy Reda

The Shield Kylie McCabe

Some try to tear my shield away, While others leave it there to stay, My bark protects me, Keeps me unseen.

If I shed my bark I will be bare, Forcing me to be aware.

I’d rather stay in my comfort zone, Safe and alone.

My Sister and I

Artist

Elena Abreu

Kylie McCabe I am scared that I am too rough That others will be afraid to touch me because I am too tough Fading

Kylie McCabe

I envy my sister, for she is soft Even carrying a floral waft She is gentle, fragile and young Although I should be happy for her, it still stung She is never forgotten, never knowing pain Yet, I am left to rely on the rain My sister, the flower is magnificent And I, the tree will remain indifferent

Deep Sea Guardian Mason Utset

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Brotherhood of Love Andy Zigbuo

As brothers we cried Cried day in and day out Out of our eyes which tears fell Fell oh he did, from the sky above And above he went on his journey of joy Joy which we felt when he was around Around his wooden casket we prayed Prayed that the kindness he spread will carry on through all All that we felt with his sweet country noise Noise which we heard on the field he stood Stood he did, so mighty and tall Tall like a giant in the blazing sun

Christmas Cookies Elena Abreu

Sun which he put us under to be hard working men Hard working men who we will be Be not sad for we are a brotherhood

The Lonely Bush

A Brotherhood of Love To a man who I never met but his love and kindness I feel:

Isabella Lenzo

Coach John McKenna, “We miss you”.

I look up high And I start to cry I see kids swinging from the tree’s branches And through its leaves, the wind dances People gather around the tree But they never come over to me I am a little smaller The trees are much taller But my branches are perfectly fine And I have my own unique design My leaves are a pretty shade of dark green But still, I remain unseen Maybe one day they will see That I am just as good as a tree

Floating Flowers Isabella Lenzo Self-Portrait

Elizabeth Socha

6

Space Oddity Katelynn Kelley

Flowers floating in the air In the field over there They sway with the breeze Underneath huge oak trees A sea of bright pink They all drift together in sync From left to right They create the most beautiful sight A few petals run away with the breeze And float in the sky, high near the trees But the flowers that stay Float back and forth all day

Secrets of Nature Dominic Spoto

The wind whispers secrets, unseen but felt Caressing us with its playful dance It carries stories from lands afar Whistling through trees, oh the stories it tells Invisible yet mighty, nature’s unseen hand

The Murmurs of Birds Ava Sulkowski

Tweet, tweet, tweet comes the feathered creatures from the north Chirp, chirp, chirp replies the beak-mouthed animals from the south Tweet tweet, chirp chirp, the conversation goes on Hearing the murmurs from every direction Tweet tweet tweet, nearly ten birds sing Going back and forth to one another without missing a beat Chirp, chirp, chirp, a different hum continues One after the other, chirping surrounds the silence Tweet tweet, chirp chirp, communicating with one another throughout nature’s skies

Ceramic Teapot

Elana Ruppersberger

Untitled

Kaleigh Wheeler Like statues, reaching for the sky, A tree’s branches are held high Leaves whispering secrets with the sound of the wind’s breeze.

Offering shade to whoever needs.

Shades of green, Painting a beautiful scene.

Dancing with a sway, Breathing in life in every way.

Ceramic Eggs Cameron Beetel

Amica (Italian Poem) Amica Bella simpatica Premurosa amorevole sorprendente Sempre lì per me

Friend (English Translation) Friend Beautiful friendly Caring loving amazing Always there for me

Ceramic Teapot Simone Pintinalli

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A Glimpse Isabella Odina

I caught a glimpse in your eyes that reminded me of who you once were I was mesmerized by it Hypnotized by the nostalgia it emits But I snapped out of my daze Once I remembered who you are these days

My Hands Are Tied Right Now Kylie McCabe

Sweet Melody Andy Zigbuo

You could say that we were destined to be Holding hands Saying prolific words of sweet melodies But one broken key can misdirect the course of that sweet melody One disastrous action can leave a homily in disarray But OUR Story doesn’t end there Oh no no no A connection was made Memories were made And so those once broken keys May be fixed To play a sweet melody

Nurse

Elena Abreu

Silence Between Songs Gabriela Pasqualone

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Girl with Mask Lina Yang

The Heart Beat She Gave Andy Zigbuo

Beep Beep Beep Flat Motherhood Ava Stazzone

She went just like that All her life she meet their needs Disgraceful children with greed and pride Left her there when she died Cold and dry her hand it was A loving mother that’s who she was A greedy son that’s who I was The best mother that’s who I loved

2 Girls and Yarn Ella McColgan

Blue Vase

Jenny Begley

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Gilded

Maddy Reda

Stages of Life

Isabella Vilarelle

Home to Another One Gabriela Pasqualone

Secretary

SelFISHness

Natalia Rodriguez-lbanez

How to Be Violet Williamson

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What should I wear today?

How should I go about my day?

Tell me, For I cannot think for myself, I don’t have a clue what to say.

Tell me, For I fear I amount to nothing, Not an ounce of anything, Lost, like a ship at sea, Angry and thrashing, Fighting my own maker.

Tell me, How to speak, How to write, How to love, How to be.

Elena Abreu

Ink

Elena Abreu

Inner Beauty

Isabella Carrero

Girl in Space Lina Yang

Icarus

Kylie McCabe

Starved for Water Kylie McCabe

My brothers skin starts to shed As leaves start to fall from his head He looks yellow and frail Oh, how I hope he will prevail But he does not and continues to fall A death so sad, my mother starts to bawl The tears keep me alive and standing Unlike my brother, the tree, notwithstanding

Refraction Violet Williamson

To see myself, So clearly reflected within you, I collapse at the sight, Why mirror to mirror?

(What caused this?)

Not face to face?

(Who caused this?)

If I still exist within you, There was no reason, Other than the danger, Of having two stars too close,

The gravity too strong, One engulfing the other, Never to come out the other side, Shining the same again.

Glitter and light distracts, Shine and sheen of glass, Glaze of your gaze, I did not see the Great Beyond, Beyond the obvious, We were oblivious.

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Shana Ignacio

The View

Elena Abreu

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WHEN CAN I BE ENOUGH WHEN CAN I BE ENOUG

Imagination/School

All About Me Katelynn Kelley

A Cinderella Retelling Shana Ignacio

Untitled

Violet Williamson Nothing’s new, A summer of change, Came and flew, I lost you.

Nothing’s new, Months I grew, All to feel the same, As I did before you, Nothing’s new, Through you, I felt renewed.

Nothing’s new, Through you, I grew consumed.

When Can I be Enough Lina Yang

The Cathedral Natalie Zamirowski

property because it was haunted by the bishop who had died when the cathedral had been burned during the riots. The stories of what would happen to children if he found them on the property ranged, yet they were all equally terrifying to us as children.

When I was twelve, I broke my mother’s biggest rule.

I left in the middle of the afternoon, saying I was going on one of my usual walks around our neighborhood. I had no intention of walking through my neighborhood. I was more interested in the woods beyond it. More interested in what was in those woods.

The town I grew up in was haunted by a series of riots that happened twenty years before I was born. If you went to any of the libraries or researched my town’s history, you wouldn’t find any mention of these riots. And if you asked anyone who’d been here then, you wouldn’t get much more information.

Most people don’t like to talk about the riots because it’s too shameful. Or maybe it reminds them of a time when we let a few most likely false rumors kill three men and destroy the most beautiful cathedral in the state, whose ruins lay about a half-mile into the woods beyond the neighborhood I grew up in.

When I was in elementary school, my classmates would dare each other to run to the fence of the cemetery and back. No one ever did, though. We were all too afraid of the stories our parents had told us about the abandoned cathedral to go anywhere near it. I guess that was our parents’ intention when telling us those stories.

Most of them were tales of caution, warning us not to go near the

Almonds Prunis Dulcis

Shana Ignacio

But the stories only kept us away for so long before we decided not to believe them. That day came for me when I was twelve. I’d made up my mind: I was going to touch one of the cathedral’s stone walls, even if it killed me.

So I filled a backpack with food, water, a flashlight, and a jacket before setting off into the woods. It didn’t take me long to find the fence surrounding the small cemetery. I wasn’t quite stupid enough to walk through it, so I took the longer way around. My heart was racing with the excitement of exploration.

My breath caught in my chest as my eyes fell on the abandoned cathedral. Moss and weeds had covered most of the walls. I could see the remnants of scorch marks on the stone. Some of the panes of the stained-glass windows were missing or broken. The bell from the belltower was long gone, rumored to have been destroyed in the riots. I was transfixed by the beauty of something so ruined.

At that moment I knew I’d be back, and I was right. For the next six years, I visited the cathedral nearly every week.

Autumn Nights Isla Christall

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Uomo Nella la Luna (Italian Poem) Rachel Mann

Chi indovina i nostri amori erano scritti nelle stelle Pianeti allineati per appena un minuto Tu mi hai tirato piu vicino al tuo cuore Guardo la luna Sdraiati accanto Guardo stupefatto la stella più brillante Guardo la luna Penso a te Spero tu veda me come è andata finire che siamo così fortunata Io sono nella tua mani Forse questa non sara’ per sempre Ma io sono grata per l’opportunità Guardo la luna Sdraiati accanto Guardo stupefatto la stella più brillante Guardo la luna Penso a te Spero tu veda me

Good Night

Katelynn Kelley

Man in the Moon (English Translation) Rachel Mann

Who would have guessed our loving was written in the stars Planets aligned for just a minute You pulled me closer to your heart Looking at the moon Lying next to you Staring at the brightest star Looking at the moon Thinking about you I hope you see me too How did we end up so lucky, I’m in your hands Maybe this won’t last forever but I’m thankful for the chance Looking at the moon Lying next to you Staring at the brightest star Looking at the moon Thinking about you I hope you see me too 14

House with Path Katherine Hering

Leap of Fate

Effects of Social Media

Ella McColgan

Ava Stazzone

The Midnight Train Natalie Zamirowski

The train station is desolate. There’s only one other person here, and he’s asleep on one of the benches. I look up at the board of arriving and departing trains. A non-stop to San Francisco arrives in five minutes. I glance at my watch; it’s nearly midnight. Perfect. I buy a ticket at the office then stand on the platform, waiting.

A train barrels down the tracks, paying no heed to the station and one person it passes. The breeze the train creates jostles my hair, causing it to fly into my face. I frantically push it out of my eyes.

Another train is coming, but this one slows to a stop.

The conductor climbs out. “You the only one?” He looks upset or maybe just disappointed. I decide that he’s regretting his career choice and wishing he went into one of the sciences. Maybe biochemistry. Or organic chem. Definitely some form of chemistry.

“Sadly.” I mutter under my breath. I push past Mr. Conductor

to get on the train. I’m not in the mood to waste too much time.

The train’s car is the complete opposite of the station: crowded and stuffy from all the people. Most are businessmen or women, returning home from a long week at work. I find an open seat towards the back of the car. After I place my suitcase on the rack above my seat, I pull out my book and pretend I’m not listening to everyone else’s conversations. Some are interesting and others not so much.

The landscape blurs together into one darkly-colored blob as the train accelerates. Everything outside of this train car is an insignificant mirage of shapes and shadows. It’s like a montage you’d see in a dramatic movie. I feel like I’m in a dramatic movie.

Only I’m not so sure I’m the main character, even in my own story.

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Painted Sky Ashlyn Soltysiak

The sky danced with color Baby pink Roaring orange Fierce red As the sun sets The sky is filled with breathtaking pigmentation As I relax on the handmade quilt Given to me by my mother I see her looking down on me In the painted sky

I Remain Jake Reinstein

I am beautiful, I am a flower.

I sashay in the wind with my petals glistening in the light.

A vocal point in a field of emptiness, As I remain.

My friend and family have been all picked one by one, But I remain.

A fate of a flower is meant to be an honorable one, One in which you are cherished, admired, and loved, But I remain.

So I will die a slow painful death as the fall winds roll in, I will wilt, fall and die, Because I remain.

As no one ever wanted me.

Because I am ugly, I am a flower.

Rolling in the Deep

Pink Skies

Willow Paterson

Mason Utset

Gabriela Pasqualone

Aurora Borealis Ava Sulkowski

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Prison Break

The sky as dark as coal All but a few stars in the sky Colors then appear, in vibrant swirls Bright sights protruding from above Teals, greens, blues, and purples manifest together The scenery gives an image of simplicity yet elegance Swirls amongst the great upward sea of darkness The lively streaks illuminate what’s behind it Whether it be houses, mountains, or planes The phenomenon brings light and gloss everywhere it shines

Reflection

Mason Utset

Rainbow Fish

Madeline Adams

the house isabella odina

i live in a house without any lights the windows have cracked the furniture is untidy the door has been left wide open but i see no need to fix it all i am content with my house although it’s unkempt it’s a small price to pay in return for some peace

Strength

Karleigh Iraca

Stay Warm Elena Abreu

Just Once Brielle Jimenez

Just once I would like to be the poem not the poet I want to be their one and only the girl that makes them shine like the sun glistens off the bright blue ocean I want to be the twinkle to their star And the wind to their hurricane I want real love Not just a romanticized piece of art

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Before Destruction

In the Meadow

Where dreams once thrived, Before the chaos, when nature was truly beautiful, There played a song harmonious and bright, A tapestry of life, painted in pure delight.

Forests with trees that reached towards the sky, Oh, what a paradise, before the fall, When humanity failed to heed the call In their shelters they hide But oh no it was too late

In the meadows embrace where wildflowers bloom Colors burst forth, on this beautiful earth Butterflies dance, their wings filled with hallucinations Fragrance lingers, a sweet symphony in the air As the sun sprinkles warmth upon this beautiful Earth

Andy Zigbuo

Destruction

Dominic Spoto

In the Shadows Dominic Spoto

The forest’s shadows shade the ground A verdant tapestry of leaves As bird chirps fill the air with sound And squirrels on trees dart around and around

Andy Zigbuo

Where shadows spread, The destruction of nature There echoes a cry of desperate plea, For healing hands to set the Earth free.

Once vibrant meadows, now battered and scarred, Machines roar loudly, tearing through the land, Leaving behind devastation, where life was once grand.

For even in destruction’s relentless might, The seeds of new life yearn to ignite.

Untitled

Ava Stazzone

If The World Was Ending

Abigail Hwang

Untitled 18

Ava Barone

The Best Parts of Me Shana Ignacio

Nature

Kaleigh Wheeler As the darkness falls below the earth, a new painting is drawn.

A touch of the yellow, orange sun, rising up from the ground.

A new masterpiece is made with a variety of colors.

Darkness going away, bringing on the new day.

God’s “Good morning” to nature.

Sounds of the birds chirping, Replying to God saying good morning back.

As He gives the sense of peace and comfort, bringing on the brand new day

Sweet Escape Ella McColgan

To Be Wrong

Sunny Days

Isabella Carrero

Mary Kerwick

Senza Titolo (Italian poem) Delanie Meszaros

Fiori Colaranti, Bellissima Fioritura, Fiorente, Germogliare Petali, Bombi, Nevicare, Ghiaccio Nevicando, Congelamento, Slittino Freddo, Bianco Inverno

Untitled (English Translation) Delanie Meszaros

Flowers Colorful, Beautiful Blooming, Flowering, Growing Petals, Bumblebees, Snow, Ice Snowing, Freezing, Sledding Cold, White Winter

Tell me why you think this is fair When all I did was tell you you were wrong And why you talk to me like we’re still friends, But yet you’ve seen it all along We don’t belong We never did and never will so just move on I wanted you but now you’re gone And now I’m stuck here in the wrong.

I really thought this could go far, You put that thought into my head, But now that thought is stuck while you slowly disappear We don’t belong We might have in another life I can’t move on, I’ve seen that you have I guess that’s good for you But now all that is left is the feeling I am wrong

19

Drawn Butter

Enemy or Energy Ava Stazzone

Sophia Komjati

Fisher of Men

Dunes of Time

Maddy Reda

Mason Utset

Artists in their Elements Mason Utset

(A Korean Poem) Abigail Hwang

You and I (English Translation) Abigail Hwang

whenever we’re together, I am the happiest. whenever we’re together, my heart hurts. whenever we’re together… i cannot stop staring into your eyes. whenever we’re together, it’s just you and i.

20

The Color Violet

Gabriela Pasqualone

Accepting Me Brielle Jimenez

My whole life I wanted to be someone else I wanted to be the girl with shiny blonde hair and a tiny waist The girl who’s smile lit up a room even when all the lights were off I wanted to be like the girls born with bright blue eyes that glistened in the light Eyes like waves that you would drown in and never find your way out I’ve realized the hard way that spending all of my time trying to be someone so perfect was unrealistic It was like trying to find the monsters under your bed as a kid that were simply Never there…

I know I will always want to be someone that I’m not but I hope that all of those versions are a little bit like me The girl with the messy brown hair and the wood brown eyes The girl with the chubby cheeks and the big thighs I accept myself with all of my flaws big or small And whether not i would like to admit it All of those versions are a little bit like me Just a girl trying to get by

The Cottage

Elena Abreu

The Mistreated Grass Angie Siguencia

With determination, it pushes through, all of the pain of shoes It wished that one day they knew How long its roots took to show Understanding that it has feelings too And instead just take the clue Of how to enjoy the view So it can also continue to look brand new

The Hitchhiker

Christopher Cantarero

21

Soar Around the World

Senza Titolo (Italian poem)

A quiet chirp Breath of new life Looking up into the clouds wandering in the sky Royal blue wings widen

Onde che colpiscono la spiaggia Le belle iniziano nel cielo scuro Vibrante raggiante di luce

Riley Winkler

A leap of faith shall be taken As the baby bird dances along the horizon Soaring in the sweet air Singing in a sense of serenity

Jason Bridge

Untitled (English Translation) Jason Bridge

Waves hitting the beach Beautiful starts in the dark sky Vibrant beaming with light

Flying as high as the glowing, gold moon Lowering through a field of pastel tulips A burst of sweet heaven explodes in the beak Traveling forever around the green globe Worn feathers soon grow weary Moving as slowly as a tiny turtle Rests in a warm, woven nest Life is lightning disappearing in a blink

Focus

Katelynn Kelley

Beginning Andy Zigbuo

Flamingo

Maddie Adams

22

A gentle spring breeze Softly kisses cherry blooms Pink petals dance free Nature’s artistry on show Pure bliss, a fleeting moment Silence fills the air, Now what’s left, Peaceful thoughts rise, Birds singing their melody while the wind howls to the song New Beginnings

Honey Bees Shana Ignacio

Round and Round We Go Maddy Reda

Una luce nella notte (Italian Poem) James Falcone In una ricchezza affascinante proiettando una luce dolce opaca sopra una vasta tela davvero un bellissimo spettacolo Stare da solo una grande sfera di luce argentata La luna Tutto da solo Perso nella notte

A light through the night (English Translation)

The Star, Karleigh Iraca

Humans and Nature Jake Reinstein

The humans and I have both existed for as long as I can remember.

But as long as I’ve known, they’ve tried to replicate me.

They erect large towering poles with fabric attached to replicate my trees.

They fill the air with gaseous smells to replicate my beautiful flower aromas.

They build these colossal metal bulky planes to replicate the might and agility of my birds.

Why do they try to replicate the unreplicable, Why do they destroy what I create, Why can’t we just coexist?

James Falcone

In a charming richness casting a dull sweet light up above a vast canvas truly a beautiful sight Standing alone a grand orb of silvery light.

The moon All by itself Lost to the night

Till We Meet Again, Mason Utset

23

Orange You Glad I Didn’t Break Your Heart Kylie McCabe

Autunno (A poem in Italiam) William Napier

Freddo scuola Apprendimento giocare Raccolta Ringraziamento dare regali Natale pattinaggio slittino sci bianco freddo Inverno

Fall (English Translation) William Napier

Cold School Learning playing picking Thanksgiving giving Christmas gifts skating sledding skiing cold white winter

Vulnerable, Gabriela Pasqualone

Untitled

Lucas Chuderewicz

Untitled (A poem in Italian) Nicholas Merlino

Neve divertimento sole Pattinaggio in slitta accogliente Ghiacciolo di neve in letargo

Untitled (English Translation) Nicholas Merlino

To What’s Beyond, Ella McColgan

24

Fun snow sole Skating in a cozy sleigh Icicle of snow in hibernation

Road to Nowhere

Covering Mouth

Maddy Reda

Lina Yang

Right where he left her Natalie Zamirowski

It’s ten minutes until I have to close the restaurant, and a woman is still sitting at the table in the back corner. While most of the other patrons have left and their tables have been cleared, she’s been sitting there, unmoving, for the past hour and a half. She’s frozen as everyone else moves around her. If she stays there for much longer, dust will start to collect on her hair.

A glass had fallen and cracked on the table. Red wine stains the white tablecloth. It isn’t salvageable by this point, and I’ll throw it out or give it to my sister for fabric later. There’s a bowl of pasta that must be cold by now sitting in front of the woman, untouched. A half-finished dish lies on the table across from her.

I take a moment to let my gaze trail over her. It’s difficult to see her clearly in the dim light of the flickering candle at the center of the table.

I can just make out her profile. Eyes are staring at the wall in front of her.

Her blood-red lips are parted as if she’s going to say something. Her light brown hair is elegantly pinned up. Tears leave trails of mascara as they fall down her cheeks. Her legs are crossed beneath her midnight blue evening dress. Matching heels peek out from beneath the hem.

She looks heartbroken. It’s a sad sight to see: someone so beautiful and devastated. It’s almost haunting; it makes you want to know what happened.

This must have something to do with the man who was sitting across from her and had stormed off more than an hour ago.

He’d been well-dressed in a tailored gray suit, looking like he’d just come from work at a high-paying job. The woman on his arm, as he

walked in, was just as gorgeous. Together, they were so stunning I almost couldn’t look at them. But I’d shown them to their reserved table in the far corner anyway.

The man offhandedly mentioned it was their third anniversary, and he pulled out the woman’s chair for her before demanding a bottle of one of our best red wines. Apparently, his personality didn’t quite match his looks. So, I left them with a warm loaf of bread and a forced smile.

Later, I returned with their wine and took their orders. He asked for the veal chop, and she ordered a pasta dish with peppers and sausage.

They seemed to be getting along well enough while I was with them.

As soon as I retreated away to the front of the restaurant to help new consumers, the couple in the back corner started arguing quietly with each other.

They were sitting in uncomfortable silence when I returned to their table with the food sometime later. They started to eat their food with smiles I could tell weren’t genuine.

I stood, watching them from the front of the restaurant. The man and woman’s argument grew louder and more disruptive. His utensils clattered onto his plate as they fell out of his grasp. He yelled something I couldn’t make out before standing abruptly. The woman, who was crying by now, reached her hand out to him, knocking over her glass of wine. That’s going to be hard to get out of the tablecloth, I thought.

But she couldn’t stop him from leaving. His movements were jerky as he threw a few hundred dollar bills on the table. “Keep the change,” he said, walking past me. The door slammed shut behind him.

25

The Dreamer

Untitled

Upon an island kissed by the sun’s golden lips A dreamer resides In a spot where time gently slips Their gaze turns to the horizon Which looks back with a gentle glow The ocean whispers Secrets only dreamers know The days unfold Like petals in bloom Gentle breezes carry tales From distant shores A symphony of whispers From deep within the island’s core Through emerald jungles The dreamer threads The leaves and branches Sharing stories unread Waterfalls sing lullabies And tropical melodies echo through In this sanctuary Imagination runs wild Stars paint the sky A tapestry Where wishes and fantasies unfold The island’s heart beats In rhythm with the dreamer’s own Through this world Untouched and unexplored The dreamer wanders And whispers Have I found the place The place the mind calls home

Sabrina Leiggi

Olivia Pomin

Marzyciel (A Polish Poem)

26

Peony

Mason Utset

Prism

Na wyspie całowanej złotymi wargami słońca Mieszka marzyciel W miejscu, gdzie czas delikatnie się ślizga Ich wzrok kieruje się ku horyzontowi Który spogląda wstecz z delikatnym blaskiem Ocean szepcze Sekrety, które znają tylko marzyciele Dni się rozwijają Jak kwitnące płatki Delikatny wietrzyk niesie ze sobą opowieści Z odległych brzegów Symfonia szeptów Z głębi rdzenia wyspy Przez szmaragdowe dżungle Wątki marzycieli Liście i gałęzie Udostępniają nieprzeczytane historie Wodospady śpiewają kołysanki A tropikalne melodie odbijają się echem W tym sanktuarium Wyobraźnia szaleje Gwiazdy malują niebo Gobelin Gdzie rozwijają się pragnienia i fantazje Serce wyspy bije W rytmie marzyciela Przez ten świat Nietknięty i niezbadany Marzyciel wędruje I szepcze Czy znalazłem to miejsce Miejsce, które umysł nazywa domem

Sophia Monato

Olivia Pomin

World of Music Isabella Odina

In moments of sadness Of stress Of anger I put on my headphones To lose myself In an infinite world Of music

Monde De Musique Isabella Odina

Dans les moments de tristesse De stress De colère Je mets mes écouteurs Pour me perdre Dans un monde infini De musique

Mixed-Media Sophia Komjati

Multimedia

Katherine Hering

Mixed-Media Sabrina Leiggi

27

Set

LA RECETTE POUR UN SLAM (Recipe for a Slam)

Jenny Begley

Written by the Honors French 3 class Fall Semester 2023

sometimes you learn

Ce slam est pour la famille Ce slam est ma caféine Ce slam est ma vie Ce slam est pour la cuisine La nourriture est comme la mer Parce que le choix est vaste Les recettes sont comme un accent Tout le monde est différent, surtout ma famille Ma famille est la recette pour la vie L’intimité est la recette pour ma famille Ma famille est une soupe où ma mère est le bouillon Mon père est la viande Rainbow Porcupine Kelsey Kramer

J’ai fini mes penne à la vodka Comme mon oncle a fini la bouteille de Coca Il a bouffé tout mon Chick-Fil-A !

J’aime mon poulet !

Quand je vois qu’il est mangé Je suis toujours très troublé Je représente les Amériques Je voyage en avion et mange le pain du ciel J’ajoute du miel.

Au café à Paris, j’ écoute un mec qui dit “Le poulet est brûlé !”

Je fais attention et commande des poissons et du bouillon.

Au café culturel, le menu est petit Il n’a rien à faire dans la poubelle Les options sur le menu l’enchantent comme une demoiselle Il y a beaucoup de choses qu’il a choisies La cannelle, un croissant d’hôtel, la soupe d’Hongrie

Sometimes

sometimes you win

Ella McColgan

28

La nourriture, c’est l’amour de ma vie.

La nourriture unit les gens. C’est un partage.

J’aime Oktoberfest parce que c’est très culturel.

En Italie, France et Chili, nous mangeons ensemble !

La culture est mon aventure La nourriture est ma nature Untitled

Sophia Monato

Origami Anonymous

I feel like a mental contortionist Always catering to others The only problem though, I can only fold in so many ways Before I rip like a sheet of paper.

So please, Let me rest, Take care of myself, Unwind from these knots I’m in, Because I’m a person too, And I deserve to be happy.

Crotalus Atrox Matthew Ryba

Cielo Stellato (Italian Poem) Madalena Creo

Starry Sky (English Translation) Madalena Creo

Nel cielo stellato, Un sogno colorato.

Amore e felicità, La vita è poesia.

In the starry sky, A colorful dream.

Love and happiness, Life is poetry.

Tsunami

Ashlyn Soltysiak Undisturbed waves floating back and forth Clouds trembling with fear Waves turn into giant skyscrapers Hitting the beach Turning with rage The sky turns to a dark hue of gray Sending chills down the spines of the seaweed Tickling the bottom of the shore The wind whistling Dusting sand across my feet Running fast Away from this natural disaster Is it a disaster?

Or is it a beauty?

The tsunami swipes me up I am the tsunami October

Katherine Hering

29

The Strength of a Still Rock Angie Siguencia

There lies a humble rock With a mystery story to unlock Smooth or rugged, each texture reveals That through seasons and ages, it stood the test, A symbol of strength, nature’s enduring crest.

Even when it was most distressed, It managed to pull its weight In carrying its most beloved trait.

The Ladder Down Maddy Reda

Two Green Turfs Jake Moog

Two turfs both the same Yet different in many ways Two turfs parallel to each other Two turfs separate from each other With white lines contrasting what is in and what is not Two turfs both eagerly waiting for students to run on them Two turfs both eagerly waiting for students to win on them Two turfs the same but different Harvest

Jiya Parasher

Twin Flames Maddy Reda

30

Faragaria Ananassa Liz Halloran

Yellow Jacket and the Butterfly Kerith Watson

In a field of flowers so colorful and wide A yellow jacket and butterfly are free to glide With the yellow jacket, so aggressive and tough The other insects, wouldn’t dare get rough And the Butterfly, so gentle and graceful It makes the other insects oh so playful Let the Yellow Jacket and Butterfly Remind us of nature’s life, in the sky Blue Pitcher

Katherine Hering

Museum of Lost Toys Abigail Hwang

museum of lost toys welcome to the museum of lost toys a realm where shadows weave with forgotten joys we collect anyone and anything in our haven where lost souls dance and sing boys and girls all alike waltz through our doors with much delight pick a shelf any shelf! one that will help adorn thyself your purpose lies here with all of us lost things, there’s nothing to fear enjoy your stay, for as long as it takes there’s no reason to panic, your head will remain in its place keep your chin up stay strong and rise above for in this haven that we keep you’ll be allowed to peacefully sleep welcome to the museum of lost toys don’t forget, we tip with coins

Peigler Buck Moth Isabella Carrero

The Magnificent Tree Isabella Lenzo

She grasps the dirt tightly Strong and mighty Her roots reach deep Into the earth they creep Her trunk a deep shade of brown And perfectly round Thick branches reach out With bright green leaves throughout Stretching tall into the sky Reaching the highest high

Untitled

Lou-Victoria Martens

31

Breaking News Willow Paterson

Correre (Italian Poem) Stella Bove Listening at Door Ella McColgan

Fate

Anonymous Sometimes determinism sounds nice, Because then, there is nothing I can do.

Condemned to a set path, a set outcome.

Because if it’s not, then it’s my fault.

The anguish, self-induced; The privilege of free will, granted; The illusion of fate, gone.

Frame Story Maddy Reda

32

Correre è divertente Eppure faticoso Correre è passione

Run (English Translaiton) Stella Bove

Running is fun Yet tiring Running is passion

Anxiety

Isabella Vilarelle

3 Friends

Exquisite Mountain Range

Lina Yang

Willow Paterson

Felis Catu Lina Yang

Don’t Wear Animals Olive Foley

Savannah Grasslands Elena Abreu

33

A Feeling of Spring Ava Sulkowski

One morning in May I prance out of my garage A feeling of spring awakens Suddenly the air feels warm upon touching my skin And a sun shines from above glistening off its rays Yellow powder lightly covers every car And the emerald greens of trees appear brighter than ever Growing from the ground, purple pansies start to appear And opal magnolias begin protruding from the trees A feeling of spring awakens The air so fresh, so light A feeling of spring is a feeling like no other

Maine Coon

Willow Paterson

The Sound of Nature Ashlyn Soltysiak

As they sit on the perch The birds laugh and sing At the people passing by Judging each other Birds do not live with this judgment Birds live free As a community Loving one another Unlike the people passing Watching the birds In jealousy of what they have

Fingers

Lou-Victoria Martens

Citrus Sinensis

Madison Fajardo

Coca Cola Anna Guido

34

Churros

Felipe Samuel

A Rabbit’s Twilight Riley Winkler

Feeling the tall grass brush against his fur Jumping through the cornfield Hoping as high as the stars As the vibrant daisies waved their hands hello Tasting the crunchy sweetness of a fresh carrot Rolling around in the wet, soft mud As the clear lake swallows him in Deep orange and pink hues reflect Looking out at the peak of the shining golden sun Laying along the lake, reminiscing about the day

Wonderment Abigail Hwang

Untitled

Juliana Peregrin

The Grass Beneath Us Jake Reinstein

The grass beneath us is so coarse but yet so soft.

From when we were young and foolish playing on it, To when we placed a blanket and stared at the stars on it, To when we ate and talked above it.

The grass was always beneath us, watching us grow old.

As we fell it caught us, As we jumped it grounded us.

But one day the grass won’t be beneath us, One day we will be the ones beneath the grass

Wire Tree

Patricia Nazario-Lugo

35

A Writing Irish Publication Notre Dame High School 601 Lawrence Road • Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Volume 36 • Issue 1

Back Cover Art: Burning Inspiration Kylie McCabe

Cover Art: Urban Knights Mason Utset