Chrysalis: 1999

CHRYSALIS the literary/art magazine offerrum college cover art by dan gribbinfrom a drawing by amy harnage title page art by amy harnage

1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PoeTRJ Amanda Kearns Just Breathe Bethany Harper Restraint All Too Soon Tarsha Clarke My Thoughts for That Evening Rachel Brownlee The Call Serpent Rings of Memory Christina Callands Destructive Tears Jaimy Broughman That Much Misery Alicia Hammond Freak Kit Scott Two Thumbs Up Marriage 101 Sherry Burroughs The Eyes Nature's Quest

6 8 14 9 10 20 24 12 13 15 16 30 16 26

Cindi Hewitt The Heart and Soul

18

Eric Crocker Pictures at an Intersection Duck and Cover

22 32

Mailbox Woe

27

Music Is

29

Leave Me Be

35

Erin Hanly Lisa Swain

ART Amy Harnage

cover, title page, 28

Jesse Carkin

7,21,23

Philip Mills Kenneth Mccreedy Jessie Booth Rachel Brownlee

11,31,33 17 19,back cover 25

Just Breathe Give me the dunce cap, It doesn't belong to you.

Here are your wings to fly, Jump off the bridge and escape, But don't die.

Float up from the foam and breathe, Wind your alarm clock again and listen to it ring.

Plant your garden and pick your weeds, Just leave some behind.

Raise your chickens and bake your cal,es, Go to church and sing your psalms, Leave your hat out in the rain, Dance around the puddles, Snap your rubber bands till they break, Go to the beach and play in the sun, Play until you're burning, You can no longer dance to the heat, Your wings turn into fire and you fly away.

---amanda kearns

6

CHRYSALIS

jesse carlcin 1999

7

Restraint Jackknife.

Born of an icy mother.

Speeding, grinding, pounding of heart, of metal, loss of another.

Innocent.

Slammed.

Caught by a chemical father.

Frantic, confusion, spinning of mind, of rubber, end of another.

Innocent.

-bethany harper

8

CHRYSALIS

My Thoughts for That Evening I was sitting in the chapel One of many gathered there With her words I began to grapple For her same pain I also bear People's mouths were hanging open The whole sanctuary felt cold We were listening attentively To the story that she told Inhumane you could call it The way they treated the Jews One ration of food per day Not even a decent pair of shoes My mouth does not hang open Oh no! It does not!

For her struggle wasn't new to me That's the fight my forbears fought I thought to mistreat any race Is horrible and wrong Did not God create all the races For us all to get along?

-tarsha clarke 1999

9

The Call Pale winter and pale sky Take me with you and bring forth the highest being Goddess of earth and sky give me the power to fly Not to the moon but a universe Awaken the gods and let them speak their peace Tell them I have been chosen to serve out their deed Unbalanced and shaken We are both of the same kind Unleashed in an obtuse world where god and lust are sins Concur the sky and then the world Give strength to all good Give strength to the warrior of the world -rachel brownlee

drawing opposite by philip mills

10

CHRYSALIS

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Destructive Tears My eyes are the light That never tried to fight My blood is the sea That is red as can be My anger rages against the beast That proved me to be the weakest Lightning strikes my heart It failed to do its part Storm clouds settle in my head Constantly being fed Thoughts of insanity Words of profanity Every day it gets stronger and stronger Waiting for the day it can release the hunger A hunger for the impotent mass To fall directly on his ass By the power of my destruction

And the rain of my emotion But what can you do When your heart cries And your face smiles?

That impotent massive beast doesn't know Just how fast the wind can blow The only cost for my impurity Goes deeper than the red sea Something I can hide Why is it my soul cried?

Can my eyes never lie?

Will these tears ever die?

Time is running away Love is ticking astray Will my soul never sleep Or will I forever weep?

----christina callands

12

CHRYSALIS

That Much Misery Black Desperation Pain Overwhelming Need a friend Need some hope Need some release Silver Blade Glistens Edge so sharp Need to hurt Need to cut Need to bleed Red River Flows Life rushes with it Need to cry Need to think Need to sleep -:iaimy broughman

1999

13

All Too Soon Parent of my mother's heir Resting in the noisy leather Straining through reflective eyes, Feeling flowers fade around her.

Carpetbagging in the window Of a time that's gone away Smell the musty air of aging, Tarnished silver, stale and gray.

-bethany harper

14

CHRYSALIS

Freak Up and down the mall she walks To herself she talks and talks A tiara digs into her blackened hair Atop a pale white face and endless stare Bright pink cheeks, smile slightly bent And a long black dress to cover torment Most people just wonder who she is Others follow and comment to peers Some may think she's just escaped From a mental institute or small jail break But, I like to hope she is a good witch Blessing the mall amidst her nervous twitch.

-alicia hammond

1999

15

Two Thumbs Up My anticipation: As projectors turn, in the dark, Tales unreel.

-/cit scott

The Eyes The house sits alone Vacant windows like unblinking eyes, Watching me.

-sherry burroughs

16

CHRYSALIS

lcenneth mccreedy 1999

17

The Heart and Soul A roaring wind Battering at the shore relentlessly Calming To a gentle breeze Frightened rabbit in the glen Cowering Under deep thickets Quickly retreating at every sound Prideful lion Fearless, confident, mighty Strutting in the open Challenging life Weeping willow, drooping Beautiful, sad

Bright daffodil with Face raised to the sun Mysterious, shadows Dark, forbidding night Hooting owl Wise or evil Do you know me?

Have you seen The storm so wild Or the rabbit so timid?

As best as I can These are me How better to describe My soul to you --cindi hewitt

18

CHRYSALIS

1999

Jessie booth

19

Serpent The serpent is a lover and composer of your thoughts.

She has the eyes to taunt and explore.

She crosses her legs slowly revealing every inch.

Her long fingers caress her black hair.

Her sinuous skin is creamy and pale.

The physique of her body seems molded of a fine alabaster.

Slender and tall, she is unbearable.

Her clothes cling to her skin.

Revealing so much, yet not enough.

She mocks you creating eruptions in your mind.

She speaks without saying a word.

Her brow raises and calls for more attention.

Her hair glows and beckons with her gentle moves.

She slithers into your skin.

The blood in your body pumps harder.

She spreads her lips revealing her moist tongue.

It extends slowly advancing towards you.

Pitched like a fork at the end.

Rising and falling, it dances around your mind.

She manipulates your thoughts and fantasies.

For she already lmows yours fantasies.

Yet will she fulfill them?

To touch her dark red lips and taste her sweet flesh would be unimaginable.

How does it feel to want something you can never have?

-rachel brownlee

20

CHRYSALIS

' 1999

Jesse carlcin

21

Pictures at an Intersection

22

Brakes, Red Light.

There's no yield pedal Mr. Krepich.

All one unified mass of individuals going place to place to place, no one else matters.

One four-lane, asphalt street-block containing so many different universes.

she holds it there, unknowingly, as she runs her fingers underneath the driver's chin. Typical young couple. He smiles at her touch, the car looks so warm. She malres me want to curl up next to her and sleep for days.

Tap tap tap, fidget ... he can't help but stare at The light, he's in such a hurry and he's got "important" things to do. Fingers drum the steer­ ing wheel and he only glances from the light to read that clock. So very like the road; one way, can't stop, C'mon C'mon.

Pensive, melancholy man. You are the only one who seems truly alone out here.

Head in hand, leaning against the window.

No music, only sorrow from your cold, gray coach. Is life really so hard, so cruel, so sad, so empty?

Big date tonight? Late? Didn't have time to do that at home, huh? Her nails are obviously still drying by the way she holds the wheel.

Put it away, you're a traffic hazard, plus you're already stunning without it. Why do beautiful women insist on screwing it up with makeup?

Fix your dang mirror.

So many people, so many worlds, each wrapped up in a little steel blanket.

I see who you are, at a glance I know more about you than most people. What do you see when you look at me? I know so much about you, but can you tell me, who am-Oh, Green Light.

Her silver laughter draws my attention first, then

--eric crocker

CHRYSALIS

1999

Jesse carlcin

23

Rings of Memory The new and slightly dampened covering is soon to be unmasked A pale and placid system running within A serene representation of multicolored extensions Arms moving in the chill of autumn An understated glow emerges into a new and ratified being Having been through so much and still standing for the next generation to behold Skinned and mutilated are your former friends The wisdom published inside you is like layers of fat on the belly of a large man Ring after ring of memories stored for safekeeping When opened they will be lost forever Regeneration recaptures what has been soiled in the noonday sun But does it really recapture or condemn a society lost in replacement of the old for the new?

-rachel brownlee

24

CHRYSALIS

rachel brownlee

1999

25

Nature's Quest White water Roaring, crashing, cascading Over mountains of rock To the quiet pool below.

Thirsty leaves Stretching, pulling, reaching For the fine mist That dots their fading bodies.

Hungry predators Hunting, chasing, searching The thick woods For unsuspecting prey.

A brilliant sun Glaring, sinking, setting As dark shadows Swallow life below.

-sherry burroughs

26

CHRYSALIS

Mailbox Woe Standing at the metal box She inserts the key.

The metal door creaks.

Staring into the empty void She cringes.

AIRMAIL

She sighs.

She mumbles.

AIRMAIL

She slams the door She turns the key.

Walking away, she stops.

Her disappointment subsides.

She smiles.

AIRMAIL

No bills!

1999

-erin hanly 27

amy harnage 28

CHRYSALIS

Music ls To a cowbell, music is torture.

It is waken to be shaken in a horrible cacophony of pain.

Cling, clang, vibration, no consideration.

Finally, stillness and blessed darkness.

To a kazoo, music is humiliation.

It is jerked out of its rest only to be spat upon.

Sounding seemingly of only dullness.

Finally, the paper brealrn and swiftly, darkness.

To a goblet, music is sensual pain.

Filled with water, all wet, then rubbed gently.

Cries of pleasure result, then pain.

Harder and harder; screams of agony.

Stop! Stop, damn you! Stop!

Finally, jagged pieces, silence, darkness.

-lisa swain

1999

29

Marriage 101 Bitter words Ricochet Off walls of tender hearts, Leaving scars that fester But never quite heal.

Only bitter words Are hurled, After all, the china Is for Sunday-best.

Veteran warriors Move in quickly For the kill, Ever able to bulls-eye The enemy's weakness.

Wounded hearts Bleed afresh While longing For reconciliation.

Thoughts Flow hungrily back To days of peace, Or, at least, cease-fire.

When did their love become a battleground?

-kit scott

30

CHRYSALIS

philip mills 1999

31

Duck and Cover It's a torn-waxpaper-sky day, Two fighter jets and a Labrador.

"No crotchy, Fred," I said, And he smiled at me.

I ascend the stair.

It's a gamble every time.

Decisions to make about Who I Am. What Are My Goals?

Do I Trust Fate? No, It's cereal for me ... again.

A scuttled ten minutes, here and there, I fall from lesson to lesson No matter where I am.

Noncorporeal voices

32

In a sea of fleshy algorithms.

I reach out a hand, no .. .

I reach out a hand, no .. .

I reach out my mind-Oh, God! She looks at me. We play this Game Every other day.

At home, it's carnage. Home is screams Of the dying, crunch of bone, Rejoice in triumph or whimper in defeat.

Addictions. Addictions.

Run Run Run Run Run Run Run BANG! whip BANG! jump BANG! They're all dead.

Good.

Let's all go to bed.

--eric crocker

CHRYSALIS

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philip mills 1999

33

Chrysalis Staff : Editor-In-Chief

Eric Crocker

Art Coordinators

Amy Harnage Jesse Carkin

Literary Editors

Rachel Brownlee Amanda Kearns

Staff Assistant

Tiffany Gillend

Advisor

Dan Gribbin

Special Thanks to: Rachel K. Denham Beverly Thornton Tina Hanlon John S. Hardt 34

CHRYSALIS

Leave Me Be Leave me be To the sea So I may drown In its tranquility.

While cold and wet I shall see Others weep Over a worm such as me.

-lisa swain

back cover art by jess le booth 1999

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