Editorial Staff: Bailey Anderson ’25, Joseph Bacino ’25, Luke Bordelon ’26, Logan Drouet ’26, Liam Enger ’25, Angelo Fassbender ’25, Maxwell Gaudet ’26, Brady Gueydan ’25, Jacob Gustin ’26, Andrew Hymel ’26, Carson Landry ’25, Andrew Levy ’29, Benjamin Levy ’25, Michael Meguerditchian ’25, Vincent Molina ’26, Myles Monzon ’25, Julian Taulli ’25
Literature
Pen and Sword is published annually by students of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana . Each issue is gathered, edited, and produced by current students . The staff would like to thank everyone who contributed work to this edition, with special gratitude to Mrs . Yvette Tassin for her invaluable graphic design assistance .
Louisiana
Nick
Clement ’26
I see the state of Louisiana for the first time . In my mind, I am thinking of my friends and family I made in Brazil, and all of the good times we had . My thoughts drifted, wondering if I would ever see them again, and if they would just become memories . My mind was already wondering about the new opportunities presented in Louisiana . My mother and sister were crying after seeing their relatives with whom they spent their whole lives disappear through a plane window . The day that I moved from Brazil will always resonate with me as the most impactful day in my life, as the day I turned a new leaf and started from scratch .
Snow
Devon Waterfield ’25
On Tuesday, we rejoiced, What a blessing that God hath given us, plenty to go around . We laughed and played, thinking all could never be lost .
On Wednesday, the falling ceased . Still there remained plenty left over, nothing to worry about . We laughed and played, but less, without a clue what lay ahead .
By Thursday, it melted to wet, A graveyard left behind of withered beauty . We panicked, using whatever remained at our disposal .
By Friday, it had left us for good, Streets bare of what they once sustained . We hung our heads and cried, asking why it couldn’t stay .
Who Understands Me but Me
Callan Pearse ’26
They set me aside, forgotten, so I make my voice heard . They push me away into the dark, so I become my own light . They mock my weaknesses, so I make them strengths . They belittle my presence, so I make myself known . They break me down, and I build myself higher . They push me to the ground, and I spring back up . They tell me I can’t accomplish anything, so I scale the tallest of feats . They make note of my failures, so I let my achievements shine . Who understands me when my efforts go overlooked? Who understands me when no one wants to pay attention to know who I am?
I cannot push everyone to value me . I cannot force myself to be someone I’m not . I can live my own life that I value . I am living the best life I possibly can . I am true to myself and the people around me . Who understands me when my efforts go overlooked?
Running Towards Your Problems
Jude Shewmake ’25
All right, so what happened here was quite recent . It was last summer, actually, and it left me feeling distinctly directionless . I had not a clue what to do, and scrolling on my phone all day would make “him” come back, so it was about time I got off the couch and did something challenging, namely a jog, to run away from my own head . I got dressed, put on my new running shoes, kissed parents, siblings, and canines goodbye, and made my way towards the levee .
I did not have many ways of going out into nature that didn’t involve staying in my backyard or trespassing, so the levee was my solution, and one that I remain deeply appreciative of . My-not-so-humble abode is a walking distance away from the Mississippi River, whose sparse trees obscure the sky, and dense shrubs line the shore . The boats, mostly Navy vessels and barges with shipments, cruise upriver, the hulking machines whirring softly despite their tremendous presence .
It was about 5 or 6 p .m ., and I was standing in front of my house, adorned with shorts and a white T-shirt, neither designed for running long distances, listening to the tunes of a melodramatic band, when it came to my attention that my neighbor just across the street would be jogging as well .
Her name escapes me (I believe it is Brittany) . She had her long brown hair wrapped in a ponytail, and sunglasses obscured her eyes . She wore a black
pair of tight-fitting shorts and a shirt of similar features . She seemed as though she was in peak physical condition; her legs were muscular, and her midsection was slim and defined . Her features were sharper than razors . It was as if she was designed for this . Her form was perfectly suited to outrun her problems faster than anyone could . I wanted to shed my paunchy body and zoom across reality like a blur . I wanted to win . Win the world . Crush everything . The mere sight of her performing better than I ever could made my skin feel too tight for my own body . My jealousy was tied in a knot as she waved a friendly hello to me .
This was terrible . Everything that I wanted to be was staring me in the face and running faster than I could steel my shoddy mindset to prepare for “him” to show up .
And I was too late . My inner critic weighed down both my shoulders and mind in an instant .
“That’s funny,” he said . “You gonna let her show you up?”
“Why?” I replied . “This isn’t a competition . ”
“Oh no, it’s always a competition when I’m around . ”
After this short and painful exchange, I decided that it would be best if I made my way to the levee instead of uselessly ruminating . Before the levee, there is a steep incline covered in grass so thick that it would take nothing less than a chainsaw
to mow it all . It was a strenuous climb up a path indicated with tire marks and flattened grass . As always, the woman was ten steps ahead of me .
“What do you reckon is the secret to true victory?”
“Doing the opposite of whatever you say . ”
“Aw, I’m not that fickle!”
“You most certainly are, so please shut up . ”
“Its pretty sad, you know . Your whole state of affairs . ”
“What else can I do? I’m trying my best . ”
“Lies . You can always do better . Look at her . You are always losing and now is a ripe chance to crush it . Prevail over her . Ostracize her . Win . ”
“You’ve lost your damn mind . ”
“Nope . I’ve only lost our inhibitions . ”
A growing sense of indignance
summoned itself from within me . I want nothing more than to silence his voice, but it’s simply too active . His positive aspects have been overturned by all the venom from years of unspoken hurt . He expects too much of me, and I fear that I’m lacking the will to follow my own grand ambitions . I’m too scared to part with it . I tell myself that it keeps me grounded, but leaving it to remain only makes me feel miserable .
The woman was about a mile ahead of me . I probably burned more calories catastrophizing than I did running . I was exhausted mentally and physically . Too tired to devote more energy to his ramblings . So I took a break from caring . I sat down on the side of the road and stared at the sunset and its surrounding clouds . I stared at the city over the horizon where all of its lights made stars, like the night sky
came to the ground . I didn’t think, and I didn’t want to .
About ten minutes had passed . Taking a break had made me realize what this activity was doing to my body . My sweat dribbled down my cheeks and brow . I saw watery blurs where the droplets settled on my eyelashes . I was completely restless . I blinked and found myself on my feet and already jogging towards the bridge . At this point, my body functioned like the machine it was supposed to be . My heart was pounding, my ankles ached, and I was in a steady sprint . I felt invincible . There was nothing there to think about . I was free, running not from my voice, but despite it . Even though “he” seems to suggest otherwise, there can be value in being wrong .
Exhausted, I sat myself on a nearby bench . I was left to revel in this joyous
pain . Not the pain that kills but the one that tells you just how alive you are . The soreness from a hard day’s work . I didn’t even care about the woman anymore . I felt emboldened . I wanted what I did and I got it . Preconceived notions, pretenses, subtlety, and other malarkey don’t matter in my current form . I would be assertive today . My turn to speak . “We’re doing this differently next time . ”
“Interesting . I’m usually the one initiating these things . ”
“To cut to the chase, we’re gonna go as far as she did next time . ”
“ . . . ”
“Something wrong?”
“I just didn’t expect this…” “What? For me to take the lead for once?”
“Yes . I guess I got carried away . ” “That’s how you always are . ”
“Yes, I suppose so . ”
“You and I are a cohesive unit . We ought to start acting like it . ”
“Fair enough . ”
We sat in silence for about five minutes . I still observed the horizon and its lights . I heard the stamping of feet and saw the Woman jogging quickly past me . She waved at me again . It didn’t hurt as much this time .
“Why exactly do you criticize me like this?”
“That’s not an easy question to answer . ”
“Try the best you can . ”
“I can’t exactly say, but I’m a bit of a hole in your heart . ”
“And what’s the issue with that?”
“Your head is connected to the heart, right? If the brain or the heart dies, so does the other one . ”
“I see . So what’s the problem?”
“Try as you might, you can’t fill your own heart with the blood of others . ”
“Of course not . That would be disgusting . ”
“Not literally, you schmuck . ”
I walked all the way home as the sun was setting . He didn’t talk much for the rest of the day . Perhaps he decided to sleep for now . Perhaps he’ll wake up a bit more constructive . I’m still learning how to get it all together . Learning how to fill the hole in my heart .
Junior Year
Jake Breaux ’26
They say being a junior is the most challenging year, the most difficult you’ll experience in your high school career . As the days go on, the feeling of being a kid is gone . You become submerged by everyday stress, wishing every day will be the best, but that is sometimes far from the truth . Every day you wish to be filled with the joy of your youth . You begin to struggle in your classes; your brain moves as slow as molasses . Waking up can be the worst, wishing the stages of life were reversed . Starting to think of college decisions, you wonder, what are your dreams and ambitions? Your parents encourage you to chase your goals, but do they know what we feel in our souls? As the year comes to a close, our spirits begin to dwindle, reaching for a light that only summer can re-kindle .
Geometric Pear
Devon Waterfield ’25
I have just discovered a geometric pear . I never thought I’d find an item so rare . Its shape unlike any ordinary fruit, it must’ve come from some strange root . I guess I’m hungry, so I’ll eat away, and hope my stomach can manage okay .
Change
Matthew Chapman ’26
Change is hard for most people . Sudden change is even worse, coming with new fears and obstacles . I endured change moving from Colombia to the United States . It was an adventure of new beginnings, family, and adversity . I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, located in South America, a place known for beautiful landscapes like mountains and beaches . The culture takes your breath away once you step foot on its soil, including the cuisine that ranges from deliciously brewed Colombian coffee to the rich aroma of freshly made buñuelos . Despite its beauty, it wasn’t safe from the gangs from the drug monopoly of cocaine throughout the country . My parents were raised during these times . They knew their children couldn’t be raised near this danger . After my birth, we moved to the United States, which they thought was best for my brother and me . I was six months old when the plane landed at Orlando Airport . This new country was a renewal of our lives . My father was able to occupy a job as a manager at an apartment complex for being bilingual . He learned English from his father, a Korean War veteran, born in West Virginia . My father getting this job meant we got to live in one of the apartments with a deduction of rent . My mother was a stay-at-home mom caring for my brother and me while taking courses to learn English . This changed our lives; we would never be able to speak or write Spanish
fluently, never to live up to being truly Latino when we couldn’t even speak our native tongue . During this time, we started our education in pre-school . We soon learned the educational system of Florida was different than Colombia, even at an early age . This never stopped us . We always pushed through struggle and always had support .
My family wasn’t the only one to move . We had uncles, aunts, and cousins from both sides of the family . The majority lived in Florida, so this meant we didn’t have to struggle alone . This was our sign . They helped stabilize us . Leaving Colombia we only took a few clothes, furniture, and memories, so we didn’t have much . My uncles and aunts gave us furniture and clothes, and even though they were handme-downs, we appreciated them . It was nice to drive twenty minutes to my uncle’s house for an asada . As a huge family, we would eat and watch either
American football or fútball . My cousins and I would run around throwing water balloons or playing an intense game of hide and seek . Growing up around family stabilized us, helped us grow our roots as Colombians, and brought new cultural experiences like playing football and eating out at fast food restaurants instead of cooking at home . Having support of people to rely on for babysitting helped my parents occupy better jobs with better pay, but the downside was they were in New Orleans, Louisiana . This meant leaving the stability and love from my uncles, aunts, and cousins leading to new hurdles . The move to New Orleans was surprising . Neither my brother nor I expected to move homes . I was seven when we moved . The weather was different from sunny, breezy Florida . Louisiana was humid with rainy days . We soon enrolled in a private, Catholic elementary school .
Even though my parents weren’t overly religious, it offered a good education . My parents worked late at their new job, so they hired a babysitter for my brother and me . They worked hard to acquire their positions, which improved our lives . Growing up in the suburbs, I had to adapt to the racism of Louisiana . It made me open-minded and thick-skinned . Despite the signs of racism, New Orleans was racially diverse . The diversity brought out new traditions, like crawfish boils and going to parades during Mardi Gras . Our adversity turned into leverage to become better people . I learned to thrive in this city, to make good friends and try new things . Moving to New Orleans was a sudden change, but it was the best thing for my family .
Louisiana is still home for my family . The challenge of growing up in two countries, three cities, different households, and embracing each culture helped me navigate my life and heritage . My adventure from Bogotá to Orlando to New Orleans still brings rewards . So, even though a sudden change may seem like a nightmare, it may support a dream that home is wherever you make it to be, and how you live and accept it, like I chose to do .
A Runner’s Memory
Devin Nicks ’26
A Moment of Silence
Luke Guillot ’25
There lived a Tibetan monk who would wake up early each morning and depart from his monastery . He would go on a 20 mile trek to the summit of one of the lesser mountains of the area . He always went on the journey with a single bucket, nothing more, nothing less . There was a young boy who would follow him just before the sun pierced the sky and their ritual would always conclude with the monk alerting him that he ought to set off to school .
“How do you do, boy, having a good morning?”
“Yes sir . Are you leaving to get the bucket of water again?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be, boy?”
“You do know we have a perfectly good well in town square . It’s right next to your monastery . ”
“I am aware . ”
“Then why do you go on this long journey each day since the water in the village is fine?”
“Tell me, boy, why do you follow me each morning?”
“I follow you to find out why you do what you do . ”
“I am the same . ”
“But your routine doesn’t involve figuring out a person’s behavior . You go on your trip despite any reason . ”
“I have a reason . As I said, we share our reasoning . ”
“The difference for me is that I don’t go on the hike for a person, but a thing . ”
“What would that thing be, sir?”
“It’s hard to properly convey through word, but the closest one we have is love . ”
“That’s silly though you are a man of faith aren’t you?”
“You have made an oath to not take any woman’s hand in marriage, haven’t you?”
“And anyway no one else besides you takes this route so early in the day”
“You think too strictly, boy . ”
“How, is that not what love is?”
“It’s an aspect, but to reduce love only to the romantic is an easy trap many fall in . ”
“You love your family and friends, don’t you?”
“Well yes, but those are still people . ”
“You go on this trip at dawn every morning to see no one . ”
“You must not be seeing the same as me, boy, because I see the most important person each morning . Many different people have many diverse names for them,
but I call them life . ”
“You speak in strange words, old man . Why do they have different meanings, then, as I know them?”
“Language is like life, constant and everchanging . Restricting oneself by language restricts oneself by time and understanding . ”
“So what is that all to say, mister? Where is this life you speak of?”
“I guess from your perspective each morning I have a conversation without anyone . It is between me and the world . ”
“At your stage in life, how are you still learning new complex things in the world around you each day?”
“Spending each passing day immersed in its intricacies . As you get older that doesn’t change, but you learn to appreciate the simple . Complexity allows deeper understanding, but often just leads us astray . ”
“So, you mean we don’t have to understand everything . ”
“To reject such a sentiment surely guarantees the ensnarement of oneself by one’s own curiosity . ”
“But sir, you’ve ignored my question again . Where is this life that you speak of?”
“I did not ignore what you asked of me . You must look for yourself to understand . Simply be aware and listen . ”
The monk sat down on the grass, and the boy followed after him . A nonverbal vow of silence had been made by the two, and they observed the sun as it rose above the horizon . The sky shifted through its many hues, and the boy let his eyes wander over the scene . He was beginning to understand as the world shifted like a kaleidoscope, its many familiar patterns changing in shape to reveal more .
Life is not an ever-repeating cycle.
It’s an ever-growing outward spiral.
Without saying a word, the boy breathed deeply, stood up, and began dressing himself for school .
We Have a Chance
Carter Pham ’26
They take away rights, so I live without freedom . They discriminate against my race, so I live without safety, They call me names and insults, so I live without dignity . They take every person I know, so I live without love . They dragged me through hell, and I live without peace . They took my name, so I live without identity . They went after my house, so I live without a home . They took me to jail, so I live without justice . Who understands me when I say this is unjust? Who understands me when I say we should strike back?
I cannot fight against those people alone . I cannot make a big difference just by myself . I can only defeat injustice when we come together . I am confident when I say we will have a chance . I am well-prepared when I say we can strike back . Who understands me when I say we have a chance?
The Dangers of Police Militarization
Benjamin Levy ’25
This essay earned the Gold Key Award in the annual Scholastic Writing Awards competition in the Critical Essays category.
In New York City, 57-year-old municipal worker Alberta Spruill lived inside her apartment residence in the neighborhood of Harlem . Spruill worked at the Division of Citywide Administrative Services, 29 years total as a city employee, and regularly attended Mass . She also suffered from high blood pressure, something expected from a woman of her age and experience . While preparing for work early one morning, twelve police officers broke down her door using a battering ram . The officers received permission to breach Spruill’s home via a search warrant . The police utilized exclusively erroneous information from a fallible source to formulate the warrant . It claimed that the residence stored illegal guns and drugs, that armed individuals visited on three separate occasions, and that dogs lived inside . While six of these officers ranked as regular patrol officers, the other six originated from the Emergency Service Unit . These officers stormed Spruill’s apartment after they dispatched a stun grenade which let out a blinding white flash and a deafening bang . They quickly handcuffed Spruill face down on the floor while she shrieked in horror, shock, and confusion . This caused Spruill difficulty breathing, and Harlem Hospital dispatched an ambulance for her shortly after . According to a neighbor, Belica Rivera, Spruill said, “I can’t breathe . My chest hurts . I can’t breathe . ”
Spruill was announced dead later that morning after admission to the hospital . Following an autopsy, a medical examiner announced the cause of Spruill’s death as a heart attack due to the terror and shock she experienced from the stun grenade and the officers handcuffing her on the floor . The examiner officially classified Spruill’s death as a homicide (Fitzgerald 71-5) . While a well-equipped and well-trained police force does benefit a community, officials must maintain and regulate the force used by the police and a boundary between domestic law enforcement and police militarization . Police forces should not look to the military as a model for domestic law enforcement because access to military equipment, as well as military training, encourages the use of unnecessary and unreasonable force, SWAT and other already militarized police forces still need improvement in regard to procedure and moderation of force, and finally, the militarization of police parallels an occupied military state, causing distress and tension between civilians and law enforcement which only increases the chances of incidents occurring .
Militarized police as the standard domestic law enforcers throughout a city present unease to its citizens . This form of policing forces insecurity on the common people and “drives a wedge between communities and those vowing to
protect them” (Trilling) . Such disconnect forces both civilians and law enforcement to view each other as the enemy . This predicament creates an environment in which civilians consider law enforcement an intrusive force, rather than a protective social ally . Many would agree with Balko’s remarks that “domestic law enforcement has become dangerously invasive” and “Americans have long maintained that a man’s home is his castle and that he has the right to defend it from unlawful intruders . Unfortunately, that right may be disappearing” (qtd . in McMichael) . With the already increasing invasiveness of modern-day police, looking to the military as a model for domestic law enforcement would parallel the military occupation of a state by a foreign power with the high number of enforcers they boast today . Many parts of the U .S . exhibit overpopulation with law enforcement . Los Angeles, for example, assigns 469 police officers per square mile . New York and Chicago also display a large number of officers with 303 as well as 227 per square mile, respectively (Whitehead) . Such a large presence of police causes civilians to feel under control and oppressed . The tension caused by this heavy paramilitary presence provokes unnecessary violence in civilians and law enforcement . Such violence ranges from not only small personal encounters but also large-scale uproars . Public riots and protests represent the majority of these upheavals . During riots and protests, violent acts such as arson and looting occur, as stated by Lopez: “A minority of protesters [are] burning down buildings and looting businesses . ” This multitude of dilemmas
presents itself as a result of the occupied military state that modern-day policing displays . The agitation caused by heavily armed police causes citizens to interpret such a presence as an invasive one . The people, when faced with a perceived invasive force, recognize it as a threat and act on it . This results in violent, bloody, and emotionally charged confrontations . The heavy presence of law enforcement already incites danger . Modeling domestic law enforcement after the military only likens the police to an occupying military presence and, therefore, enhances these issues . Departments of law enforcement, such as S .W.A .T., already follow a military model . These teams utilize military equipment and tactics to handle high-risk situations . While at first, this may display characteristics of a necessary branch of law enforcement, one would quickly realize the small margin for error allowed in such high-profile operations . Upon observation of past activity, these elite teams have vastly exceeded this margin for error . Of the many errors made by these militarized teams, the murder of 57-year-old Alberta Spruill exemplifies a major incident involving the use of faulty procedures: As six regular officers and six soldiers from the Emergency Service Unit, another designation assigned to S .W.A .T. to lessen the intensity of the connotations around this title, broke down Spruill’s apartment door, they employed a flashbang and arrested the vulnerable woman on the ground, resulting in her death due to complications of health with fear
and shock . Fallacious information and unsupported claims exclusively backed the warrant acquired and used to allow for the breaking into Spruill’s apartment . (Sheila 71-3)
The criminality of this incident on the part of the police illustrates the lethality and amount of damage that militarized police harbor the ability to cause . This demonstrates that even the already militarized branches of law enforcement lack complete safety and justice when operating . If these smaller components of law enforcement lack the ability to function with proper procedure, further
militarization of police on a broader scale certainly poses a threat to public safety . Since large-scale militarization of domestic law enforcement has yet to take effect, these smaller constituents receive specialized training and focus from the military organizations that provide military instruction . If the general police receive this training, its subsections will divide the professional focus and attention to detail from these organizations, resulting in lower-quality training . This causes law enforcement to misuse military tactics and gear, from either incompetence or malice, putting civilians
in danger . S .W.A .T., for example, already exhibits a history of targeted brutality and misuse of force . These militarized units historically terrorized African Americans through the use of military tactics and no-knock warrants (Napper & Kaba qtd . in McMichael) . Whether these incidents occurred due to malicious motivation or mere incompetence, S .W.A .T. displays an undeniable exigency for the refinement of procedural operation . Improvements to policy would limit the likelihood that any incidents would occur due to ineptitude . It would also restrict the officers’ freedom to act on prejudice . The killing of Breonna Taylor exemplifies an instance in which the absence of proper procedure led to the wrongful death of an African-American
citizen . Taylor “was killed by police gunfire during the execution of a botched SWAT search warrant” (Rolle) . This instance demonstrates the need for improvement upon S .W.A .T. policy and procedure . S .W.A .T. forces stand unreliable in light of their misconduct . These units provide a view into how a militarized police world would function and how these issues would only multiply . Police should invest in militarization to resolve current issues involving militarized police such as improving upon practice and procedure via further nuanced training but should not set the military as the standard for domestic law enforcement .
The militarization of police does often lead to a reduction in crime rates by using military tactics and equipment to effectively combat crime . According to Trilling, military aid supplied to police includes helicopters, rifles, night vision goggles, and even computers . For a period of time, the Defense Logistics Agency supplied the police with other dangerous equipment such as grenade launchers, tanks, and armed aircraft . Trilling states, “nonlethal equipment, including office supplies and IT hardware, have the largest effect on all types of crime (a reduction of 7 crimes per 100,000 people), suggesting that these transfers help law enforcement agencies improve their efficiency,” and, “vehicles and gear
(stuff like night-vision goggles) have a slightly smaller negative effect on crime (4 .7 and 4 .4 per 100,000, respectively) . ” Through the employment of these aids, law enforcement enables themselves to efficiently protect their community from evildoers . In addition to the military equipment supplied, police also receive militarized training . Training allows for the most efficacious utilization of their abilities as well as the equipment supplied . This, in turn, results in improved resistance against higher levels of crime . Crimes exhibiting such levels of severity, such as the war on drugs, initiated the movement toward the militarization of police . Law enforcement dedicates vast amounts of police efforts to fighting such large-scale criminal operations and “emphasis on the wars on drugs and terror have resulted in greater militarization of training in many police forces” (Regan) . This training strengthens the police to prepare them for significant opposition from violent forces . However, while law enforcement’s ability to defend against these dangers maintains its value, overuse of these tactics for common violations leads to problems . Military training, according to Brooks as quoted in Regan, includes belittlement by the instructor, the obligation to only comply with orders, and harsh, physically strenuous punishment for minor mistakes or inconsistencies . While these consequences may teach the officer a few values, they teach that ordering around and taunting less powerful people exhibits acceptable behavior . They also conclude, Brooks continues, “the infliction of pain is an appropriate response to even the most trivial infractions . ” These negative
characteristics allow for misconduct and prejudice among officers . One officer’s misjudgment can lead to harm to innocent civilians . This bears the potential for severe misuse of training . Therefore, in spite of any reduction in crime, a militarized domestic law enforcement only further endangers civilians . Where civilians no longer commit crimes, the incompetence or prejudice of militarized police places innocent people in harm’s way . Military training heavily revolves around recognizing people and situations in terms of simply “good” or “bad . ” There exists no in-between during active duty . Military personnel, Rizer notes, receive training to identify people they encounter as belonging to one of two groups — the enemy and the non-enemy — and they often reach this decision while surrounded by a population that considers the soldier an occupying force’” (qtd . in Regan) . This means that soldiers consider anyone not a fellow soldier, a potential threat . Working in an active warzone necessitates this mentality . However, domestic law enforcement operates in urban and residential areas in which the local population proves significantly different than what an active soldier encounters . Civilians in a city lack any sort of combat training worthy of a militant response as opposed to the inhabitants of an active warzone . Negating any militarization of the police transpired thus far, former soldiers already comprise a notable portion of police . Rolle contrasts the seven percent of the general population displaying veteran status with the nineteen to twenty-eight percent of law enforcement labeled military veterans which illustrates
the potential ratio of law enforcement with military training to the general population with military training as four to one . This high number of military veterans in law enforcement compared to the few in the general public places citizens in danger due to the increased risk of military veteran officers utilizing a military mindset to approach a low-risk situation . Taking this into account with the addition of large-scale militarization of law enforcement, militarized police present the danger of treating a city environment as an active warzone . Soldiers may encounter any number of deadly threats when on the battlefield . For domestic law enforcement to treat dayto-day situations with the same mentality as an active military soldier would prove fatal to both police officers and civilians . The military and law enforcement’s need for force differ significantly . Campbell describes the difference between the use of force by the police and military stating that “police ‘protect and prevent,’ while the military ‘overwhelm[s] and pacif[ies] . ’ The frequency with which police use force is low and is treated as a last resort, while for the military use of force is high in that it is frequent and is treated as a first resort . Finally, the police ideally assume that their work environment is mostly benign, while the military assumes it is mostly hostile” (qtd . in Regan) . If police officers treated every civilian as if they presented a potential high-level threat, this would result in the use of unnecessary force . For example, McMichael presents the execution of Mike Brown “in the middle of a Ferguson street” as “he was gunned down by the routine
patrol officer .” Equipping the officer with military gear and training would not have prevented him from abusing his power and using unreasonable force . If this officer represents the average police officer, militarization guarantees certain annihilation of order in society today . The militarization of police means “obtaining instruction from military personnel” and receiving “training provided by military servicemen, training regarding the use of “sophisticated weaponry, special apparel, and equipment” (Hill and Beger qtd . in Bolduc) . Clearly, access to military resources only encourages unreasonable force . The average police officer lacks the trustworthiness to maintain the ability to handle such equipment . For example, Rolle states:
Military equipment has also played a prominent role in the excessive use of force by law enforcement in responses to civilian protests, as seen in Ferguson in 2014, Standing Rock in 2016, and the many racial justice protests of 2020; and has been used by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), contributing to the militarization of the US border and facilitating harsh immigration enforcement . Due to the potential harm militarygrade equipment displays the potential to deliver, only special units of law enforcement receive permission to use the equipment . The lack of trust in the police is a product of law enforcement’s misconduct concerning the use of unreasonable force . Further militarization
of the police supplies law enforcement with military resources capable of great force . The addition of greater access to military equipment allows for the greater use of force . One may only deduce that access to military equipment and training encourages the use of unnecessary and unreasonable force by domestic law enforcement . Therefore, because the conditions mimicking that of an invaded foreign country, the urge to use excessive force, and the flaws in practice and procedure of currently militarized divisions of law enforcement all result from the militarization of police, domestic law enforcement should not model itself after the military . Due to heavy police presence, the militarization of law enforcement would drive tension between the police and citizens . Both groups would eventually view each other as the enemy . This tension results in violence and conflict . Militarized
teams utilized to resolve such violent outbreaks also display flaws in policy and procedure . By receiving higher quality and more in-depth training, militarized units of law enforcement may achieve improvement through investment into militarization limited to these specialized units . Ordinary law enforcement also requires improvements in its operation . Military training only aids tendencies toward the use of unreasonable force, such as a militarized mindset in which a soldier or officer approaches any situation assuming the worst . The history associated with the use of force and militarized efforts presents many cases in which law enforcement has injured or killed innocent people . Occasions in which this power receives abuse, misuse, or simply incompetence clarify why domestic law enforcement should not imitate the military .
Works Cited
Bolduc, Nicholas S . “Global Insecurity: How Risk Theory Gave Rise to Global Police Militarization . ” Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, vol . 23, no . 1, 2016 . Fitzgerald, Sheila . “The Militarization of Law Enforcement Causes Police Brutality . ” Police Brutality, Christine Nasso, 2007, pp . 70-80 . Lopez, German . “Riots Against Police Violence Aren’t the Answer: How Violent Protests Against Police Brutality in the ’60s and ’90s Changed Public Opinion . ” Explainers, Vox, 28 August 2020 . McMichael, Christoper . “Pacification and Police: A Critique of the Police Militarization Thesis . ” Capital & Class, vol . 41, no . 1, Sage Publications Ltd ., 2017 . Regan, Mitt . “Citizens, Suspects, and Enemies: Examining Police Militarization . ” The Scholar, The University at Texas Austin, 2020/2021 . Rolle, Kimberly . “The Militarization of U .S . Law Enforcement and Civilian Harm . ” Center for Civilians in Conflict, 13 January 2021 . Scarborough, Senta . “Militarizing Police Does not Reduce Crime, New Emory Data Analysis Finds . ” Emory University: Emory News Center, Emory University, 7 December 2020 . Trilling, David . “The Militarization of America’s Police May Reduce Crime: New Study . ” The Jounralist’s Resource: Informing the News, Harvard Kennedy School, 10 August 2017 . Whitehead, John W. “Are Police in America Now a Military, Occupying Force?” John Whitehead’s Commentary, The Rutherford Institute, 5 August 2013 .
My Fire Goes Out
Liam Enger ’25
Sitting upon wooden chairs, we sway . Light dims along with the day . Through the inescapable passage of time, I recline, though his destiny is soon fey . His flaming face fades away, And everything feels much colder .
A Road Leading Home
Devon Waterfield ’25
White dashes line the horizon, fading into haze like the cold gentle past . Decrepit and decaying trees consume me on both sides . They rest like the old, their ever-spreading branches holding testament to the lives they touched . As the brown and silken trees dissolve distant and lay left behind, a new fruitful green sprouts up on our behalf, Blue signs desperately hinge to take us off our road, promising buttery biscuits and chicken-fried twice . Other cars come and go, taking different roads to travel where they see fit . Green mile markers remind how far to go, though they don’t know our destination . Through the wavering surroundings and turns of time, we stay strong on our course, on a road leading home .
The Crown in the Marsh
The following progressive story was written by Oliver Steigner ’27, Bryce Nugent ’27, and Dominic Matranga ’27 and translated by members of Mr. Ed Merritt’s Latin II class.
Captain Ramsey had been searching for the legendary Crown in the Marsh for many years . The crown was believed to hold the power to control the waters, and anyone who possessed it would rule over all the seas . However, this crown was also rumored to be buried deep within a mysterious marsh filled with ancient temples, mystical beings, and a thick fog known as the “devil’s shroud . ” After finding a map parchment in a shipwreck several years ago, Ramsey became determined to locate the crown . He wasn’t interested in the power it contained, for that was of no importance to him . Instead, he was interested in the value of such an artifact and the amount of gold coins he could get from selling it . And so, Captain Ramsey, along with the rest of his crew, set sail upon their ship, the Silver Blade, with a heart-filled desire for adventure, treasure, and gold . When Captain Ramsey came across this paper, he began his search for the legendary Crown . His search began in this place called Ithaca, where he found his crew . He found this crew by going around and asking people about what they knew about this legendary crown . After some time, he found his crew, which consisted of four crew members, including himself . Their names were Hermes, Odin, Fenrir, and himself . They had to make a plan on how to get to the place with the crow,n and
Corona in Palude
Navarchus Ramsey per multos annos legendarium Coronam in Palude quaesiverat . Corona credebatur ut imperium aquas regentem habuerit, et quis possideret omnia maria regeret . rumor tamen, etiam pervagatur hanc Coronam, profunde in arcana palude sepulta, plena templorum antiquorum, mysticorum entium, et crassae nebulae quae
“brandeum diaboli” appellabatur . Post invenientem tabulam in naufragia aliquot ante, Ramsey firme constituit ut Coronam inveniat . Non tenet potestatem quae continuit, nam id non erat ei momentum . Potius, tenet pretium talis artificii et quantitatem nummorum aureorum quam consequi ex vendiente eius poterat . Et ita, Navarchus Ramsey una cum reliquis sociis, in navem suam, Argentam Laminam, navigavit, cum haud simulato desiderio casus, thesaurae, et auri .
Cum Navarchus Ramsey hanc chartam invenisset, tum quaerere coepit praeclaram Coronam . Quaestio eius in loco Ithaca nomine coepit, ubi manum suam invenit . Hic grex invenit circumeundum homines rogabat quid de hac praeclara Corona sciverunt . Post aliquod tempore, manum suam invenit, quae quattuor sociis et ipso constabat . Nomina eorum erant Hermes, Odin, Fenrir, atque ipse . Consilium capere debuerunt quomodo preveniant ad locum ubi esset Corona pervenirent et navem
they found this ship and called it the Silver Blade, which could hold about a dozen passengers and was made from wood . Before the Journey, they had to do some more planning on how to get to this place fast and efficiently before anyone else did . They finally figured out their plan, and now it was time .
As Captain Ramsey started his voyage with his crew, he noticed something frightening: To get the crown, he would have to sail through the deadly Fathom’s End . Fathom’s End was a legendary passage known infamously for its reputation for deadly sea monsters . Most dangerous of all was the Leviathrax, a large Kraken-like monster that left no survivors wherever it went . As Captain Ramsey began to sail through the pass, they could feel a heaviness in the air and a pit within their stomachs . Everyone between the nine
invenerunt, quam Argentam Laminam appellaverunt, quae duodecim homines tenere poterat et ex ligno facta erat . Ante iter faciendum, amplius cogitare necesse erat quōmodo ad hunc locum celeriter et efficaciter pervenirent ante ceteros . Denique cognoverunt consilium suum et nunc erat tempus .
Cum Navarchus Ramsey iter suum cum nautis incepit, aliquid terribile vidit: Ut Coronam caperet, necesse erat ei navigare per mortiferum Finis Ulnae . Finis Ulnae erat locus notus propter famam mortiferorum monstrorum maris .
Pessimus omnium erat Leviathrax, ingens Krakenosum monstrum quod nullos superstites reliquit ubicumque iit . Cum Navarchus Ramsey per viam navigare incepit, gravitatem in aere et fossam in ventribus suis sentire poterant . Omnes inter Novem Iactus sciverunt Finem Ulnae,
Reaches knew Fathom’s End, and entering was essentially suicide . However, searching for the crown and, more importantly, its power, was essential . As Captain Ramsey looked on the horizon, contemplating his decisions, a thick fog fell over the Blade . The air became heavy, and it was soon hard to breathe . Just as the rest of the crew came up from below deck, they all heard waves crashing and fell to the ground with a severe rocking of the boat . As the hull of the Silver Blade shifted back and forth, Ramsey cursed to himself . He knew the consequences that this journey would have, but never imagined they would happen so soon into his voyage . The ship’s three masts soon began to creak, and Ramsey ran over to the bow, peering over the side . However, the intense fog of the “devil’s shroud” made it impossible to see anything . Suddenly, a large tentacle shot out of the water, only narrowly missing Ramsey . He fell on his back and watched as more and more tentacles began to rise, surrounding the entire ship . The crew immediately raced below deck to grab any weapons, utility, or cannonballs they could find . They loaded the cannons, aimed at the beast, and fired upon the tentacles, injuring several of them . The monster became enraged and slammed one of its tentacles against the hull, splitting the hull’s wooden bow and creating cracks in the frame . Finally, Captain Ramsey fired a harpoon straight through the tentacle, piercing its skin and emerging on the other side . The beast soon retreated into the water, but a new problem arose; the Silver Blade was taking on water . Captain Ramsey rushed to the deck of his ship, where the leak was, and saw that
et intrare erat fere suicidium . Tamen, quaerere Coronam et potentiam eius, magis momenti, erat necessarium . Ut Navarchus Ramsey in horizonte intuitus est, contemplans eius sententiam, crassa nebula super Laminam delapsa est . Aer factus est gravis, et mox difficile erat spirare . Ut reliqui grex e loco infra stratum venerunt, omnes sonum fluctuum crepitus audiverunt et ad terram ceciderunt acerba iactione ratis .
Dum alvus Argentae Laminae huc illuc versebatur, Ramsey sibi maledicebat . Scivit eventus quos hoc iter haberet, sed numquam imaginatus est ut fiant tam cito in hoc navigio . Tres mali navis mox crepitare coepit et Ramsey ad proram cucurrit, super latus prospiciens . Autem, magna nebula “brandei diaboli” fecit ut quidquam videre impossibile esset . Subito magnum tentaculum emissa ex aqua fere Navarchus Ramsey percutiendo . Ille supine spectans procumbit et ubi mag et magis arma navem cingit . grex statim infra pontem cucurrit ad ullas armas, utilitates, aut globos tormenti quos adprehendit rapiendas . oneraverunt canones, bestia destinaverunt, et in tentacula conicuerunt . Monstrum iratum factum est et unum bracchiorum contra carinam impulit, arcum ligneum carinae scindentem et facientem rimas in compagem . Tandem Navarchus Ramsey harpaga recta per tentaculum accendit, perforans pellis et exiens ex altera parte . Bestia ad aquam rediit, sed nova quaestio orta est; Argentae Laminae aquam suscipiebat . Navarchus Ramsey pontem navis cucurrit ubi rimam erat et visit unum tentaculum navem aceriter caesum esse . grex hic et illic ad navem conservandem
one of the tentacles had slashed the boat harshly . The crew rushed and rushed fast to repair the boat, and finally, after hours of taking on water, Captain Ramsey’s ship was repaired . Ramsey was drained after repairing the boat from the harsh fight with the beast, so he went to bed . In the middle of the night, Ramsey’s crew was awakened by a huge storm that shook the boat . The crew woke up Ramsey, and by the morning, the storm was finished . After a rough night with no sleep, the crew was tired and still had about seven hours until they got to land . Finally, they got some good rest, and while they were resting, the ship’s engine shut off, making their voyage longer and more problematic . After hearing this news, the crew had to take shifts paddling with twenty-foot-long wooden paddles . They had a long way to go, and this made the voyage even longer . Later that night, they ate dinner and planned out what the next day was going to be like, knowing they would reach land . They went to bed .
As the crew arose, the light of the sun rising above the horizon warmed their faces as they began to get back to work . As Captain Ramsey stood at the helm, he had a conflicted look on his face as he contemplated the short journey ahead and his actions after he arrived . When the day was still young, the crew had seen the forest green and browns of the marsh, signifying that their journey had finally come to an end . As they got closer to the marsh, they saw black, shadowy, menacing figures moving across the marsh, sending a chill down the spines of all the crew members . However, that moment was short-lived, as they had realized that
identidem cucurrit, et captiviatis post multas horas aqua, navis Navarchi Ramsey conservata est . Ramsey exhaustus est post conservantem navem ex acre pugna cum beluis, itaque cubitum iit . Inter media noctis, grex Ramsey ab ingente tempestate quae navem movebat excitata est . Nautae Ramsey excitaverunt et mane tempestas finita erat . Post acrem noctem sine somno, grex fessus erat et septem horae usque ad terram adhuc erant . Tandem, bene manserunt, et dum ibi requiescebant, machina navis non iam cucurrit, quae faciat iter longius et difficilius . Hoc audito nuntio, nauta viginti passum longas remus ligneus variare debebant . Longus iter habeat, et hoc longius etiam iter fecerunt . Eadem nocta cenaverunt, et quid futurus postero die esset cogitaverit,scientes se ad terrum pervenisse . Cubitum ierunt . Cum grex surgit, solis lux oriens supra finiens facies sua calefecit ut ad labor redire inceperunt . Ubi Navarchus Ramsey ad gubernaculum stetit, in vultu intuente breve iter et facta postquam antecedens, Cum dies esset novus, grex silvanum viridem ac fulvum paludis viderant, significantem iter fine tandem venturum esse . Accedens ad finem paludis, videbant nigram, opacam figuram minacem quae mittunt frigidum per incident paludem aculos gregem omni membro . Sed, Momentum brevius vixit, ut intellexerunt eos venisse propinquo quam ecquid alteris in omne Novem Iacto . Ut Lamina propius paludem iit, Navarchus Ramsey impedivit ut navigaret ad paludem . Cum paludem veniunt, Lamina consistet, et grex exiit induitque armam . Ubi navem exeunt, viderunt plus umbrosas figuras inter arbores . Non illud falluit, et vado per
they had come closer than anyone else had in all the nine reaches . As the Blade grew even closer to the marsh, Captain Ramsey carefully slowed down in order to successfully navigate the marsh . As they finally arrived at the marsh, the Blade came to a stop, and the crew got out and put on their gear . As they got out of the boat, they noticed more shadowy figures amongst the trees . They noticed this and waded hesitantly through the marsh .
As the crew made their way through the long, extensive marsh, Ramsey led the way through the dark and eerie environment . The map parchment had gotten them this far, but there was still a long way to go . Everyone huddled closely as they walked, deeply disturbed by the many glowing pairs of eyes that appeared to be looking at them distantly, only barely visible through the immense fog . However, they persevered, walking across miles of broken, dead trees and water that would come up to their waist . Eventually, they came upon a crumbling fortress that had been consumed by the marsh . Ramsey, with the crew trailing behind, approached it, noting the great and long vines that circled around the walls of the fortress and the half-collapsed tower in the center of it . The central compound of the fortress was filled with old, decomposed skeletons, wheelbarrows of dirt, and scattered barrels filled with shovels . “This looks like an excavation site,” Ramsey said to himself . After a couple of minutes of exploring, the crew reunited at the base of the tower . It had a large gate at the bottom, signified by torches . The crew went in, noticing a spiral staircase going so far deep into the ground that one couldn’t see the bottom . Everyone
paludo transierunt .
Ut grex viam suam per longo, lato paludo facit, Ramsey viam per opacis et prodigosis circumiectis duxit . Charta Membrana hactenus eos consecuta est, sed longam viam eundo habuerunt . Omnes prope congregati sunt dum ambulabant, graviter perturbati ab multis oculis lucentibus qui videbantur eos longe spectare, visibiles per immensam nebulam . Tamen perseveraverunt, ambulantes per milia passus arborum fractarum mortuarumque et aquam quae ad vulsus perveniebat . Tandem ad arcem ruentem pervenerunt, quae a palude consumpta erat . Ramsey, cum manu postcunctante, accessit, animadvertens magnas et longas vites quae muros arcis et turrem medicollapsam in medio circumdabant . Compositio centralis arcis erat plena ossibus veteribus corruptis, plaustris terrarum, et doliorum sparsis cum falcibus . ”Hoc videtur esse situs excavationis,” dixit Ramsey ad se . Post paucos minutas explorandi, grex ad radices turris se congregavit . Porta magna in fundo significabatur per lumen . grex in eo introiit, notans spiralis scala tam longe profunda in terram iens ne unus videre imum posset . Omnes videntes se unum in ultimo tempore antequam omnes descendunt scalas . Descendens pessum longas superstitiosas scalas, attinxerunt imum . grex alienum sensum habuerant ut populus pessum in arce thesaurum Coronam spectent . Postea vagus in imo arcis audiverunt sonum similem aliquid ambulantem supra eos . Ramsey duxit manum retro super scalas, postea inveniens nihil in arce . Post ambulans foris, tabula duxit usque alio loco in nomine Silva Mala, Ramsey et grex
looked at each other one last time before all descending down the staircase . After descending down the long, eerie staircase, the crew finally reached the bottom . The crew had a weird feeling that there were people down in the tower looking for the treasure of the crown . After wandering in the bottom of the tower, they heard a noise that sounded like someone was walking above them . Ramsey led his crew back up the staircase after not finding anything in the tower . After walking out, the map led to another location called the Evil Forest . Ramsey and his crew started their journey to the forest . The forest was known to hold the crown of the marsh, and many tales and stories led Ramsey to believe that the crown was there . As the night came along, Ramsey started to have a feeling that someone was watching them . Out of nowhere, the group jumped in front and confronted Ramsey and his crew . Ramsey had to think quickly, so he made something up that he thought would fool the people . As he attempted to construct a story, he thought about his adventures . Defeating the Leviathrax and passing through Fathom’s End, repairing the Blade, navigating through the cursed marsh while surrounded by shadowed figures, and exploring the fortress . They had gone too far to let this one last obstacle stop them . Captain Ramsey looked over his shoulder at his crew and nodded . His crew nodded back . Simultaneously, Captain Ramsey and his crew lunged at their assailants . After a long, tiring, and costly battle, Captain Ramsey and his crew emerged victorious, incapacitating the group of mysterious creatures . As Captain Ramsey and his crew
eius iter eorum ad nemus coepit . Silva notum erat habere Coronam de palude et multae fabulae et nugatores duxit Ramsey ad putando Coronam esse illic . Tamquam nox convenit, Ramsey coepit habere sensus ut aliquis eos observabat, ex nihilo turba eos transaluit et Ramsey et manui obstetit . Ab Ramsey cito cognoscendus est, tam fabricavit aliquid quod sensit populos fefellisse . Tamquam conatus est conficere fabulam, Cogitavit de itinere: Vincendo Leviathrax et transeundo per Fine Ulnae, reficiendo Lamina, navigando per anathemo paludo dum circumeundo ab umbrosis crustariis, et explorando castrum . Ierant nimium longe ad permittendo hic uno summo obstaculo se sistere . Navarchus Ramsey superspexit humero ad manum suum et adnuit . . Suus grex adnuit retro . Simul, Navarchus Ramsey et sui grex ad eorum oppugnatores prosaluerunt . Post longum, absumentem, et pretiosum proelium, Navarchus Ramsey et suu grex victores emerserunt, inhabilitantes in coetus creaturarum arcanum . Navarchus Ramsey et suus grex se ex pugna recuperaverunt, Navarchus Ramsey lucem dubiosam ab uno de sacculos creaturae animadvertit . videbatur ad hauriendam illi, similis magnetis . Sentivit uterque attractum et repulsum per eam, propter naturam creaturae iuxta illud . Sed, sensu trahens oppressum est ut sensit stimulum quaerentem intus . Cum sacculum apprehendit, energiam in se habere videbatur et sacculus statim exiccatus est dum vadum in silvam dereliquit . Cum pervenire in sacculam coepit, sensit vehemes calorem, et certior ac certior factus est Coronam intra sacculam esse .
were recuperating from their fight, Captain Ramsey noticed a glimmer from one of the creature’s bags . It seemed to draw to him, similar to that of a magnet . He felt both attracted and repulsed by it, due to the nature of the creature next to it . However, the attractive feeling overwhelmed him as he felt an urge to search within . As he grabbed the bag, it seemed to have an energy within it, and the bag instantly became dry as it left the shallow water in the forest . As he began to reach into the bag, he felt a heat, and he became more and more sure that the Crown was within the bag . At this point, the rest of the crew had noticed his actions and were now looking at him . The suspense within the air was palpating, and nature seemed to silence itself for a moment such as this . The deeper he searched within the bag, he felt his hand get hotter and hotter as he became sure the Crown was within the bag . Soon, he felt an emanating heat that burned his hand . As he pulled the object out, there was a moment of complete silence as Captain Ramsey and the crew all saw the Crown . It was so silent that the crew could hear each other’s heartbeats . Captain Ramsey was about to place the Crown on his head when he remembered one of its stories . The words reverberated in his head, and it seemed as though the rest of the crew
Eo tempore, cetera gregis facta notasset et iam spectabat in ipso . Expectatio intra aerem palpitabat, et natura ipsa paulisper hoc silentium videbatur . Quo altius intra sacculam perscrutatus est, manam suam calidiorem et calidiorem sensit, dum certus est Coronam intra sacculam esse . Mox calorem ardendum manum sensit . Ut obiectum extraxit, fuit momentum silentii absoluti, dum Navarchus Ramsey et grex omnes Coronam viderunt . Tam silentium erat ut grex singulas pulsationes cordium audirent . Navarchus Ramsey ponere Coronam in caput suum parabat, cum unam ex fabulis eius meminit . Verba in capite eius resonaverunt, et videbatur quasi reliqui nautae ea audire possent . “Corona occidit quoslibet qui eam induere audeant; non est fons potentiae, sed potius testimonium avaritiae insatiabilis . ” Dum Navarchus Ramsey rem coram se cogitabat, sensit manus suos subconcienter
could hear them . “The Crown doth slay any who dare to don it; it is not a fount of power, but rather a testament to insatiable greed . ”
As Captain Ramsey contemplated the situation in front of him, he felt his hands subconsciously moving towards the crown of his head . He made no effort to stop it, and the Crown was placed on his head . He very gently placed the Crown on his head, but as soon as his hands came off of the Crown, a bright, sudden flash reverberated through the marsh, and a boom echoed throughout the forest, interrupting the deafening silence .
An instant later, there was no sign of Captain Ramsey or the crew anywhere, and back in the town square of their hometown, a lone piece of paper glided down from the sky . It seemed to command the attention of the village, and by the time that the paper fell to the ground, there was a circle around it . No one was brave enough to touch it, because its commanding and threatening atmosphere emanated from the paper . Eventually, a small child broke the ranks of the disorganized villagers and grabbed the paper . The letters on the page glowed a bright, fiery red, but had a cold, freezing touch . As he read the words aloud to the village, his voice boomed in a manner unnatural to his true self, as if he were possessed, or his voice was projected by a higher power . His eyes glowed with a glimmer identical to that of the paper . As he read the paper, with great suspense from the village, it said: “The Crown brings only ruin . ” Right as he finished reading the paper, the boy fainted, returning to his normal state, and the paper burned up .
ad coronam capitis sui moveri . Nullam conatum id prohibere fecit, et Corona in capite suo posita est . Leniter Coronam in capite suo posuit, sed cum primum manus eius a Corona recesserunt, lux acuta subito per paludem resonavit, et fragor per silvam personuit, silentium horrendum interrumpens .
Postea praesento, fuit nullum signum Navarchi Ramsey aut gregis aliccubi, et retro in back in foro patriae, sola pars chartaer ex caelo lapsa est . Imperare attentum animum oppidi videtur, et ab tempore qua charta in terram decidit, coetus erat circum ea . Nemo erat satis fortis ut id tangant, quia imperans minaxque caelum ab charta emanavit . Denique, parvus puer ordinem paganorum dissolutorum soluit et chartam rapuit . Litterae in charta cum nitida rubra ignea arduerunt, sed cum gelido frigidoque tactu a cold . Dum verba ad oppidum recitat, vox sua modo contra naturam suam resonavit, quasi possessus est, aut vox sua ab ampliore potestate proiecta erat . Oculi cum luce dubiosa simile chartae arduerunt . Dum chartam lexit, magna cum expectatione a oppido,inquit: “Corona solum exitium fert . ” Ut chartam finivit, puer collapsus est, rediens ad statu solito, et charta conflagavit .
Photo Sonnet
Luke Guillot ’25
Branching trees find no ease–Reaching hands to the gray abyss, Much displeased from the diseased, All dismissed in a deceitful twist .
Two seats sit empty and vacant, A lost pair snared by the blistering air, Gently displaced because of disengagement . One would have questioned the quivering despair,
Footsteps engraved in the ground–Only one set when you walk alone–A love song played without any sound, All come to create a divided home .
Such a foundation of brittle snow, Not made by warm sand but by the bitter cold .
Roots
Matthew Chapman ’26
I reminisce on my journey back home, my heart rate intensifying as I step off the plane, my body embracing the moist soil as my Latino roots stretch out deep into the ground of Colombia . In my mind, I daydream of being back in the getaway to South America, hiking its man-made steps carved out of the Andes by my ancestors whose Inca bloodline is embedded in my body forever like an engraving on wood . My weary face is rejuvenated by a gust of wind as I descend from the high altitude, its cold atmosphere keeping me refreshed from the scorching rays of the hot summer sun . My legs power through the sand as I kick a soccer ball through the incoming breeze of the Atlantic Coast to my cousin, and we both stand in awe at the glamorous beaches of Cartagena . My hand slides against that historic wall of the San Felipe de Barajas Fort, each bullet hole telling a story of the battle between Spanish and English soldiers . My skin darkens under the sun like the bark of a tree, and my body relaxes to the gentle waves pushing my tube deeper into the Atlantic Ocean . The enrichment of my soul being embraced by the culture and heritage of my homeland, the days I long to return to my roots of Colombia .
