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Pen & Prism

Pen & Prism

The Arts & Literary Publication of the students of The Cleveland Lutheran High School Association

Over the past year, it has been exciting to once again collect student creative works for Pen & Prism, a publication created to celebrate the creativity and talent of our students. What began as an idea several years ago has now become a meaningful annual publication, and I am thrilled to welcome you to the second edition of CLHSA’s Pen & Prism.

Within these pages, you’ll discover a wide range of artistic and literary expressions created by Lutheran East students in grades 9–12 and Lutheran West students in grades 6–12. Every piece featured in this edition was created during the 2025–2026 school year.

It is truly a blessing to witness our students embracing their God-given creativity and using their talents to reflect the unique perspectives, gifts, and individuality He has entrusted to each of them. Their work serves as a reminder of the important role the arts and storytelling play in helping young people grow, communicate, and connect with others and with God’s creation.

We hope Pen & Prism inspires you as much as it inspires us, and we invite you to join us in celebrating and supporting the incredible talents of our students. As you enjoy this publication, you’ll find a donation envelope included within its pages. If you feel called to do so, I hope you’ll consider making a gift to support our schools’ mission and programming, including the impactful courses, faculty, and student opportunities within our Fine Arts and English / Language Arts departments.

Thank you for encouraging and uplifting the creative voices of the next generation.

Chris Steinmann ’00 Superintendent & CEO

The Cleveland Lutheran High School Association

PRISMACOLOR DRAWING

by Shylah Buchanan ՚26, Lutheran East Prismacolor Colored Pencils

MEDUSA by Louis Spraggins ՚26, Lutheran East Art Pencils

SISTER, BUT NOT MINE

by Taylor Riggs ՚26, Lutheran East

You were supposed to be my blood,

My mirror,

The one person who wouldn’t flinch

At the ugliness of me.

Instead you fed it. Watered it.

Watched it grow claws

While you smiled like you weren’t the one

Holding the leash.

You didn’t just betray me.

You rehearsed it.

Practiced the lines.

Set the stage.

Waited for the exact moment my guard dropped,

And dropped me further.

And the worst part?

You were calm.

Almost gentle.

As if tearing me apart

Was an act of mercy.

I used to think you were my safe place.

Now I know you were the storm

Sitting on the doorstep,

Waiting to be let in.

by Ma’Liyah Bennett ՚28, Lutheran East Mixed Media

TIME

by Mallory Poppe ՚28, Lutheran West

I wake up before the light, though I don’t try

My feet touch the floor like there’s somewhere to go

A question in my heart keeps asking me why

A quiet demand, I can’t say no

I follow its pull to the window, the sky

I hear whispers of a promise I don’t fully know

A promise made on a night gone by

I try to think, but my mind goes slow

A night I can’t remember, maybe it was wet, maybe it was dry

I ask the sky like I’ll get an answer

From the moon that hangs low

I know it won’t answer, but at least it can’t lie

A forgotten promise, but in my mind it will always show.

Time folds years into minutes. Then lets it all go

A moment arrives, but the clock won’t hold it still

Time runs ahead when I want it to stay,

But drags its feet when I want it to move

One minute feels short, the next a day

I want to ask what the clocks are trying to prove.

A VOICE WHISPERS

by Adriana Kozey ՚28, Lutheran West

A voice whispers through the night

Its echoes dance on air so light

A song that softly sways

In shadows deep where silence strays

It’s so dark but bright

A melody that takes flight

It carries dreams on gentle streams

Unfolding thoughts and hidden themes

A bridge between the soul and mind

Where feelings flow and hearts unwind

In every word, a spark that gleams

A “Voice” that constantly beams

Seize the moment, don’t delay

Is what you might say

Even in dismay

You could never look away

Time will pass this way

So never sway

You never know the turn

What happens the next day

So seize the moment, I might say

You might be in dismay

Until the next day

You might say

DIVINE COLLAGE

LOVE AND FAMILY

by Charles Walton ՚28, Lutheran West

Love

My hands start to sweat, my heart starts to beat I can’t squirm or run, this feels like a dream.

Like a new open door, I’m ready to go in.

I try to look around, but eventually our eyes meet, And just like that, my mind is wiped clean.

Then the words leave her mouth, “Hey, how have you been?”

Family

My people, my friends, surrounding me constantly. Always there, when nobody was. My life, my support, your love never ends Always taking care of me, no matter what

You always have my back, no matter the trends

Stay with me for my whole life, no ifs, ands, or buts.

THE BOX

by Roxy Minor ՚32, Lutheran West

DISTANT DREAM

by Valentina Carmona ՚28, Lutheran West

It’s a distant dream

One I know one day will be real

Even if now I feel far from it

I can see it wherever I go

There’s never a moment the hope within me isn’t lit

The dream within me will not let go and someday will not just exist in my mind but someday grow

The breeze in the mountains

The chatter in the early mornings

And the life that wake up at night

All of it would be perfect encounters

If that was the only way I knew how to live

The simpleness of it all wouldn’t be something anyone would fight

But they did, they longed for something outer

Because of them I can’t accept this way of life without kicking

They fought for not only themselves but for me who had not yet understood it right

The countless beautiful sunsets in the mountains surrounded

The summers spent in the sand not knowing the clock was ticking

And though it sounds like a dream,

I am here because of their hardship, which without all I’d know is the mountains at night

SHARK PHONE HOLDER

Max Price ’26, Lutheran West Ceramics

It was a normal morning walking to my locker, but today felt different. When I opened my locker, there was a mysterious box inside. I wanted to open it, but something told me not to. I then examined the box further. It was rusty, old, dusty, and brown. But I realized the bell was about to ring, and I would be late. I hurried to class and barely made it. Thankfully, my best friend was present today because I couldn’t wait to tell her all about this mysterious box.

When class was over, I told her about it, and she told me to open it right away, but I said, “No.” I told her no because I was afraid of what could be inside or what it might reveal.

For the rest of the morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about the box, even when talking to my friends. By lunchtime, it was all I could think about, and I knew something crazy must be in there. So, as soon as I got back to my locker, I tried to open the box but realized there was a lock on it. Now there wasn’t just a mysterious box, there was a lock I didn’t know how to open.

I thought about breaking it or prying it open, but ultimately decided to find the code. I thought maybe I could find it somewhere around the school, but I never did. Then, all of a sudden, I had an idea: look at the back of the box to see if anything was

written on it. Sure enough, when I dusted it off, I saw a very faintly written name: “YAN.”

For the rest of the day, I wondered what “YAN” could mean. I took the box home and thought even more about it. Then I realized I could try the word as the code for the padlock. I did, and it worked! But what was inside was not what I expected. It was a note that said, “You Are Next.” The craziest part was when I realized “YAN” was the abbreviation for “You Are Next.”

Now what could this note mean?

The next day, I felt like I was being watched. I also felt very down and dark. First, I forgot my math homework that was due. Next, I forgot my pencil pouch in my locker. Then, I had the wrong shirt color for practice. The whole day felt gloomy and awful. When I realized all of this happened the day after I opened the box, I knew that had to be the reason. It was like the box had a curse, a huge cloud of darkness hanging over me.

The next day, I reset and prayed hard to have a great day. And it was a better day, it felt like the cloud was lifted from me by God.

It is still a mystery what the box was and who it was from, but what do you think?

WINTER

by Gabi Mallias ՚27, Lutheran West

Her fingertips brush along window panes And cold white lace appears in their wake.

The sky a vast and grey sea, And she sprinkles stars into its lake. The rivers run into a stop

When she sails down them in her crystal boat. Every ripple comes to a standstill; Now one could skate across her moat. The trees once brown, and green, and red Are now grey, and white, and cold, and dead. And as she cries, her tears trickle down And leave icicles all over town.

Her body is not seen, but her voice is heard as she cries Through the howling wolf, and the howling wind, And the birds that men despise.

She kisses your cheeks, and ruffles your hair, And holds your hands when you walk anywhere. She takes the form of many things, And although you may not see her true, Winter is a wild one, And she is all around you.

THROWING

ORGANIC LANTERN

by Sophia McGilvray ՚26, Lutheran West

by Krysta Perry ՚27, Lutheran West

On the track, strength takes flight

Shot and discs, shining bright.

Muscles strain, a powerful show

Records break, spirits grow

Legends born with every throw

Distances marked, in grass so green

A place where power is seen

With each push, a future unfolds

Stories written in moments bold

Victories won in silver and gold

Weight in hand, a focused art

Unleashed force, tearing apart

Discus twirls, a spinning grace

You leave your mark, in time and space

With every throw, a champion’s face

ASLEEP TOO DEEP

by Allison Matlock ՚29, Lutheran West

I awaken, six feet under. Darkness engulfs my body. The last thing I remember is my fiance Mark kissing my cheek and handing me my nightly sleeping pills with a glass of water. I’ve always suffered from night terrors, and now I’m living one.

I got diagnosed with PTSD two years ago after serving fourteen years in the Army. After being diagnosed, I was prescribed sleeping pills to help endure the night terrors, and apparently, they worked too well. I feel around, and hit wood above me and to either side. Just then I realized, I’m trapped in a coffin. I try not to scream, so I can preserve my air, but I can feel my breath start to quicken. I breathe slowly in through my nose, and out through my mouth, trying to calm myself. I push against the wood above me. I hear the dirt shift, but there’s no give. I begin to feel around to see if there’s anything I can use to break through the top, but that’s when I realize I’m still in my pajamas. I scratch at the wood above me, I quickly give up because my fingers will be raw by the time I break through.

Someone put me here. But who? I think of my fiance, Mark. He was the last person I saw. He brought me my sleeping pills and a glass of water before kissing my cheek and wishing me goodnight. But he wouldn’t do something like this. But he’s the only one who could. Aries wouldn’t let anyone else near me, and it took him a long time to warm up to Mark. Aries is naturally suspicious of strangers, given our time in the military together. We were partners for five of my fourteen years serving. He and I were medically retired after an IED went off too close to us. He lost a leg and I went deaf in my left ear. If anyone else would’ve come into the house, Aries would’ve woken us. Mark must’ve taken me out of the house. My breathing increases as I realize he has betrayed me. I feel myself getting lightheaded. I try punching my way out of the coffin. My knuckles start to bleed, but I feel a small crack split the wood of the coffin. I feel a glimmer of hope as dirt starts trickling in. Maybe I can dig myself out. I attempt to widen the hole and dirt starts to pour in quicker. I push the dirt towards my feet and continue to rip at the wood. The dirt starts to cover my face and seep into my mouth. I choke on it, but attempt to keep digging. A wave of panic rushes over me as I realize I’m running out of room and I struggle to breathe. I’m not making it out of here.

LOVE

by Kailin Smith ՚29, Lutheran West

We grew close in quiet, simple ways, through shared jokes and late night talks. Your smile felt familiar, like something I’d always known. Love wasn’t perfect or dramatic, but it was real. It showed up when we listened, when we stayed, when we cared. Even when things felt hard, I knew what mattered most being with you, choosing you, again and again.

COFFEE

by Hazel Parsons ՚28, Lutheran West

The golden sun peeks through the curtains, Bleary eyes fluttering open, Ridden with grogginess and sleep. The coffee machine loudly grinds Signaling the coming of soothing peace

All in the warmth of a mug for the mind.

OUR OCEAN

by Victoria Slack ՚29, Lutheran West

Opal and I lived in a small coastal town in Cuba. It was completely surrounded by the ocean on all sides. The only way to get off of it is the tiny old bridge that takes us to the mainland. We did not have any schools or a value of education in our town. So we were “homeschooled” . It was our parents’ way of saying that we were free. Most of our days were filled with the lapping of waves against the sand as we danced in our ocean.

Our favorite spot was a tiny sand bar at the edge of the town’s property line. The sea grass whistled in the wind and the sand bar overlooked the glittering ocean. It was positioned so precariously so that during the summer months, the sea would sparkle like billions of diamonds and reflect off all it could touch. It was our special disco ball that no one else knew about. We could walk the way around our ocean. We would walk into the sea and let it take us anywhere. The water would just take us and we let it.

As we grew older, the ocean started to whisper and speak to us. The whispers would float into an open window, or be heard underlying in the wind. During those summers it felt almost as if the ocean would be playing alongside us. Singing along and telling our stories. Sometimes I would physically feel a pull toward the ocean as I was walking along the shore. The only time that we would be content is when we would be in the ocean’s embrace.

Then one day, it all went away. The ocean stopped whispering to us. We try to go into the sea, but something is holding us back. Almost like a little voice in the back of our heads saying not to go. It was the day that we lost our ocean, or you could say the ocean lost us. When we turned 11, we started to have responsibilities. Our ocean fantasies slowly started to slip away with the wind.

Looking at the ocean now only gives us a sad longing. We sometimes sit on the pier looking out on the vast blue water; the sun cutting through the summer sky. The light reflects off the ocean causing blindness to all who oppose her. I get a sense of lust and longing for what used to be ours. We did not purposely distance ourselves, but it happened. The ocean slowly lost its magic to us. It lost its magic because we grew up. Our childhood was slowly being peeled away in layers, leaving us to face the real world. Just because we grew up doesn’t mean the memories that we made with our friend have gone. Some of them are slowly receding like the waves, but they are not gone. We just could not make time for our ocean over the years.

Now that our ocean was not taking our time, we decided to start high school. It was a very big change for all of us. You can still see our ocean through the windows. It makes me angry how the other students look at it. They have no compassion and they see it as something that they can escape to. But there is so much more behind our gazes. We see our ocean through the eyes of our childhood selves, even though those days are long gone. As we stare, the ocean looks back at us. It almost feels like a promise or a lingering embrace. But it is always a promise to come back for more. And someday, we will.

PIECE NAME HERE

by Anthony Dorner ՚28, Lutheran West

While in the woods I paused for air

Beside a gently flowing stream

A fallen tree used for a chair

A deer caught in the sun’s bright gleam

At peace till I became aware

That it was merely all a dream

I was caught in a trance

Drowning in an ocean

Losing the will to fight

I never stood a chance

Lost in my emotion

Here in the fading light

A scythe swinging in the dark

The dead cry for their old lives

But hope is not dead in death

And all the life left to live

Makes me cherish every breath

Happiness the objective

BRODY by

Carter Stamm ՚28, Lutheran West

My dog is black and white

He is the best dog ever

Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite

‘ He is quite clever

He and his brother love to fight

He’ll be my favorite dog forever

WINTER SEASON

by Luke Slager ՚27, Lutheran West

Winter season,

Winter shine,

The air is frozen,

It’s almost time,

But we must remember the reason Christ came for this season

And although we fall, just like snow

We will never know the pain down below

Shepherds came with eyes of wonder

Three men came from way yonder

The virgin birth that gave us light

And saw the cross, a somber sight

A child came with tiny might

To show us the way and how to fight

A battle won, a satan slayed

Jesus Christ, he came and stayed

PILLARS

by Carlos D. Paguada ՚28, Lutheran West

My pillars, my cornerstone

Their knowledge I need

They were there when I was alone

The future I don’t own

I hope to see them I plead

I hope I can see them grown

OCEAN WAVES by Anonymous, Lutheran West Oil Paints

BETWEEN THE LINES

by Trinity Hodges ՚29, Lutheran West

Becoming is quieter than I thought it would be. No big moment, Just choosing to trust God one step at a time.

Some days I carry my mistakes like folded prayers, said too fast, then replayed in my head.

But grace stays. God stays. Not waiting for me to be perfect, Just asking me to keep going.

I’m stuck between Who I used to be And who God is still making Not done yet, But never alone.

UNFAILING LOVE

by Samara Harris ՚28, Lutheran West

When I am weak, Your love remains the same

A constant light even the greatest darkness cannot defeat

You call my heart and speak my name

Even when I wander far from your grace

Your mercy stands untouched by guilt or shame

An endless truth no distance can erase

CLASS OF 2026

by Jasmine Brown ՚26,

Lutheran East

NEW YEAR, NEW FEELING, NEW BEGINNINGS

by Jaiden Willis ՚26, Lutheran East

2025 felt like a long hallway, Lockers dented with a mix of old and new names, Bells ringing ever so loud, Every day asking, what’s next?

Tests blurred into weeks, Weeks into plans that changed overnight. We acted like we had time, But time kept checking its watch and sat tight.

Senior year crept in quietly. Last first day. Last roll call. Last hurrah before the college freefall. Last time pretending this was normal.

Then 2026 showed up like a deep breath. College talks.

Cap and gown emails.

Teachers suddenly softer, Harder . . .

Both.

Friendships stretched, Some tightening into forever, Some fading without a fight. Hallways started feeling smaller, Like they knew we were leaving and there was a higher height.

May has waited patiently. Not rushed. Not loud.

Just certain.

Graduation isn’t fireworks, It’s like footsteps that echo one last time, Hands shaking, breath staggered, Caps flying crooked and parents crying harder than we do.

From ‘25 to ‘26, We didn’t become different people, We became clearer and better versions.

Still unsure. Still dreaming. But standing on the edge without looking back.

In this year of 2026, May will not be considered an ending, But a door.

And this time, We walk through it together,, Then separately, Ready for more.

FUMBLE

by Chase Konicki ՚28, Lutheran West

On the one yard line I fumble

Tears in my eyes

My thoughts intertwine Walking off the field I stumble Hearing all the cries

I HAVE A DREAM

by Noah Jones ՚26, Lutheran East

Digital Art - Typography

ADIEU

by Daniel Adams ՚26, Lutheran West

Trinkets and toys, candy and canes

All were her grandchildren’s favorite things. Wherever she walked, whatever she spent Grandmother’s heart was an opening vent.

Set on her mind was her grandchildren’s joy, A space in her heart they could freely deploy Month after month she collected and saved “They will come soon”, she prayed and she prayed. Growing older she waited, collecting enough To fill up her house with all kinds of stuff. Front door to attic her house was filled With reasons for them to come and be thrilled.

MALCOLM

X by

Devyn Armstrong

՚29, Lutheran East Digital Art - Typography

Months turned to years, and years into more But hope alone could not bring them to her door She cried and she hurt, but her heart never swayed She never stopped waiting though years would evade.

And years turned to ending, her chapter withdrew The door never opened, no one came through As she laid in her bed, her life fading away Her heart broke in silence, forever astray.

And this grandmother’s heart is like hearts of our own We learn and we love although time is a loan When your time fades to ending, as all of ours do Will all you held dear be forever adieu.

FAMILY

by Cinthia Boda ՚28, Lutheran West

A family breaks and a family mends

There is no in between but rather a choice

You can either be close-knit or distant like the sea

Whether you choose to accept or deny is your new starts or ends

A family is which the root you came from and blocks out all the noise

To be apart can either make you feel glee or free

SAVIOR by

Devyn Armstrong

՚29, Lutheran East Digital Art - Typography

AN ODE OF LAMENT TO THE HOLDER OF TIME by Ryan Ruic ՚29, Lutheran West

O’ forsaken soul that holds what once was, As the diamond rain embraces the Echoes of what we once held dear, Our youth decayed, In some sick parade, Yelling to the Holder of Time.

O’ the race to nowhere, The clock will tick nevertheless, To waste such precious moments, That will fly by, Regardless of acknowledgement. Yelling to the Holder of Time.

O’ to squander the little time left, To the owner of the hourglass, Don’t blink, Or it will be gone, Yelling to the Holder of Time.

THE

PLAINS by Catherine Napier ՚28, Lutheran West

She sits on the plains

A huge horn and skin like stone

But there’s no one with her The cool season rains Don’t deter the drone

Of men who steal fur.

THE NOISE LEFT BEHIND

by Julia Silvestri ՚30, Lutheran West

I hear and feel the sounds like a zoo,

The pencil scratches, papers crumpling.

The various whispers, all the gum, and their splits, splats, and chews.

My head’s feeling heavy, my eyes unfocusing.

It all makes me wonder what the whispers say.

I wonder how something so quiet feels so loud,

Is it all just a part of their wondrous play?

I wonder how they feel, I feel drowned.

The wonders feel like the whispers,

It repeats like a broken record, loud in the quiet crowd.

All I can feel is the chills, quivers, and shivers.

The bell rings, the crowd just leaves with a lingering cloud.

All that is left are the sounds, the steps, all in slivers.

They all leave, but they carry the sound.

SPACE REIMAGINED

by Elana Quigley ՚26, Lutheran West Watercolors

UNDERWATER REIMAGINED

by Zuleika Rodriguez ՚29, Lutheran West Watercolors

FACE IN BLUE

by Unique Edwards ՚28, Lutheran East

Acrylic Paint Markers

THE ADDICTION

by Logan McGill ՚30, Lutheran East

You say maybe a couple more scrolls won’t hurt

Until you’re in your bed too tired to get up for work.

Countless nights you’ve stayed up til 2

You ask why you’re so tired but still have no clue.

Life feels so stressful

You use social media to ease your mind

But it makes you feel less successful.

It feels like you’re going crazy

No sleep, no energy

You feel so lazy.

What’s going on?

Yawn after yawn

You feel so tired but can’t get any rest

What else could you do?

You’re trying your best.

Months later your addiction has worsened

Your mental health has declined

You feel like a different person.

After all this time still no sleep

You try everything in your power

You even counted sheep.

Still scrolling all night

Clearly nothing changed

How long can this go on?

Your mind feels rearranged.

FACES : A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PORTRAIT PROJECT

Pencil / Charcoal Sketches

Lutheran East

CROWN ACT

by De’Aira Harris ՚29, Lutheran East

Crowned in Culture: The History and Beauty of Boho Knotless Braids

I chose to draw large boho knotless braids for my Black History portrait project because to me, this hairstyle means more than just looking cute: it represents culture, pride, and history. As a black girl, braids have always been part of my life, whether it was sitting between someone’s knees while they did my hair, or getting my hair done for school or special events. Knotless braids especially show how our styles continue to grow and change while still being rooted in tradition. The boho pieces add personality and freedom, which reminds me of how black people have always found ways to express ourselves, even when we weren’t allowed to. I wanted my artwork to celebrate black beauty in a way that feels real and personal to me. Drawing this hairstyle lets me honor where I come from and show that black hair is art, history, and identity all at once.

Top row: Left - Madame C.J. Walker by Trinity Bloodsaw ’26, Right - Tupac Shakur by Alicia Watson ’26

2nd Row: Left - Kendrick Lamar by Arianna Rankin ’27, Right - Shakur Stevenson by Se’Veon Freeman ’29

3rd Row: Left - Rihanna by Trinity Bloodsaw ’26, Right - Rosa Parks by Ma’Liyah Bennett ’28

Bottom Row: Left - Tupac Shakur by Te’Mya Petty ’30, Right - Fetty Wap by McKenzie Moore ’26

GOD COMMANDS US

by Molly Lane ՚28, Lutheran West

God commands us several things the greatest thing is love. We should listen to the King who comes from up above. All of heaven to Him sings when He sends a white dove.

When we call to Him our God He gives us each new day. In His presence we are awed He washed our sins away.

To Him we praise and we applaud and we shall always pray.

MY LOVE

by Robert Jones ՚28, Lutheran West

My love for you is like the sky

It stretches far beyond my sight

I go above and beyond until I die

No distance ever feels too high I’d cross every star just to try

Because loving you is my reason why

Your smile lights up the darkest night

A gentle fire that warm my soul

With you each moment feels so right

You make my broken pieces whole

Through every storm I’ll hold you tight

Our love will last, its endless goal

KEEP AI AWAY FROM CINEMA

A persuasive writing by by Gavin

Heinzerling ՚28, Lutheran West

I’m sure you can remember at least one experience where you saw a movie at the theater and it changed your life. It could’ve been a movie that spoke to you personally, made you pee your pants, or just look awesome. The important thing about the experience is that you were affected by the work of someone else. In fact, you were affected by the work of hundreds of people. Movies are an expression of people’s inner thoughts and dreams, a painting that has been given life. The thing that keeps it special is knowing that it was made by people that wanted to share a collective story with you. This way of celebrating creativity and hard work deserves to be left untouched by the disease of AI.

Anyone on social media in recent months has noticed the way AI art has absolutely overrun the internet. You can’t look at a drawing or an animation without needing to make sure it isn’t AI. AI has allowed people all over the world to mindlessly generate things that

SELF(IE) PORTRAIT

Shylah Buchanan ՚26, Lutheran East Acrylic Paints

they want to see and share it as if they made some kind of masterpiece. These sloppy excuses for artists now cover up the real artists that put their blood, sweat, and tears into the work that they live for. AI has gotten so unfortunately convincing that some studio executives want to work towards using AI to generate movie scripts and eventually actors.

Using AI to completely generate films would truly mean the death of the artform. Movies are supposed to be human expressions. You should be able to see the directors fingerprint on each of their pieces, making everything unique to their mind. AI only knows to copy and repeat. It will never be able to create a truly original film on its own, foraging garbage from diamonds.

Movies have always been something so special to me and the rest of the world. They are documentations of human history that need to stay untouched by AI. Human expression is one of the most powerful things in the world and we cannot let it go because of our laziness. Keeping film alive means to keep expression alive. We can stand together and keep films true and honest. Keep art as our own and defend movies!

DIGITAL ART

Lutheran East

Alana Roberson ՚29

Tyrell Crawford ՚28

Brandon Green ՚26

IN ANOTHER LIFE

by Kenya Frazier ՚28, Lutheran West

But I knew we had to end someday, Even though I could never bring myself to say it out loud.

I knew we couldn’t last forever, Even though a part of me wished we could.

It wasn’t your looks that I fell in love with, It wasn’t the way your eyes squint when you mean your smiles,

It wasn’t how you made my days brighter even if we had rough nights, It wasn’t the way your name made my heart dance around my chest.

It was the version of you I made up in my head. The one that noticed when I didn’t like something and would change it immediately.

The one who was excited to talk to me, always texting first, reminding me how beautiful I am.

The one that never made me question if I was good enough or if I was too much, The one that I said was the “man of my dreams”.

The one I wanted to marry, Looking back on it, I was too blind to see how you truly treated me.

Remembering the nights I begged God to to tell me why you didn’t love me,

Crying about how you couldn’t appreciate me.

Changing myself to fit the perfect narrative you wanted me to be, I don’t think I asked for more than true love and affection.

A part of me wanted you to be perfect, And the version of you in my head really was.

I wish I realized who you truly were sooner, Wishing I wasn’t shielded by the mask you put on in front of other people.

The endless calls, the constant laughter, the way we talked, and the way I thought we fit each other.

I wish my dreams could’ve became a reality, not for the way things could’ve been but for the way we both wanted them to be.

But in another life, it would’ve been you and I, not the way i wanted us to be, but a way where we were both happy, like the perfect relationship that was seen in movies.

NEW YEAR’S

by Maya Seudatt ՚29, Lutheran West

Everyone has a New Year’s revolution, though not all go through with their evolutions. This is because of the fleeting motivation or simply the lack of dedication. However, some people have their own solutions.

NOW, NOT LATER

by Sofia Adrovet ՚28, Lutheran West

The morning begs me to not waste the day

It taps me and says its time

The sun leans close and asks me to stay

Before my chances slip their mountain climb

I breathe it in, the spark that makes me sway

And vow to move before the bells all chime.

Tomorrow’s fog should never block today

For clocks are liars that hold time

I choose this bold display

Before regret competes its climb

The present sings I’ll play

And seize now before the final dine.

GOOGLE DOODLE CONTEST

by Samari Reaves ՚29, Lutheran East Digital Art

WHY GIRLS SHOULD TRY WRESTLING

A persuasive writing by Alina Mortus ՚29, Lutheran West

Have you ever wanted to try something out of your comfort zone? If so, then wrestling is the sport for you. Girls wrestling has been one of the fastest growing sports within the past 10 years. I have found that the sport teaches perseverance, self confidence, and physical empowerment. Even if you are unfamiliar with wrestling, it is an easy sport to learn. If you are a girl who wants to try something new, I would suggest giving wrestling a try.

Girls wrestling builds self-confidence, mental toughness, and discipline. Benefits of these traits include increased resilience, ability to stay motivated, supports personal development, and provides mechanisms to cope with stress. These qualities help with the demands of training and pressure of competition. The “Why It Matters” fact sheet on wrestlelikeagirl.org states, “Together we are redefining gender norms.” This leads to girls wanting to support other girls in a new movement. Having girls join the sport “brings new energy, audience, and credibility” to wrestling. Overall, being a wrestler builds self-confidence and helps you persevere through the toughest challenges. Girls who wrestle learn to never back down and how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

Girls should attempt wrestling because it promotes physical empowerment and it teaches how to persevere through tough situations. Even though wrestling is one of the oldest sports, it is still popular today and will teach beneficial skills that can be utilized throughout life. If you ever want to go out of your comfort zone and try something new, then wrestling is the sport for you. Wrestling is a sport that can change a person’s life; it changed mine when I stepped on the mat. In the end, wrestling is an amazing sport to teach any girl life skills, and I hope that you consider trying it.

CONDITIONAL BLOOM

by Nia Jemison ՚29, Lutheran West

A rosebush in a field of daisies. They are both flowers just different kinds.

The roses wear red petals with passion, guarded by sharp thorns.

The daisies are white and simple, cheerful, and innocent, untouched by the harshness of thorns.

Daisies die and begin to shrink. They turn brown, and fade into the soil.

Roses lose their petals one by one, Until suddenly they’re all just gone.

Roses show passion and elegance. Daisies show joy and ease.

People come and pick the daisies. They are everywhere, gentle to hold, and easy to love.

The rose bush is dying, and no one notices. There are too many daisies to choose from.

No one needs a rose, unless it’s for a date, or a perfume bottle.

Roses are wanted only when needed.

Daisies are never needed, but yet always wanted.

People should pick more roses. There are only so many in the field.

Daises have been loved since forever. Picked and chosen again, and again.

Don’t you think roses need love too? They both share the same sun, the same water, the same soil.

They are both flowers and they deserved to be seen equally. As nothing more, and nothing less.

by Johntavia Robinson ՚27, Lutheran East Colored Pencil

EVERY MEMORY

by Daria Rulle ՚28, Lutheran West

How precious is each memory, One with their own perfect value. Not one you’d replace for another, You wouldn’t even try. They are like no other. For them, you wouldn’t trade the sky.

Others might call them a treasury. They are perfect, even if a bit askew. All these stored in a special container, Your heart won’t lie, They’re as comforting as your mother, And as vibrant as the word “hi”.

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

by Isabel Watkins ՚26, Lutheran West

Kathryn had always been the master of distance. Not the kind you measure in miles or minutes, but the invisible walls she built around her heart. She moved through life like a shadow present but never quite reachable. People called her mysterious, but inside, she felt like a puzzle she refused to solve. She has learned early on that closeness meant vulnerability, and vulnerability meant pain. So she kept everyone at an arm’s length, even when her soul ached for connection.

When Brayden entered her world, something shifted. He wasn’t like the others who tried to break through her defense with charm or persistence. He simply stayed a quiet presence that didn’t demand, didn’t rush. He listened when she spoke, and when she didn’t, he just sat beside her. Kathryn found herself drawn to him, yet the closer he came, the more her walls tightened up. She wanted to reach out, to trust, but fear whispered that if she did, she might disappear beneath the weight of another’s expectations.

They sat side by side on the bench, the night wrapping around them like a quiet blanket. Brayden didn’t say much he didn’t have to. His hand found hers, warm and steady, and she didn’t pull away. Instead, she let her fingers curl around his, a small, silent connection that spoke louder than words.

Her breath tightened, not from fear this time, but forms something softer hope, maybe. Brayden’s eyes met her calm, and patient. “I’m scared,” she admitted, voice low and raw. Brayden gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I know. And that’s okay.”

She looked down at their hands, then back up at him. In that moment, the distance between them felt smaller, not because the walls had suddenly fallen or the fears had vanished, but because someone was there beside her steady, patient, and willing to wait. It wasn’t about rushing or fixing everything all at once; it was about knowing she didn’t have to face her fears alone anymore. The quiet comfort of his presence was like a gentle promise, a reminder that healing didn’t have to be perfect or immediate. It could be slow, messy, and real and that was enough. For the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of something she hadn’t dared to hope for before: trust.

EYE

by Ma’Liyah Bennett ՚28, Lutheran East

Art Pencils

STILL LIFE IMPRESSIONS WITH JUNK FOOD

Lutheran West

MY SECOND HOME

by Allona Theiss ՚30, Lutheran West

At 4 PM, I walk through the great big door, I’m set to work, not cause my peers to get bored! I get on my apron, I get on my gloves, I’m ready to cook food that people will love!

Come on in, why that sour face, sour mood?

We’ll fix you up with our fantastic food! Take a seat, won’t you? Or is that for to-go? Would you like a side of hummus, yes or no?

I just love Mediterranean dishes, For my taste buds, they serve all their best wishes!

A shrimp bowl with hummus and a bit of cheese, Or a chicken wrap with aglio, yes please!

At the end of the day, I sure am tired. Yet I am so thankful that I was hired! When I clock out, and walk to my parking spot, I’m grateful for a job that I love a lot.

CALIFORNIA POPPIES

by Taylor Popil

՚28, Lutheran West

I write to you rather sloppy, I regret choosing such a windy day, I conclude my letter with a drawn poppy. The trees behind me roughly sway, The sea besides me is rather choppy, I will never again write a letter by the bay.

THE SPARK

A historical essay by King Holden ՚30, Lutheran West

Everybody in Austria was scrambling. Archduke Franz Ferdinand had just been assassinated. It was an attack straight out of the blue, and it left every Austro-Hungarian in shock. This was the future leader of their country that had just been assassinated and they needed to take action. Little did anybody know, this single incident would spiral into a series of events that would change Europe forever.

In order to take action, they first needed to figure out who was responsible for this. After nearly a month of investigating, Austria-Hungary suspected that Serbia had been responsible for the assassination of the Archduke. They then issued an ultimatum that Serbia had declined due to its harsh demands that seemed impossible to follow. These terms essentially gave Austria-Hungary control to many key parts of the Serbian government in order to legally investigate the assassination. Serbia declining this ultimatum seemed very bold because they were a much smaller and weaker country compared to Austria-Hungary and they had far less power. It seemed like a losing battle which led Austria-Hungary to immediately declare war. Though for a short amount of time a question lingered. Why would a much weaker country like Serbia make such a bold move?

UNTITLED

It did not take long after Austria declaring war to realize that this battle won’t be as easy as it seemed. It was later discovered that Serbia had a very powerful ally by their side. An ally that was very strong and would protect them at all costs. This ally was none other than Russia. This played a huge role in the already set conflict. Russia was one of the most powerful forces in all of Europe at the time. Their huge military was bigger than any other army in all of Europe. This fact alone explained why Serbia made the bold move that they did on Austria. This completely flipped the script and changed the foreseen outcome of this battle. But this did not mean it was over for Austria, in fact there was much more to come. This was just the spark of it all.

Jasmine Brown ՚26, Lutheran East

Acyrlic Paints, Watercolor Paints, Marker

Mayce Fowler ՚27

Zuleika Rodriguez ՚29

Elana Quigley ՚26

Mia Ortiz ՚29

HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN

by Elisabeth Mallias ՚30, Lutheran West

Katerina, 18 years old, 1998, living on the streets of Russia. She grew up deathly poor (with quite pessimistic parents we will say), by the time she turned 18 she was kicked out of the house and with no jobs available, was left houseless. Is it really true that poor people are happier than the rich, value what they have, and grow to be virtuous? Or is that sort of life actually depressing, hopeless, and makes you prioritize yourself above all?

When you find someone who is a penniless traveler, they may be doing it for either of the following reasons: to get away from their old life of toil and trauma (thinking they can escape it by running), or because one constantly yearns for more adventure (never satisfied in one place). Either way, here is Katerina walking down an extremely hot, glistening, humid, foggy, afternoon road. Strange things often happen in these places. She walked down with her heavy pack on her back and soft sneakers pressing on the cement.

After a while of complete silence she began to hear a sort of clicking to the concrete coming from about six to seven feet in front of her, like metal from tap shoes. It was a slow sort of sound, tap-step . . . tap-step. As the noise got closer she saw a tall shadow peeking through the fog. The first thing she could properly make out was a long, dark oak cane with gold metal on the bottom (obviously what that noise was coming from). Then, orangish yellow eyes glowing with a big bright-white grin. It was a young man with a paleish chiseled face wearing peculiar attire. He wore a colorful suit jacket and matching pants with many colors and patterns like that of another dimension. Katerina tried to quickly walk past and not make eye contact, but the man said in a stylish tone, “Poor lost soul, hate to see it. Might you allow me to help you out?”

Katerina quickly turned her head back, but the burst of excitement quickly faded and she turned her head walking on “I don’t want your help, creep.”

“Well, well, if you say so,” he replied in clear disbelief.

The road cuts into two paths. Katerina’s goal is to eventually head down to Mongolia on foot, which is why she is traveling. The man heads down the other path, but her voice cracks “wait ”

He turns like an owl with the same deafening grin.

“What could you . . . do for me?”

“Why, give you the life you always dreamed of! No more of this orphan daughter on the streets with nowhere to live. Instead, endless enjoyment like some may receive. Life is so unfair, some are born rich, others poor, no one is born equal though, does that not upset you?”

Katerina was silent for about a minute; this was suspicious. Still, the man looked attentively at her with the same grin, tilting his head thoughtfully to match her contemplated expression.

“Wait, wait, wait, who even are you?”

He straightened his colorful striped suit jacket “My good lady,” twirled his cane “I am just a soul like any other, who loves to give back to the world, for it has given me so much!” The man looked quite content with himself.

“Whats the catch?”

“Nothing, just . . . shake.”

Katerina grazed his features, but she could not read his true intentions. This was ominous what could a handshake possibly do?

Alas she awkwardly shook the man’s black gloved hand. By a simple blink of her eyes, she opened up to laying in a lovely large bed, it has been so long since she felt something like this, not the usual poor houses or cardboard she sleeps on. “Where am I?” she questioned herself. Looking around a large room with a vanity full of wonderful makeup and jewelry, she examined it all with her hands and it was surely real. She made her way down a tall winding wonderful staircase in a warm luxurious house.

“Oh great, you’re finally down,” a beautiful woman called out from the kitchen. She had long brown hair and a simple apron, but had a motherly glow to her. Following along without question she sat at a nearby table as the woman put down a delicious plate of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and toast. The woman embraced Katerina from behind her as she ate the breakfast and kissed her cheek merrily. What a weird feeling.

“Th thank you,” she finally said.

“No problem! It’s a mother’s job to take care of her child!” the woman replied with a lovely smile. Katerina’s eyes began to water, she pushed out of her seat, turned and fully embraced the mother back, tightly closing her eyes. She continued eating the warm delicious breakfast, probably the best thing she’d ever eaten in her entire life. “I don’t even know what this is, but I am loving it,” she thought to herself. The day progressed from there, Katerina and this mother-sort -of-woman spent the rest of the day together going to the spa, shopping mall, and park. Katerina was too happy to even question it. The day passed and she ate a filling dinner in this big house and got up to bed. Under the covers she went, with a sigh of contentment, she drifted off into a long sleep . . . Just left as a body in the afternoon heat . . .

STILL LIFE

by Mari Chiracu ՚29, Lutheran West Graphite

FOUR LIMERICKS

by Linus Gartman ՚29, Lutheran West

(AUTHOR’S WARNING: Multiple very corny limericks ahead.)

The Beast Who Had A Feast

There once was a great big beast, The beast had a feast, At the feast the beast had a ball, The guests began to brawl, At the very least, the great big beast had a feast.

The Comb who Wrote a Poem

One day, an idea came to the comb, It decided to write a poem, It wrote a joke, It broke, But the comb wrote a poem.

The Adventures of ‘Know-em’

There once was a boy named Know-em, Know-em saw a golem, The golem had something on its knees, It was a bunch of bees, ‘Good Luck’ said Know-em

The Bend in the Road

In the Road, there was a bend, Many people lend, Helping hands un-bent, The Road for a cent, The End

ALBUM COVER

by Shylah Buchanan ՚26, Lutheran East

Acrylic Paints

BLUE DONUT

by Randell Ramsey

Colored Pencil

՚29, Lutheran East

THE LIFE OF A CLEVELAND SPORTS FAN

by Luke Bodman ՚29, Lutheran West

Cleveland wakes up to gray skies

Where hope stretches thin but refuses to die On Sundays we say “This is our year.”

By halftime though, the doubts appear. Orange jerseys, battered trust, Still cheering cause we must. Summer brings the Guardians’ way Win on Tuesday, lose the next day.

THE MEANING OF BLUE by Amelia Beinecke ՚28, Lutheran West

Blue is the color of the sky

The color of the icy cold

Someone could be feeling the blues, While the aura of blue means calm Blue has many meanings and hues

The clear, bright color of blue reminds me of a psalm.

TOGETHER WE ARE Nicholas Rihvalsky ՚28, Lutheran West

Together as one we are a unit

I don’t know what I would do without them They are always there for me

If I ever question my worth they always prove it

They keep me together like a hem

When I feel locked away they are the key

THE LAST SUMMER DAY by Maria Poku ՚28, Lutheran West

Cicadas chirp their soft song Sticky fingers come out to play, A humid feeling fills the air. Every day is hot and long.

For one last time parents will call for the end of day, Remember these times for one day they’ll no longer be there.

DISTANT DREAM

by Valentina Carmona ՚28, Lutheran West

It’s a distant dream

One I know one day will be real

Even if now I feel far from it

I can see it wherever I go

There’s never a moment the hope within me isn’t lit

The dream within me will not let go and someday will not just exist in my mind but someday grow

The breeze in the mountains

The chatter in the early mornings

And the life that wakes up at night

All of it would be perfect encounters

If that was the only way I knew how to live

The simpleness of it all wouldn’t be something anyone would fight

But they did, they longed for something outer

Because of them I can’t accept this way of life without kicking

They fought for not only themselves, but for me who had not yet understood it right

The countless beautiful sunsets in the mountains surrounded

The summers spent in the sand not knowing the clock was ticking

And though it sounds like a dream, I am here because of their hardship, without which all I’d know is the mountains at night

WAITING FOR THE SUN

by Katherine Perkins ՚28, Lutheran West

I woke up early and alone

To the silence of anticipation

The sky, grass, and I all yearning

For the beautiful ball of light

To rise and signal morning

Ten all will be put right

As I sat there, alas

Beams of light fingered over the hill

Such joy this does bring

So beautiful I can scarcely blink

Dark night, make way for your king

Lay a carpet of orange, gold, yellow and pink

HAVING A VOICE

by Shainelly Williams-Alvorado

Within my soul, a fire starts to bloom, I break the chains that keep my words in hold, I rise above the shadows and gloom,

A story waiting to unfold

My voice I sing into each room

A story of strength, brave, and bold.

Autumn Lee ՚29

Neana Johnson ՚29

Sauniya Bacchus ՚30

J COLE PAINTING

Kamyah Hunter ՚29

Acrylic Paints

JESUS

by Ty’Shawn Welch ՚28, Lutheran East

Art Pencils & Ink

՚28, Lutheran West

MASKS AND MIRRORS

by Ashaad Rice ՚26, Lutheran East

You preach perfection, yet poison your praise Drowning in doctrine, a deliberate maze. You spoke in sunlight, but your hands held shade, Built me a promise that quietly decayed. You wore honesty like a polished chain, Gleaming bright yet forged in pain.

“I’d never lie,” you said so sweet –But your truth was something I’d never meet.

Every promise came polished and pale, Like snow that hides the buried trail. You smiled like you meant it. You didn’t. I knew I should’ve left. I didn’t.

You said you needed peace – I made it. You said you missed me – I forgave it. You said love means patience – I waited. You said trust takes time – I wasted.

You built your care from contradiction, Spoke of balance, thrived on friction. I kept your peace when mine was gone. You slept easy. I stayed drawn. I saw the kindness start to curdle, Saw the reflection start to circle.

You said, “I’d never do what they do.” Then did it too.

You loved being the better one. I let you.

You liked being right. I let you, too.

I started counting what I lost, Measured it not in pain but cost. The things I changed to keep you near, The things you left without fear. I started seeing two of you –The mask, and the one it grew.

You said “You’ve changed.” But it was your reflection rearranged. You built a maze of mirrored wrongs, Each wall humming your own songs. I walked it once, just to see –The only exit was honesty.

You’ll call it closure. I called it collapse. You say it’s peace. I’ll hear the gaps. You’ll say you tried. I’ll say you didn’t. You’ll smile like always – indifferent, hidden. I’ll keep my silence – sharp, precise. You’ll mistake it for something nice.

You said, “We’re fine.” The air just stared. You say, “It’s love.” Yet never cared. I turned away, the mirror stayed. It whispered, “Both of you decayed.” The mask remained. The glass grew cold. Some truths break slow – and never unfold.

FACES IN COLOR

Lutheran East

Colored Pencil

SING

by Mariana Fuery ՚26, Lutheran West

When I sing the colors fly, An explosion of sound before my eyes. My happy heart beats to the sound, A passion so deep it has me bound.

Deep emotions fill my head, Sad, angry, joyful all are shed. Emotions captive in every note, Serve more power than a quote.

Music is life, breath, and calm, And I hope it will never be gone.

MY MOMENT

by

This is my moment, I’ve waited so long I can’t give up now, I have to be strong

The pressure’s too much, This is something I can’t handle, My heart is racing, beating Come on, take the mantle.

I missed, I blew it

Everything I’ve ever wanted What is wrong with me? I will forever be taunted.

Top right: Aubri McDowell ՚30

Top left: Malia Nickens ՚28

Bottom right: Aliyah Wheeler ՚27

Top right: Alicia Watson ՚26

Braylon Johnson ՚28, Lutheran West

I CAN’T WAIT

by Kelise Martin ՚28, Lutheran East

Children often overlook How much freedom

They truly have.

They live life like they rule the world, Always running around and playing tag. No problems, no worries, Just lunch table stories.

The future seems so far Yet the time is ticking

With every breath you take Your childhood just passes by Oblivious to the harsh reality Your freedom would soon be deprived You can’t be a kid forever.

Your teen years aren’t so smooth, Girls start to like boys, And dudes start to like you. Your body is evolving And all you want to do,

Is be free and explore the world that surrounds you. You argue with your parents, And make a lot of regrets.

You just want freedom, But can you handle what comes with that?

You wanted to mature

But then you look back and start to sweat. Your wish is about to come true, But you’re so-called “not ready yet.” Your childhood is over.

Adulthood.

You finally have your freedom But now it’s too much. You have to work, pay bills, And make your own lunch. Manage your time

Keep up with your health. Now everything you want Depends on your personal wealth. You think back to the times

When you lived care free

Back to the times when you were actually free. You can’t go back now.

BASEBALL

by Juan Sanchez ՚28, Lutheran West

Baseball: the sport that won’t fall

In my heart always there

With every pitch

It breaks the air

In the glove or with a bat

You’re a circle thats exact I hit the ball to the clouds

It goes soaring to the crowd

All the wind plus the speed

The ball was smiling

With the most glee

He’s always happy

And that’ll be

In the dirt or in the air

Where he goes he’ll never care

GOD IN SCHOOL

by Victoria Armstrong Krupla ՚27, Lutheran West

The days are surely long

But this school does make you feel like you belong

Sometimes the school can be cold

But it is our dedication that makes us bold

There may be some people who can be a pain

Students and teachers alike, can make a list look like a lane

But, it is good to remember that we are God’s children

And we have one goal, defeat satan our villian

God is the creator of all

And He is always with us when we fall

He stays by our side no matter what

Even when we fill our failures with buts

He has carefully crafted us, in our mother’s womb

And He will stick with us until we are laid in our tombs

Even then, when our earthly pilgrimage is done

We must meet Him again for some heavenly fun

Yes, this school has taught us well

Even if we can’t really show you, but we can tell I am more prepared for this spiritual battle

And I know if there is a shake in my rock, it would be more of a rattle

I do recommend that you just give it a try

No matter what, you will get by Lutheran West is an amazing school to be a part of Plus, there will always be the sense of love

UNTITLED

Jasmine

Brown ՚26, Lutheran East Paper Collage

THE CLOUDS

by Mahleah Willis-Wiley ՚28, Lutheran West

The sky was at its peak but slowly falling, while the street lights were turning on. There was no sound of birds calling, and the sun was almost gone.

But the clouds were stalling, as the stars came to spawn.

There’s a bunch of puddles on the ground, while it reflects the sky.

Makes me want to fall asleep when I hear the sound, as the clouds cry.

Once I peered out the window that’s when I found, the rain that made everything not so dry.

WHO TO BE

by Annabelle Sexton ՚28, Lutheran West

Life moves like quiet rain,

Soft but gone before we see.

We carry joy, we carry pain, Shaping who were meant to be. Each moment leaves a hidden chain

A mark of who we used to be

FAMILY

by Annabella Thomas ՚28, Lutheran West

We gather close where laughter fills the room

Old stories glow like candles in the night

Our love grows strong, a steady, living root

We find our way back home, dispelling gloom

Together, we stand steady through each fight

Bound deep with one strong suit

CERAMIC MOSAICS

Lutheran West Ceramics

SPEAKING UP

Tiger: Sophia McGilvray ՚26

Cactus & Sunset: Rosemary Gilbride ՚26

Chicken: Autumn Weidus ՚26

Sun & Sea: Evan Witnik ՚26

by Evelyn Bischel ՚28, Lutheran West

I used to keep my feelings locked away, Afraid to tell them what I really thought, I sat in silence while the others talked, But now I have the right to say, The lessons that my life has finally taught, And walk the path I have truly walked.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CARROT

by Folashade Asalu ՚29, Lutheran

West

I teetered, I tottered

I looked down and found a nibble in my nose

My orange cone was no more

Oh! how sorrowful and dejected I felt!

But, I would no longer dwell

For winter winds would carve me new.

I spotted a hoax from afar who seemed quite dreary

Was it a fox? Was it a wolf? Was it my worst fear?

But no, worst of all it was…the hare!

I hobbled side to side as I snuck onto my prey

I knew this was it, or my plan would go astray

As limber as I was, I knew this would be hard

but there I went with my twiggy arm

and a smile that made the whole world gleam

I crept closer and closer and there it was

The hare had woken up!

I snatched my nose and went as far as my little feet could carry

The hare seemed so monstrous and it wasn’t very fair

Yet luck blew my way!

I slipped and spun and held on tight

The carrot would be mine through winter’s might The hare fell back over a hill

My nose, restored with a grin

I was safe once more with my frozen feet.

VOICE

by Jaiah Griffin ՚28, Lutheran West

My voice speaks from the heart

And no, it is not easy

Do I sound dumb or perhaps smart?

The concept of speaking makes me queasy. I know that sooner or later I’ll have to start

But what if my words sound cheesy?

Then I open my mouth and realize it’s time to set fear apart, It’s time for me to speak freely

My voice is more than noise, it is a work of art. I’m going to share my words in a way that others can feel deeply.

No more stalling, it is time to take a part

If I speak it how I should, this should be easy-peasy.

SUMMER

by Jasmine Trachuk ՚28, Lutheran West

The sun shines on your face. The sky is cloudless and blue Sand tickles the bottom of your feet

It goes at too fast of a pace

Reminding you that it’ll soon be through The end it will soon meet.

Bottom: Elana Quigley

COLOR MATCHING PAINTINGS

Lutheran West

Using a scenic photograph, students expanded the image in paint, attempting to match the colors and imagery as closely as possible.

Top row, L-R: Mayce Fowler ՚27, Vera Solyntjes ՚29, Zuleika Rodriguez ՚29

2nd row, L-R: Rosie Gilbride ՚26, Mia Ortiz ՚29

՚26

SLOWDIVE INTO GLASS

by Julia Chis ՚28, Lutheran West

there’s a hum in the walls tonight— like something trapped in the plaster, breathing through broken speakers. you press your ear to it and swear it’s your own voice looping backwards, telling you not to wake.

the mirror flickers: your face smeared in silver dust, eyelids heavy with unfinished dreams. your hands tremble in soft delay, reaching through light that won’t hold you.

outside, the moon drips through a crack in the blinds, making the dust look holy, making you believe for a moment that decay is a kind of beauty.

you move in slow motion, a ghost underwater, each thought dragging a thousand miles of self-disgust. you whisper your name and it sounds like distortion, like someone trying to love you through an ocean of static.

the world bends, colors bleed into each other— pink noise, blue melancholy, that pale shade between guilt and grace. you remember laughter the way an echo remembers a song. everything’s soft here, except the part of you that hates.

you wish you could sleep without seeing yourself there— the you that stares back, the one who always flinches first. you drown in velvet feedback, a choir of your own regrets singing in an empty hallway. and when the morning comes, you don’t rise. you fade— grain by grain, like film burnt through the projector, leaving only a heartbeat, slow and out of tune, playing itself into nothing.

GARDEN

by Maizy Lee ՚26, Lutheran West

they plucked a petal from a flower they never planted now the bloom wilts under the weight of words that never belonged to me or to you

i grew this garden in silence only for others to paint the thorns brighter than the roses

they call it truth but truth never spoke to them just echoes of echoes and now you listen to the wind more than my heartbeats

it seems that privacy is a luxury for those who have nothing worth hiding so i stand here holding the fragments of what was ours knowing that sometimes even the sun casts a shadow

A BATTLE WITHIN

THE TRUTH ABOUT CANINES

An

informative essay

by Addison Bonacci ՚29, Lutheran West

While dogs seem like simple creatures, there are still many misconceptions speculating around them. They are way more complex than what meets the eye. I will break down two common confusions about our lovable canines.

The first myth concerning dogs is that one human year is equivalent to seven dog years. While this myth is fun to believe in, the truth behind it is a bit more hard to calculate. From “The Journal of cell systems” they claim that the first 8 weeks of a dog’s life is comparable to the first nine months of an infant. This ration changes over time creating more complications. The range of “dog years” to “human years” changes with each year of the dog’s life. It also depends on the size, breed, and maturity of the dog. For example a medium size dog can be “15 human years” by age 1 but go up by 9 the next year.

The second myth would be that dogs can only see black and white. While dogs can’t see every color they have some exceptions. Humans can see green grass and red apples, when our dogs are really interpreting those colors as yellowish-brown or greys. Due to their two cone types they struggle to differentiate between shades of reds and greens. This is called dichromatic vision, which is perceiving the world in shades of blues, yellows, and greys. Humans have color cones or red, green, and blue. Even though dogs can’t see colors that well, they make up for it in other ways. Dogs have more rod cells and reflective layers in their eyes which gives them superior night vision and a better sense to see movement compared to humans.

by Hope Ryan ՚29, Lutheran West

I walked slowly down the ominous hallway staring at my worn out converse, below them the speckled tile laid. Why did I feel this much anxiety for something that would have such little impact in the future? I got to the door of my history classroom, and began to reach for the doorknob. I stopped myself. I can’t do this. I felt my throat getting tight, my eyes burning, and my body locked up. It was just a two minute presentation. Why was I so nervous? I felt it happen, a panic attack was on the rise. I backed away from the door, my hand still locked extended from my chest shaking. Hitting the wall behind me, I lost all control of my body, and darkness was all I saw.

“Kira, Kira!” I heard, as I was being shaken. I opened my eyes and I saw a whirlwind of people surrounding me with concerned faces. I heard someone say “call the ambulance!”, so I screamed, I screamed till I couldn’t breathe. I was hyperventilating again, and gripped the floor with my hands praying God would hear my cries. The nurse rushed over and scooped me up in her arms and told everyone we would be back. I trusted her, honestly more than I trusted my mom. I told her everything. She sat me down on the cold, firm bed and repeated, “deep breath in, deep breath out” to me. I began to throw up. I felt dead, I felt like I had no control, feeling, or sense of life in me at all. Was this the end? The nurse called my mom after I had fallen asleep, and now it was just the three of us in the room.

The nurse, Ms. Jacobs asked me to explain what happened to my Mom. I didn’t want to though, I hated talking about my feelings to anyone, I felt like I was seen as weak or an attention seeker. I somehow got out the words in a shaky voice, “I-I I had an-n anxiety-ty attack, I think-k”. I saw my moms eyes melt. I couldn’t tell if she was mad, or felt sympathy for me. Thoughts raced through my head as always overthinking what I had said, what I could have done differently, if everyone hated me now. It was a neverending, tiresome, degrading cycle.

GOD REMINDED ME

by Hailey Michell ՚28, Lutheran West

Growing up was a challenge for me. Boxes that carried my personality, Saying goodbye over and over.

Moving to Ohio changed everything. I was different from everybody else. My speech sounded different, my style choice was weird, Making friends was harder than normal. Bullied for talking properly, Bullied for my father being a doctor, Bullied because my edges weren’t done, Bullied because I was blessed.

I changed schools and I thought it would get better. But all of the same taunts followed me there. I finally spoke up about how I was feeling, but people who I thought were my friends were nowhere to be found.

I realized my pillow held my greatest sorrows; Dark thoughts crossed my mind

‘I’m alone.’

‘I’ll never have friends.’

‘I’m too different.’

I graduated from that same school with the same thoughts underneath my cap

Eventually, I found peace in God

He reminds me about every good thing.

God reminds me that I am not alone.

God reminds me that I should not worry about the future.

God reminds me that He will find the right person for me.

God reminds me that I will find restoration in Him.

But this is a the greatest reminder of them all-

God reminds me that He sent His son to die on the cross.

God reminds me that Jesus was sent to wash away my sins.

God reminds me that I am not my thoughts.

God reminds me that I am not my sins.

God reminds me that I am not my burdens.

God reminds me that I am more than just my thoughts.

God reminds me that Jesus hears and answers every prayer.

VULNERABILITY

Angelina Sanders ՚26, Lutheran East Acrylic Paints

God reminds me that His son shed His blood so I can be whiter than snow.

“NOTHING BUT GOD” CLOTHING BRAND DESIGN

Se’Veon Freeman ’30, Lutheran East

Se’Veon designed a clothing brand called “Nothing But God,” which features Matthew 6:24-34:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

THE GIRL IN THE CHAIR AND THE GUY ON THE PIPES

by Emma Senney ՚30, Lutheran West

elvin High School–the same dusty building–haunted by tired teachers and ghost-like students. Most mornings, I’d skip the first period and drink Starbucks in the bathroom. I drank Starbucks so often, I would drink Starbucks in the afterlife too. But today was different. I had a job to do.

“Chloe! I missed you all weekend!” Chad ran towards me, arms wide.

“Chad. We have to talk.” I smiled for Darla’s camera. “I’m just not happy with this relationship anymore. We’re done.”

His face fell as he turned around and walked away. I sweetly smiled and waved. “Finally.” I sighed and went home.

The breakup video went viral and was filled with comments of Chad being trashed. That night I made another clip. “Hey besties, I stayed with that loser forever. Honestly, who wants to date such a dumb guy.” I ended the video soon after and fell asleep.

The next day, I woke up, got ready, and wished my mom goodbye. Walking to school, I left my house and turned onto the main road. It was surprisingly empty but I didn’t really care. It was early in the morning.

There was a slight breeze, but I felt comfortable in my sweat set. But I had a feeling I was being watched. Suddenly, a black van came reeling around the corner. I had no time to react. Two masked men dragged me, bagged my head, and threw me inside. I whipped my head around, trying to get a glimpse of the outside world. Nothing could be seen. I slowly fell asleep, attempting to get rid of the worry I felt.

When I woke up it was evening, and I was in a dark room , with rusty pipes and grime-covered walls. I was tied to a metal chair, with my phone in the corner. There were horrors lining the walls, and the sight made me pull harder against the chair. I thought of my mom, my friends and wondered if I would ever see them again.

“Such a struggle. To have something you love taken from you in the blink of an eye.” A dark voice mumbled. I squinted up towards the luminescent lights. “I still can’t believe this is what happened.” The man jumped down from the pipes.

I gasped. “Chad.” I couldn’t believe it. He could let me go. I could see my mom.

“I can see the hope in your eyes,” he said. “Don’t trust hope. I did.”

I looked at him in surprise. Chad had never been this dark, or deep. “Chad, just let me go. All you need to do is let me go.” I kept thinking of things to say to bait him into cutting me out of the chair.

“You think you get out for free?” he said, grinning. “No, you owe me.”

I stared at him in surprise. He started messing around with his dark belt, grabbing a black device out of its holster. I had watched enough movies to know what it was: a taser.

A bright, blue light rang out as he pressed the button and I struggled against the seat. “Each time you disobey, I’ll remind you what pain feels like.” I could feel a look of fear take over my face, even though I didn’t want it there.

“Give me your phone password.” I refused to look at him and I didn’t open my mouth. Electricity exploded in my leg, and a scream burst out, crashing against the walls.

“I told you. Give it up.” He leaned in until his breath scraped my skin.

“10/31/07” I croaked.

“Good. Now you are going to tell me you love me. And you WILL be my girlfriend again.”

I prepared myself, but something stopped me.

“No.” I felt this feeling go through my body. It wasn’t a shock. It was warm and felt good. I felt fearless. Even through Chad’s cold stares and the angry grooves in his stern face. “Chad, this isn’t right. I was wrong, but what’s done is done.”

He continued to stare coldly, and I gulped down the rest of my fear. He fell on his knees, staring at the floor.

“Chad. I’m sorry.” I said. I was preparing to say something else. “I…” “Without you, there is no life. So yours has to go.” He stood up and grabbed the taser again. I looked at him with hope. The shocks ran through my leg but in his eyes I saw a life that couldn’t exist without me. I thrashed in my seat. Through my tears of pain, I could see Chad on the verge of empathy, yet he continued to tase me. I knew I was close to unconsciousness.

“Chad, I’m sorry.” Then the world went pitch black.

When I woke up, I was looking at a dull, white room where medical materials lined the shelves along the room. On a bed, there was a body covered in sheets and a woman weeping at her feet. I looked at the woman closer. It was my mom. I wondered who she was weeping by and I started to look closer. It was me.

My body had bruises throughout my legs and on my wrists from the zip ties that tied me to the chair. It had dark circles and puffy eyes. I tried to tap my mother’s shoulder, but my hand went right through her body. I looked down at myself and gasped. I was translucent with a light glow. I was beginning to think when a tall, white man walked in with a clipboard in hand. My mother looked up and wiped her tears with a tissue.

“I’m so sorry ma’am. We tried.” he said to my mother. I could see her tears rim her eyes again.

“Thank you for what you have done.” my mother said quietly.

I started to think. Ideas floated around my head. What happened to Chad? How did all this happen? Would my mother survive this–but one drowned out the rest.

Would I?

SHARED SKIN

by Cameron Bennett ՚26, Lutheran West

I do not remember falling asleep last night, but I woke up in my bathroom looking at myself in the mirror. I gazed down at the sink to see my phone unlocked, sitting on a screen that showed a message that was not addressed to any recipient. I was confused yet brushed it off as another one of my mishaps. I have been dealing with derealization as of recently. Days flow together. Everything feels like one. Nothing feels like it did before. I felt my body jolt, as if someone else was inside of me controlling me. I splashed my face with cold water and carried on with my day. The day went as usual, school, work, the unbearable conversations with people I have never seen before, always complaining about a wrong order. I felt myself snap back at one person, it felt natural, like it was not me who said it. I was not even thinking about saying anything to them, but my mouth just spoke like it had a mind of its own. I did not think much of it, but my boss did. He took me into his office and sat me down. He exclaimed that what I did was unprofessional and that I would be going home for the day. Usually I would be excited about this, but this time I knew it was not my fault. I tried explaining myself but he did not want to hear a word I said. He told me to pack up my things and go home. I was not going to fight his conclusion any longer. On my way home I felt this unsettling, almost eerie feeling. My legs ached in a way only a person who had previously worked out would feel. But I had not worked out that I could remember. I just thought it was my body telling me to get some sleep. After I got home, I finished my homework, and showered off, the feeling still lingering in my body. I got out of the shower and dried off. I went to lay in bed and dozed off in a timely manner. It almost felt instantaneous. I did not have a dream or anything, but when I woke up I was tired again, standing in front of the mirror. My body aching more than it did when I went to sleep. I turned around, and on the wall it read: “You are not alone in here”. I was scared, frightened, shivering. It looked like my hand writing, but I had not written this. I turned back around and looked in the mirror. I saw a face that was not mine. It was then when I realized, someone else had been living in my body while I slept.

WINTER AND SUMMER

by Gwen Broa ՚29, Lutheran West

Winter is blue. Dark, gloomy, cold, depressing blue. The trees are bare, the ground is snow and slush covered, and yes the sparkling snow can be beautiful but all bad things have a positive side. Summer is orange. Warm, bright, hopeful orange. When the hot sun starts to wake you up by gleaming through your window, sneaking through your closed eyes. Summer trees are bright and vibrant. The sun makes you brighter, tanner and happier. Yes, winter brings christmas festivities and thanksgiving, but the moment the fun is over, gloom and doom come back. From the minute you hear the bell ring on your last day of school, to the first passing period on the first day of school.

Summer brings activities with friends, swimming, light sun burns, laughs until your stomach hurts, smores and bonfires too. The fourth of july with your family and friends, watching dazzling fireworks and eating perfectly cooked hotdogs. Campout weekends with constant games, bug bites but you don’t mind them because they remind you of the memories you have, tan lines from your favorite bathing suit, and fun fair rides and prizes. Winter brings cold noses and frostbitten fingers, snowed in without any way to see the real world. Stuck to your screen because, well there’s nothing else to do. Endless shoveling and salting of your driveway, and then waiting for the car to heat up too. Summer has too many perks to be too far away, but if you can imagine well enough, maybe the sun rays will wake you up quicker.

AI IN OUR SCHOOL

CLEO’S PYRAMID

by Bardhan Pradhan ՚27, Lutheran West

AI enters our school, quiet and bright It helps us learn deep into the night It explains the answers we fail to see, And shows the answers patiently

Homework is easier, mistakes can be shown Answers do appear, but answers are not our own. Teachers still guide us, with wisdom and care, But AI makes sure it is always there.

Cheating grows hidden, effort turns thin, The joy of learning is lost deep within. Critical thinking begins to decay, Students depend on the engine everyday.

Students rely on machines to think, Pushing their minds right to the brink Lessons are solved without the grind Curiosity and effort left behind.

MORE THAN A FEELING

by Aubrey Rebholz ՚28, Lutheran West

Love echoes through our heart

It beats constantly through the day

A recurring feeling that’s so new

These overpowering feelings marks just the start

It’s beautiful and warm, a comfort you want to stay

But the haunting reminder, it might not stay true

With growing sadness, they say “Death do us part”

Once it started, sorrow is a blanket that lay

The start of dying makes me blue

Treasured feelings and first time we locked eyes was art

Now sickness takes you away

Our final act towards each other was all we could do

McKenzie Moore ’26,

Lutheran East Art Pencils

THE PATH

by Isaiah Medved ՚29, Lutheran West

I knew that they didn’t talk how we talked. I also knew that they looked different from us, but why did that mean we always had to fight each other?

One day I was following a stream that I had never seen before. The wind rushed through the leaves above me, and I felt the sun shining down on me. Twigs cracked beneath my feet, and wind rushed through my hair. It was a beautiful day and a sense of peace rushed over me. For the first time since we got here, it actually felt like home.

It had been about 10 months since we first settled in we had to leave the last place pretty fast. We were a smaller clan so we only got the leftovers of what the bigger clans choose to leave behind. Our last home, if you could call it that, was barren. The ground was dry, and the only good thing to entertain ourselves with was rocks. The last thing I remember from that place was waking up to find the grown-ups with our camp packed up and everyone ready to leave. We walked for days until we finally stopped, and made camp where we were. I overheard the adults one night saying that we were lost. I had a hard time sleeping that night, but when I woke up they all said that everything was going according to plan. We kept walking for days and days until finally we came upon a forest that the adults said were not on the maps, and that is where we have stayed ever since.

I was in an awkward stage. I wasn’t an adult, but I was the oldest of the children in our clan, and the only one old enough to remember the explosion. That was the night when everything tore apart, or maybe I should say everyone tore apart. I never saw my friends again after that. It was just my family. I got closer to my cousins and got to take care of my baby niece a lot… Other than that, it was just me. The land looked very different, but we were never allowed to talk about it. My parents said that as long as we were together, nothing had really changed. That was a lie. Everything had changed. It had been 5 years since the explosion, and I hadn’t seen anyone except my family since then. That is, until we moved here.

Within the first week of us moving here I caught a glimpse of… other people. They looked different, and they immediately scattered when we saw them. When I tried to ask the adults about it, they seemed upset and told me to quiet down. My parents told me to never approach those people, and that they would be gone soon. I saw the strange people a few times since then, but it was always the same, they would scatter and disappear into the forest within a few seconds. I don’t know what it was about this place, but I liked it. It was unaffected by other clans, and reminded me of the way things used to be. I thought about all of this as I explored my new path and branched off from the stream.

The trees suddenly opened up, and I was in a meadow. The sun shone down on me and I felt alive. I lifted my eyes to the sky and ran. I felt so free; it was the first time I had run through green grass since the explosion. I ran, and ran, until suddenly I saw her. A girl my age. She was standing there with flowers in her hand, all alone in the meadow. She stood just a few feet from me and stared with her mouth open. She was different, much different than anyone I had seen in a long time. We both stood in the meadow and stared. Our eyes never left each other. I took a step forward and reached out my hand . . . she took it.

Publication Credits

Editor, Design, and Layout...................................Jessica Miller

Lutheran East Contributing Faculty & Staff

Ms. Judy King-Perkins, Vice Principal of Curriculum & Instruction

Ms. Kahzar Powell, Fine Art Department Head

Mrs. Samantha Woods, Language Arts Department Head

Lutheran West Contributing Faculty & Staff

Mrs. Christy Spiegel, Vice Principal of Curriculum & Instruction

Mrs. Kathy Ruic, Fine Art Department Head

Mr. Frank Petroff, Language Arts Department Head

Mrs. Marissa Adams ՚08, Art Teacher

Mrs. Brandie Bischel, Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Mrs. Grace Escandon, English Teacher

Mr. Kurt Maechner ՚94, English Teacher

Mr. Joey Rooney ՚11, English Teacher

Mrs. Aubrie Sebek ՚17, English Teacher

CLHSA Contributing Administration

Mr. Chris Steinmann ՚00, Superintendent & CEO

Mrs. Jessica Miller, Director of Marketing & Communications

Abigail Barker, Lutheran West

Mr. Elliot Spaudie ՚08, Photography

Mission Statement of the CLHSA and its schools: The CLHSA, Lutheran East, and Lutheran West prepare and equip students to excel in service, leadership, and learning while living as disciples who are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.

Make a Gift to support the mission and programming of Lutheran East and Lutheran West.

by Ny’Ayer Woods, Lutheran East

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