CSCS The Leaf Volume XIII - Spring/Summer 2021

Purpose

The Leaf Volume XIII

The Leaf

Volume XIII

Purpose

Spring/Summer 2021

Coral Springs Charter School 3205 N University Dr. Coral Springs, FL 33065 Phone: (954) 340-4100

The Leaf

Volume XIII

Theme: Purpose Purpose. Reason. Hope. In the depths of a depressing school year, a global pandemic, a life-altering state, it is crucial to find the purpose, the hope, the meaning in our lives as they are flipped upside down. In the quiet. In the hardship. In the dull. We search for purpose. For motivation. For the strength to keep going. For many here at Coral Springs Charter School, it is through the arts and through

creative expression that their purpose is found. When they are feeling overwhelmed, or lonely, or stressed, they turn to their art form to work through their emotions. This book is used to showcase just that, young artists and writers exploring their purpose, honing their craft, finding meaning in the trials, challenges and celebrations of life.

Editorial Policy The Leaf, Coral Springs Charter School;s literary arts magazine showcases the creative talents of students. The literary magazine staff selects work based on merit, style, theme, and quality of writing. Art pieces and photography are selected based on quality, individuality, and relevance to select literature.

Staff

Editor-In-Chief: Jasmine Poutre Advisor: Sammy Jo Harwell Staff: Laura Gonzalez Reeselyn Haring

The contents of the publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the faculty and administration of Coral Springs Charter School, but rather the views and ideas of the individual artists, authors, or the literary magazine staff members and editors.

Art

06 - “Another Summer Day” Kai Donaldson 09- “Alligator Skull” Kiana Cuevas 11- “Home”Alexa Yang 12- “Rainy Days” Jimena Carbajal 14- “Bat Skull” Kiana Cuevas 17- “Frog Skull” Kiana Cuevas 18- “Ocean Depths” Jimena Carbajal 21- “My Heritage” Kayla Humphrey 23- “Ichor” Kai Donaldson 25- “Blowing Smoke” Kai Donaldson 27- “Luck” Alexa Yang 29- “Summer Vibes” Jimena Carbajal 30- “Primaries” Saher Shakil 32- “Josie” Olivia Spinola 34- “Rainy Day” Angelina Felix 38 - “Ram Skull” Kiana Cuevas

Poetry/Prose 070810131519202022242426283116-

“It Always Comes Back” Ray Mason “My Mind” Riley Strobis “Glass Castle” Britney Hinden “Wings” Matthew Whyte “The High and Mighty Henderson” Reeselyn Haring “Angel” Brianna Escobar “How the Things have Changed” Brandon Caballero “Who Would Tell on the King?” Brandon Caballero “Universal Love” Simar Kapoor “Nature” Simar Kapoor “Strong Vines” Alyssa Phillips “Passion” Matthew Menendez “What is Love?”Hannah Tajalli “What is Love? Eli Groothuis “English Till” Brianna Escobar

Photography 36- “Pose” Sabrina Basso

6 Another Summer Day

Kai Donaldson

It Always Comes Back Ray Mason

It always comes back, right?

With her, I’m forevermore stuck,

We exude what nature will recite.

When you feed a wild creature maybe a duck

It always comes back, right?

Well, human beings share that feature With simple acts of affection, we’re starstruck,

We exude what nature will recite.

We’re not oblivious to it either

In love with the smallest of luck, It always comes back, right?

I keep on returning to you, as a seeker You took at me and I’m struck,

We exude what nature will recite You constantly make me fall deeper That smile hits me like a truck It always comes back, right?

We exude what nature will recite.

7

My Mind

Riley Strobis

My mind is on a path that never ends It has swirling staircases to bring joy and despair.

They move and so my mind keeps running, and running, and running It jumps to catch up There is no end and so it just keeps running, and running, and running, and running until it sees a door It opens the door and slams it shut It lays upon the door and takes a deep breath…

Quiet Something I’ve never felt before Its calm, its… wonderful The door opens and my mind begins to fall It reaches out to grab something, anything It falls onto another moving staircase It keeps running, and running, and running I run to the bridge but the ropes are detaching The bridge is collapsing and I just keep running, and running, and running, and running until…

I didn’t make it I begin falling, and falling, and falling, and falling My mind gets up and beings begging for someone to hear, but the cheers and prayers that I would make it to the other side have been silenced My mind begins clawing at the walls of this pit The pit that it has been running from this entire time This pit that is… quiet Quiet is something I’ve only ever heard once before But this quiet is different This quiet is lonely This quiet is why I ran from this pit This pit is my worst fear Any yet it has come true and now there is no where for my mind to run

8

Alligator Skull

Kiana Cuevas

9

Glass Castle Britney Hinden

Daddy comes home drunk at one, He brings no food, so I ask for some.

Where is our food?

Don’t speak to me when you’re in a mood.

But I’m hungry, I haven’t eaten days.

You know I get food to you in some ways.

Well, when will that be?

I know what I’m doing, just wait and see.

We need to eat now.

Quit you’re complaining!

He starts to raise his brow.

Now I’m standing right in front of him with glare, Don’t just walk out! But leave if you dare!

I am your father, treat me with respect!

How can I, you should be filled with regret!

The roof is leaking, we are hungry and starving.

While you’re at the bar, workin’ your charming!

We need money, we need to save it!

You need to be sober and admit, We are living poorly and in shame, Then you come around and you just blame!

I always provide for my little girl and everyone else around!

Dad we are living like a stray hound!

We are dirty and cold!

Well, that’s the kind of stuff that makes you grow bold!

How will you survive if you’re not tough enough?

To be able to live, you got to be rough.

This isn’t living, its surviving on nothing, We have to, we need to do something!

Enough talking to me,

I know what I’m doing!

You better stop now before my cap starts unscrewing.

Go back to the bar, it’s more important than our needs, Go open your bottles until your hand bleeds.

10

Well then maybe I will but this attitude better be gone.

Go on then, leave its almost dawn, Your buddies are going to leave, and you’ll be alone.

He then picked up his stuff and left on his own.

HomeAlexa Yang

11

12

Rainy Days

Jimena Carbajal

Matthew Whyte I wish that I had a pair of wings I wish for a pair that’ll set me free I wish for a pair that’s beautiful like an angel’s just for me I wish I had a pair of wings I wish for the kind that lets me fly above all things I wish for a bright colored pair so that all can see I wish I had a pair of wings I wish for a pair that’ll set me free

13

14

Bat Skull Kiana Cuevas

The High and Mighty Henderson Reeselyn Haring

Y

ou know what they say about Georgia, the roots go deep. And even though people don’t talk about it, there were always the “haves” and the “have-not” in the 19th century. You have the rich...and then the poor. With this said, I’m about to tell you a story about a young woman who seemed to have everything; southern pride, rich parents, and a country club membership. But in reality, trouble and death taunted this family.

Susan Henderson came from a rich family in the hills of Georgia, Her father Michel was a lawyer, and her mother Rose was a housewife. She had one brother and his name was Austing Lee Henderson. They appeared to have it all but anger and abuse were prominent in that household.

“Susan, can you grab your brother for dinner?” Rose asked from the kitchen, “Yes, mama, I’ll go fetch him,” Susan said as she turned towards Austin’s room. She walked through the long dark hallways to her brothers’ room on another side of the house. As she walked her feet made a creaking sound on the floorboards below her, she walked slowly and steadily knowing she might be attacked by the monster she called her brother.

After what felt like hours she reached her brothers’ room and knocked twice. “What do you want,” he yelled. “Mother asked me to tell you dinner was ready,” she said timidly.

“Don’t bother me, do you understand me,” he said opening the door so that you could only see his face, He had a long scar starting at his eye that moved down towards his lip.

“Yes, I understand,” she said in a cowardly voice. Susan turned and walked away quickly afraid that her brother might catch up to her. Her brother had fought in the civil war and saw things that destroyed him as a human being. He was angry and damaged, so he took this anger out on Susan. Everyone knew; her friends, her family, even the paperboy. But the fact was treated as a secret and no one dared to speak a word of it. So, every day Susan thought to herself: “Is this the day Austin snaps?”.

A couple of months passed and Susan’s mother Rose had found a suitor for her daughter. His name was Oscar Gilbert. He was tall, handsome, and quite wealthy. He was a lobbyist as well as an author. He wrote about the civil war and other matters of politics. He was perfect and everything Susan could ever want in a man. Oscar did not know about the abuse that Susan had endured from her brother, and no one wanted to tell him. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am,” he said reaching for her hand. “You flatter me,” Susan said as she started her face filled with color. “Mother, Oscar, and I are going to walk outside,” she said grabbing his hand. The pair walked hand in hand through the grounds of the Henderson’s manor. “You are such an amazing person why have we not met before,” Oscar said sitting down on a bench that overlooked the grounds. Susan smiled and sat down next to him. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that I can’t wait to be free of this place,” she looking straight ahead trying not to make eye contact with Oscar. “Well if things go well I will marry you and take you away,” he said with a big smile that reached from ear to ear.

15

The two spent every waking hour with each other, they would go to the lake and have picnics and take in on the local wildlife. They were a perfect pair, but the Hendersons could not keep their secret from the light any longer and Oscar started to question Susan.

One day Susan was changing into her nightgown when Oscar noticed marks on her body.

“Who did this to tell me right now,” he said yelling and throwing his papers around. “It’s nothing to worry about honey I just fell the other day,” she said pulling her robe closed. “Those are not from falling! Tell me who did this to you right now!” he said walking closer to her, there was a fiery look in his eyes, a look of anger and frustration. “ He has seen a lot of things and he’s just not all there sometimes,” she said reaching for his hand. He pulled away and stormed out of the room. Susan ran after him grabbing onto his arm begging him to stop. “Please stop Oscar, he’s a broken man, it’s not his fault,” she said with rivers of tears running down her face. “That may be Sue, but I will make it to where his shards will never cut another”. He pushes her away as he took off towards the dark hallway where Austin lived. He reached Austin’s door and he rushed in without knocking. “What are you doing get out,” Austin said as he got up from his desk unaware of the danger he faced. “Why did you touch her you bastard,” Oscar said walking closer to Austin. “I don’t know what or who you are talking about,” he said walking closer to Oscar. Oscar picked up Austin from under his armpits and pinned him against the wall. “Susan why did you hurt Susan you swine!” he yelled. “I did no such thing now put me down,” Austin said struggling to break free. Oscar then threw Austin to the floor and flew into a rage. “Liar, damn you to hell you will suffer as she suffered,” he said and continued to yell at and kick at Austin’s already batted body.

“Oscar what did you do?” Susan said standing in the doorway. Behind her were her parents. “I-I don’t know I lost control,” he said looking down at the heap that was once Austin. “I snapped.” Susan turned around and headed back towards her room while her parents stood and looked at Oscar.

“I’m so sorry, I truly did not mean to kill him,” he said walking closer to Rose. “Sir! You need to leave now,” Micheal Henderson said with red eyes. “Yes sir,” Oscar walked out of the room and walked towards Susan’s room. He started to cry and soon here realized what he did. When he arrived at the room Susan was sitting on the edge of the bed with tears running down her face. “Who are you,” she asked as she looked up at him, her eyes as red as blood spattered across Oscar’s shirt. “I’m sorry I snapped,” he said reaching for her hand. “I want you to leave tomorrow, and I don’t want to ever see you again do you understand me?” she said pushing away Oscar’s hand. “But we will be fine, we will get through this,” he said struggling to steady his voice. “No, we won’t. You killed my brother!” she said walking over to the bed and never looking in his direction. “Okay, I will leave at first light and get out of your life if that is what you wish”, he said laying down next to Susan. He slowly started to cry after he realized that he had just lost everything. The two fell asleep, back to back. And when the morning came, Oscar was gone. He was never heard from again.

One week later, the family was still picking up the pieces left behind been by the loss of their dear Austin. The family buried Austin in the backyard. And poor Sue has been alone ever since that fateful evening. Word got around town that her brother died of natural causes. A matter of the heart.

A matter of the heart indeed. The high and mighty Hendersons; a suitor in the wind and an heir in the ground...but you didn’t hear that from me.

16

Frog Skull Kiana Cuevas

17

Ocean Depths Jimena Carbajal

18

An angel, a savior, salvation She calls me her salvation, a mighty savior She said I’m her ’angel’, a light, good, worthy being I wondered for weeks how long she’d see that, and when would my heavenly time run out She shines a halo clean out of the horns I’d been given The many sins I’ve committed go unsaid, and I am left with wings that flutter with every step An angel, a savior, salvation With the patron saint of forgiveness and purity hanging around my neck I let her sweet voice, lash me with that gentle praise that surely could not be meant for me The irony, the bitter taste of confession, no matter the start, kissing her had never been something to repent I’ve never been an angel before I’ve never been a worthy holy thing, something vowed and entrusted with such light I’ve never held someone so gently or embraced a stranger I’ve never revered as good, nor kind, not even friendly I’ve been a demon since I was a child and a succubus since the first hand that touched me A devil to anyone unlucky enough to love me An angel, a savior, salvation But she kissed me Like I was worth being consumed by An angel, a savior, salvation She kissed me like I was liberation like I was air in her lungs She touched me as if she wanted to cradle me, and I was smaller than her for a moment She is worth even the worst torment and deserves every bit of devotion I give And with everything she uncovered, our love became worthy of a religion She said I saved her, but she made me in her image, she made me divine

Angel Brianna Escobar 19

How the Times have Changed I no longer live in the same world I once knew, The times are a changing, but not all is bad!

Now 3rd graders can have phones although just a few I no longer live in the same world I once knew, The 2010’s have only left nostalgia that stuck to me like glue, There are higher standards for which I am glad I no longer live in the same world I once knew, The times are a changing, but not all is bad.

Who Would Tell on the King?

The peasant couldn’t stop thinking about the king He was just so powerful and rich But she could never forget the thing

That morning, the peasant was shocked by the ring She had to calm herself with a pinch The peasant couldn’t stop thinking about the king Later, the peasant was spooked by a ding To her he was the Grinch But she could never forget the thing The other peasant tried to distract her with a sting Said it was time to start thinking if she’d snitch The peasant couldn’t stop thinking about the king The peasant took action like a spring The king was like a toxic switch But she could never forget the thing

20

The peasant reconsidered all due to a pleasant ring Her mind failed like a sales pitch The peasant couldn’t stop thinking about the king But she could never forget the thing

By Brandon Caballero

My Heritage

Kayla Humphrey

21

Universal Love Love is such a beautiful feeling Full of light, so bright Animals, humans, plants We all share love Love is the purest form of happiness Love s all We are love Love guides us through dark times and uplifts Love is powerful A chessboard with a queen A computer with a chip A human with a heart Love prevails above all

By Simar Kapoor

22

Ichor

Kai Donaldson

Nature

The trees kiss the ground Planting their roots The water flows welcoming the change Embers dance and flirt as the fire ignites The wind guides moving asymptotically We are one in nature and body

By Simar Kapoor

Strong Vines

Strong vines that represent every fiber of his being grab hold of me They hold me captive I find comfort in the sturdy grip of these tree vines They crawl in my ear and take home within my brain Reminding me that nothing matters but him Although I feel safe within the hug of these vines, I fear they’ll loosen more and more as each waking moment passes I’ll be left to fall to my ultimate doom Falling for him What if he doesn’t catch me I’ll mend my bones to fit comfortably and closely into his grasp Massage my brain tissue into something he will surely be proud of Pull out every strand of hair and tie them around any crack in his vines to make sure they never break I bind him and I with the blood that drips from my body that soaks up into the soil and into his roots Addicted to reassurance I’m now comfortable within these vines But who am I?

24

By Alyssa Phillips

Blowing Smoke Kai Donaldson

Passion

Matthew Menendez

Far reaching the physical limit should a connection hold called, passion; Like fruit can only be enjoyed with the sincerity of the tasteEmbarking a situation leads with no turning back.

To commit to the future of the unknowing, but shall hold no fear.

Seriousness in way should uphold foolery when tainting the relationship with another; Trading each other’s ideals and in some ways... darkest secrets.

For the conformation that passion will be show, truthfulness, as well as insecurity; Looking at emotions displayed is as close to soul than human.

Into whatever they may be, they find way to express; Recognition of this sometimes asks the question to you, “Have you really been showing as much passion”?

And if not, why have you begun to realize it now?

26

Luck

Alexa Yang

27

What is Love?

Hannah Tajalli

What is love?

One could not describe The feeling that you get The butterflies in your stomach Smiling thoughts running around your head Its like a sunset on a summer day A fire in the cold But even in the end When everything’s gone It continues on So then I ask again What really is love?

28

Summer Vibes

Jimena Carbajal

29

30 30

Primaries Saher Shakil

What What is is Love?

Love?

By: Eli Groothuis

Love is like a dying flower, Sitting in the dark, Withering with the countless lies, Love has lost its mark.

Give a flower water, And what it needs to grow.

Treat love right, And it will truly show.

Put a flower in the right ground, And its true beauty can be found.

Give love the right foundation, And love will be beautiful beyond imagination

31 31

32

Josie Olivia Spinola

English Till Brianna Escobar

A - And if I was to flirt with death, would I be any different?

B - Stringing together bones and roses alike A - Would I have one foot closer to my untimely end?

B - Dust and ash intertwined with the soil of my grave C - Much darker than anyone expected D - The cemetery sky is as gloomy as the fog hanging in the air C - Much light than anyone knew D - To think of all the love just hidden underneath a tombstone E - My hand in yours F - Bone to bone E - My eyes shut closed F - Your skin is cool to the touch G - I can barely keep my heart still G - I can barely keep your breath alive

34

Rainy Day

Angelina Felix

35

A collection by Sabrina Basso

Ram Skull Kiana Cuevas

Colophon

The Spring/Summer 2021 edition of The Leaf was created using Abode Indesign CC2018 and Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 on iMac desktop computers with Mac OSC Mojave. This edition contains 39 individual pages, published on issuu. com. The cover was designed by Jasmine Poutre, featuring an artwork created by student Kai Donaldson.

Fonts used were Lucida Grande and Superclarendon.

Special Thanks

Thank you to Lauren Lindsay for encouraging her AP Art students to submit their works to our publication.

Thank you as well to Caroline Martin for the many works submitted by her creative writing classes, and the entire English department for spreading the word about our literary magazine, and encouraging your students to seek out our publication. As always, a huge thank you to our administration, Principal Gary Springer and Assistant Principal Jodi Robins, who continually support the students’ creativity and freedom to express themselves.

Finally, many thanks to our advisor, Sammy Jo Harwell for never allowing this publication to die, sacrificing her time so that the students might always have a venue for their creativity.