Horseshoe Press was established in 2023 in Fairfield, CA. Our goal is to provide a space for students to exhibit their voice through poetry, prose, and art. Additionally, it is our goal to highlight the voices of our diverse community We hope, that through this journal, poetry is the tool that brings the community together.
Spring2023
CoverbyRemiGjemre
CreatedbyBrandonVu
EditedbyErinMegary AayushiAkhani
RyaOuattara
SupportedbyAimeeKorynta
RodriguezHighSchool
IfyouwalkanywhereintheBayArea,youwillseeart.FromtheBart Station,toMuni,toBerkeley,totheVallejoFerry,toDowntown Fairfield--anywhere,youwillseemuralsofactivists,graffiti,quotes, andart.PeopleintheBayAreaarecreative.AndasRodriguezHigh Schoolstudents,wearenodifferent.Withthisjournal,Ihopeto encouragestudentstobecreativeandtousearttoelevateour communityaswellasmarginalizedcommunities.
Is an English teacher here at Rodriguez. He currently teaches 9th-grade and has an interest in creative writing.
Erin Megary EditorIs a science teacher at Rodriguez.
Aayushi Akhani Editor
Enjoys reading
Enjoys writing and is a Swifty.
Brandon Vu Advisor Rya Ouattara Editor
Greed
Itastedgold, Itwasastounding, Iwantedmore. Isitwithgoldonmyplate, Thetastelingersinmymouth, Evenwhenswalloweddown.
Justonemoreplate, Butthatturnsto, Onemore, Twomore, Threemore, Untilthereisnoneleft. Icravedmore, Givingitmore, Isatwaiting, Incessantly, Formoretocometomyplate. EvenwhenIknew, Ihadnoneleft. Thetastedisappeared, Ihadnothingleft, Iateuntiltherewasnothingleft. Mygreedateme, OnceIcouldn'tfeeditanymore.
TayVedarisa14-year-oldtransstudentwhoenjoyswritingforfun. Heenjoyslisteningtoindie/rocksongs.Hegetshisinspirationfrom natureandhisownstoriesinhislife.
JustBecauseIAm
Iamdifferent.
I'veknownIwasdifferent
SinceI'vehadtheabilitytotellyouso.
I’veshouteditfromrooftops
JustbecauseIcould
Coulda...woulda...shouldhavenever
Whenyouarepunishedforbeingdifferent
Youbegintohatewhoyouare.
Imayhavebeenshovedintothecloset
ButIwastheonewhothrewawaythekey.
Itriedsohardfixingsomethingthatwasn’tbroken
Iwasnotbroken
Merelyaninnocentchild
Whowantedtoexpressthemself
SureIwasn’tideally“traditional”
Wasthatsobad?
ThewayIlooked
ThethingsIloved
WhoIwas
Didn’tfitsociety’sideals
Justsaythewords...easyright?
Justsaythewordsandmaybeyou’llfixitsomehow
Justsaythewordsandmaybesomehowitwon’tmatter
Justsaythewordsalready!
Isaidthem
Finallyspacetobeme
Finallypeoplewhoseeme
Finallywordsthatdon’tdefineme
BecauseIdefinethem
Theclosethasbecomeaglasscage, Ioccasionallytakewalksoutsideofit
ButalasImustgobackattheendoftheday
AndI’mokaywiththat
Oneday...
OnedayIwillbefree
AndIwillnevergoback
ButfornowItakemylittlevictories
JustbecauseIcan
GreatGrandpa’sFreshStrawberries
iusedtopickthestrawberries offthebush inmygrandpa’sbackyard stealingmore thanishouldhave waitingdayafterday, formoretogrow tostealagain butnowiwish
iwouldhavebeenmorepatient becausenow i’meatingstorebought andihaveforgotten whattheytastelike, theirsweetgoodness stolenfrommymouth
NakylaLiwagLindseyisasophomore.Poetryusedtobeherfavorite thingintheworld.Inthemiddleofthepandemicshestartedtowrite poetrywritebeforebedandkepttheminthenotesappofherphone. Now,someofherpoetryispublishedinacollectionofpoetrythat Writer’sPocketpublishedfromabunchofpoets.
TheChangeofTime
InspiredbyThreeGirlsontheBridgebyEdvardMunch
WithHerwordsinmyear
WaterFlowingnear
Nothingsurpasseswhatwashappeninghere
Astimemoved theriverchanged
Nothingwilleverbethesame
Asyouneverpassthesamerivertwice
Fortheriveralwayschanges
Andyouareneverthepersonyouusedtobe.
DanielMancusoMarananis9th-graderwhoenjoyswrestlingand photoshoppingcatsnamedEnrique.
InspiredbyVincent'sRoominArlesbyVincentVanGogh
Alonely,sadroom
Softyetunsettling
fondmemoriesbutwehatetoreminisce
You'vewithstoodthecoldforsolongdarling
Let'sfindyousomewarmth
We'llfinditsomeday,butnotyet.
Iknowit'ssad,goaheadandcryinthelonelyroom
Makesuretostayquiet,theyarealmostdonefighting
Iknowit'sscary,butbepatient.
Almostfinished.
Eveninthislonely,sadroom,it'souronlylight
Wejusthavetowait
darling.
MashaylaJohnsonisa9th-graderinband.
WoodenDock
InspiredbyThreeGirlsontheBridgebyEdvardMunch
Asshewalkstowardsthespot
Theoldbrownwoodsqueaks
Thewindwhispersinherear. "Whyaren'ttheyhere?"
Thetreesdance
Thewindsings
Thewoodendocksqueaksagain
Feelingthewoodmoveunderherfeet
"Honey,areyouokay?"theysay.
"No,justno."
ZoeMedranoisafreshmanatRodriguezHighSchool.Sheenjoys dancing,listeningtomusic,andwatchingsports.Shealsolovesherdog, Taro.
Totheonewhoplays,
Life’sorchestrashouts,andlifeisthesong
Thosewhorejoiceattheplayandthosewhodonot
Ahighpitchofjoyortheinstrumentsrest
Alowpitchofchaosorawhisperintest
Buttherecomesatimewheninstrumentsbreak Drumsshatterheavily,stringsscratchwhentheywake
Willthemusicstillplay?Achoicemustbemade Repairthesong,orletthemusic’splayfade
Themusicoflifeisfilledwithgreatwonder Happiness,sadness,month,year,orday
Shouting‘whatnoteslieahead?’asthepianist’shandswander Forme,Iask,totheonewhoplays
Iwishtobeanorchid
Exhibitingcolorintheplains
Plantsaround,differenceallthere
Yetalloneinthesame
Iwishtobeplantedinagarden
Withgrassflowingsofree
Surroundedwiththeflowers
Growingslowlywiththetrees
Iwishtobesocaredfor
Withersbreakingoffsoundly
Togroweverypositive
Toblossomsofreely
Iwishtohaveananswer
Cloudspouringinthebreeze
Yetthecolorstillstays
Likethewaterintheseas
Iwishtobeanorchid.
AndreiParejaissomeonewhoinspirestobeananimator,actor, doctor,orwriter.Theyenjoywriting,and,mostofthetime,push themselvestodomoreforthemselfandothers.Andreienjoyswriting philosophicalpoems,forsomereasonessays,andthingsaccordingtoa prompt.
Gosunchild,keepwritingpages untilitmaddensyoutothepointyouwillpushothersdown Togowhereyouwanttogo.
Wasteonesecondandyouwillfadeoutlikea90’strend Friendorfoe?Allisenemywhenyouviewtheworldabattlefield Andtobethelastmanstanding, istohavetheburnedoutgiftedchild Cursebestoweduponyou. Icravethingsfarbeyondmyreach.
Everysinglethingintheuniverse,downtoit’satoms Aneverlastinghungertobepraisedandapplauded Iviewtheworldmycanvas,whereIpaintpeopleaccordingtomy colorpalette
AstagewhereIperformsirenlikemelodiestolureeveryone Iamacreationofatormentedartist
Sculptedbythecelestialartificerhimself,bestbelieveyou Won'tfindpieceslikemeinothersculptures.
PrettysureIcaruslaughedashefellfromthesk Itwouldhavebeenanevengreatertragedyifhe Feelthescorchingflameoftheeternallight
Thereisanamusingfeelingoftriumph
Afterknowingyoucrashlandedrightontotheground
Perhaps….Hecouldn’tunlearnDaedalus'sexpectations Andwentontofakehisdeathandlivewithacleanslate.
AayushiAkhaniisa9thgraderwhotakesinspirationfrommusic whenwritingherpoems,andlovesreferencingGreekmythology.
wardrobe
peoplearestartingtonotice theanxietyimwearingonmyslee soilosebalance-eyecontactmakesmenervous
whichiswhyitendtolook awayaftereveryfewseconds
oftentimes ifindmyself
stumblingovermyownwords orjoiningclausesthatdon’tgotogether
i’vebeentoldthatitsoundslikeihad justwatchedthenotebookrightbeforeapresentation
thenistarttofeelmoreeyes stareatmyarm maybeishouldchange.
¨BlackCulture¨
Whatisblack?
Whatisblackculture?
Thecolorofmyskinisathreattosociety
I'mayoungblackmalethatiscontinuouslyraciallyprofiled
Becauseofwhat?
Thecolorofmyskin?
Thetextureofmyhair?
ThewayIspeak?
Theclothesiwear?
WhoIam?
Iamblackculture
Wehavethepower
Wellstandupforwhat'sright
Wellspeakupforwhat'sright
Wewon'tstop
It'sbiggerthanblackandwhite
ZionSmithisaseniorcurrentlyinAfricanAmerican/Womenślit. Heplaysbasketball,andcutshair.Additionally,hewouldliketo thankSanaiHendersonandMs.Novinfarforproofreadingand inspiringthis.
Theblindartistwokeupeverymorningtosomethingresembling thenight,He’draisehisarmtofeeltheair, Hismovementtheonlyguidance, Heglideshishandsacrossthepaper, Tofeeleverygrain, Totouchthetexturedfaceofhisnextwork, Hebeganthepracticewithnomind,noimageofperfection, Hedrewwithnolines, Hegrippedtheleadwithnootherchoice,noothercontrol, Hebrushesagainstthepaperwithgraylines, Thattransformintodarkinkyscars, Thencalledhishiseyes,hisapprenticetoapprove, Thenrainedthecolors, Brokethefragilewhitefacewithpigment, Hiseyesobserved,wonderedasdidothers, Washebornunabletocomprehendtheillustrationshehasbeen paintedwithin?Ishereimaginingtheworldheoncesaw?Orthe worldwithinhim?Hisonlywaytocreate, Tochange,tolive, Tobreatheandtodie, Tofighttheemotionalturmoilthatgrew, Grieveandcelebrate, Toicethewoundsandbruises, Tocleanthecutsfromthefall,
Tohealthebrokenandtofillthecrackswithgold Tobreakthefrailwhitepigmentsoftheworld, Withnosightinhiseyes,
PityParty
tocelebrate istoforget thatyourpower isdrawnas
thevillaininthestorybooksthatyouarepursued forunalluringillicitaffairstocelebrate istoignoreandneglect thewordsthatgiveyou
athousandscars
togoonlikethesky isfilledwith starsandnot theblackpaintofthe suffocatingdark
tocelebrate istolove
everycryptic creaseandcornerinside notlettingtheghost wholurksthroughpast intothehauntedhouse
tocelebrate istobesilenced
gaggingonphrases
enteringMachiavellianalleywaysfallingawayfrom thechaostheworld continuestobleed
tocelebrateisto toleratethat
yourvoicewillbemuffledatthehandsofanotherman andthatyouwillneverhaveyourparty.
Rya Ouattara is a freshman who have always had an appreciation for literature and story telling ever since she was young, (specifically poetry and music). She looks up to people such as Emily Dickinson and Jenny Han. She enjoys writing and is taking Honors English next year
Wakinguponaninhale…
Theairsmellscold,theaircamefromwhereverIjustdid Iwasrunning,maybe?
ButonthefirstexhaleofthemorningwhateverworldIwasinisin me,justneuronsdancingaround
AsIkeepbreathingtheycontinuetofadefromaballettothe denny’sonpittmanroad
Totheseclusionofthemarsh
Eventuallytheymaketheirwaybackhomeandrest,butbythistime I’veforgottenaboutthemcompletely
We’reoncompletelydifferentschedulesapartfromthebreathswe shareinbed
Andasthedaycomestoaclose thereIfindmyself, inbedagainbreathing, theairisgettingcolderandthedancersarecomingtogetheragain It’ssobeautiful Ican’thelpbutfallinandrememberwhatIwasrunningfrom EmilyMayette.
Shining
Nightcameandfellhard
Notlikegoddrawingablanketoverourland
Butlikesomeonesnuffingacandle
Suddenandtotal
Out justlikethat
Nowwearewaiting
Waitinginthedark
Toseeifsomeone
Willswitchonthelight
Wecancower, Wecanfear, Wecangetlosttogether
Orgetlostalone
Butthetruthis:
Iamthelight.Youarethelight
Wearelituptogether
Wearesilhouettesofsunlight
Castagainstthenightsky
Shiningnow,letus
Shining,holdthelight
Shining,sothatourfamilies
Canfindus
Shining.
SiennaLeeVergesonisa9th-graderandshebelievesthatwriting poetryhelpsherexpresshowshe'sfeeling.WritinghelpsSiennawhen sheisgoingthroughtraumaticexperiences.
AmIamonster?
Ifeelsouglytoday
WhydoIwander?
Icantjumpintothefray
HowdoIspeak?
Ican'ttellthem
WhyamIweak?
Youcan'tbethem
AmItired?
I'msoburntout
AmIaliar?
Ijustwanttoshout
WhyamIme?
Ididntwanttobe
Allwewantdoisflee
BecauseIwasbornasme
JirehTayoisastudentatRodriguezHighSchool.Helikestosingand lovestomunchonsnacks
untitled shy, ihatebeingshy. ifeelasifit’stheworstdisadvantage anyonecouldeverhave
itstopsyoufrommakingfriends, itmakesyoufeelisolated, itallowspeopletotakeadvantageofyou, itgivesyouthingslikeanxiety; andisjustterribleinallaspects
itdoesn’thelpthat speakingoverthephoneiseasier, itjustgivesmemoreofareason toavoideveryone. atallcosts myroom, theveryplaceifeelwelcomedin, myroom, theveryplaceiwouldn’tmindbeingin.
RocelOcampoisaninth-graderwhoenjoyslisteningtomusic;allthe time.
IfeelasthoughI’mdrowning, Nowherenearthesurface.
Ifeelenraged, Trappedinacageofyearning Idon’tseeawayout, Blindlymovingthroughthedays, Withnopurpose. IscreamandIshout, Butnoonecanhearme.
IcryandIwail, ButI'mleftstillwanting Ifeelaloneinanoceanofpeople.
Ireachout,graspingontonothing, Slowlyfalling. Ihopetheycanhearme, Abansheeinagony. ButI’mlefthereinmyhome, Withnoonebesideme.
It’safitfuljourneyInolongerwanttowalk. Amillionwords,butnovoicetotalk Myownpersonalhell, Awitch’smostdarkestspell.
I'veKeptYouWaiting
Andwhich Youwhined Andpawedatme Forattention
Forgiveme, Yourtreatsare
Waiting, Starfire
HunterSheltonisafreshmanwhoisnonchalant,sociable,funny,and outgoing.Healsolovesanimals.
Fallweptintowinter, Theamberdrippedtofrost, Andeverythinggrewbarren, Thelastdropsofsummerlost Isatbyawitheredwindow, Crushedflowersinmyhair, Allthelandlookeddifferent, Aschangeconsumedtheair
Thereweresecretsintheground, Astrangebiteinthewind, SomethingtookEarthover, Anditwouldnotwaittobegin
Themoonstolethetide, Andtheskyturnedbrandnew, Slowlyalltheamber
Gavewaysolemnlytoblue
MakenaScottisasenioratRodriguezHighSchool.Sheenjoys listeningtomusic,hangingoutwithfriends,andreading.
Myarmorisashardasmybookoflife
IhavelivedsolittleIknownostrife
asachildIhavenorightsbutasaperson
I’mleadintothelight
aconstantbattleofpushandpull
I'minthemiddlenothingbutatool
SureI’makidIhavenotrouble
butwiththislifestyleeverydayisastruggle
Witheveryoutingandeveryevent
IhavecommittedtoomanycrimesIcan’trepent
SometimesIwishforitalltobegone
butIremainstuck
inlife’seternalsong.
AlexanderPowellisa9th-gradestudentwhohasalwayshadapassion forwriting,hewritesnovelsinhisfreetimeandhasalwaysenjoyed literature.
Time
Suchapreciousthing
Yetthethingthatdrainsme
Wehavesomuchofit
Enoughtoimmerseme
Inthedeepestofdepths
Andthehighestofcliffs
Therearestillcountlessquestionsthatlift
Whatdoyouseek?
Whatdoyouneed?
Whatdoyoufeel?
Whatdoyouthrivefor?
Whatdoyoulivefor?
Thequestionsoverwhelmme
Withallmytime
Andallofmypastgrime
Theydevelopwithinme
Takingmeandmyformeridentity
BacktosomewhereIshallnotbe
Aplaceofdesolationandsalvation
Onewhereyoucouldnotbreakfree
Wherethereareinfinitewallsandpaths
Andnoendtoflash
WithtimeIcanbeontheroadtorecovery
SothenIdon'thavetoliveinmisery
WithtimeIcanbeabetterme
WithtimeIcanchannelthethoughtsoffatality
Withthelethalthoughtssuckingawayfromme
Icanfinallybeunchainedandrefined
Timebecamemine
ParminMahalatiniaisastudentwhoenjoyswritinginherfreetime. She enjoys it to clear her mind and be able to read her thoughts to understandherselfbetter.
Lookingintoafacethatwillnevershowit’struefeatures Afacefilledwithdifferentpersonalitiespackedandready Toputonashowforwhicheveraudienceisgiftedtoher Havingnocontrolovermyself,lostinalifefulloflies.
Foolingmyselfwaspartoftheprocessiwasn’tscaredofloneliness Becauseweallcametothisworldbyourselvesandwewilllivethis sameearth
Byourselves.Thescariestpartwastherealizationthatyou’vegone toodeephaving
Lostallcontrolofyourselfgoingthroughandendlessmazewithno wasofcomingout
Thegroundonwhichyoustandstartstofeelwetwatersurrounding you.Rising,Rising,Rising
Untilyouareburiedinit.You'resoblindedyoustarttoshutoutthe peopleyoulove
Youthinktheywouldneverunderstandoryoudon’twanttobea burdensoyoukeepittoyourself.Yougetinarageandyellsaying hurtfulthingsyounevermeanttosay.WithallthisItooktimefor myself IrealizedIwasneverlost Mytrueselfwasrighttherelocked upbymyinsecurity,peoplesopinions,andculturalconditionsI createdformyselfasIsteppedintomyteenageself.Findingyourself isactuallyreturningtoyourselfandbelievingandseeingthatyouare perfectjustthewayyouareandyoudon’thavetochangeyourselfor entertainpeoplewhoneverlovedyouinthefirstplace.
BrindiTabiisingrade11.Shelovesbasketball,boxing,andlistening tomusic.Whensheisn'tdoinganyofthosethings,shetakessometime toread.
HimandHer
(Him)
LoveandHate
FriendandFoe
Onsadnightswetendtocry
TurnsoutI'mthebadguy
Pluckingpetalsinthemeadows
Likeadarkpricklyrose
Shelovesme
Shehatesme
Iguesswe’llneverknow
(Her)
LoveandHate
FriendandFoe
Doesheloveme?
Idon'tknow
Skinpalelikesnow
Withmygodlikecomplexion
I'llputonashow
Menstarttofight
Likeabattlebetweenknights
LittledotheyknowIonlywanthimtonight
(Him)
LoveandHate
FriendandFoe
Kissherhand
Askforadance
Shehasmeinhertrance
Isthismychance?
Shemoveslikethewind
Orisitmyheartthat’spinned?
Fingersintertwined
AdealwiththedevilI’vesigned
Duetoherlovethat’smademeblind
Somethingswe’llneverknow
LoveorHate
FriendorFoe
RubenVargasSanchezisajuniorandmadethispoeminhisnotes overayearago.
Nurturing
InspiredbyVincent'sRoominArlesbyVincentVanGogh
Chaoticbedsidetable
Tablecontainingwaterjugs
Avase,andmedicine
Whoknowshowlongit'sbeenthere
Cleanliness
Bedfullymade
Jacketsandtowelsinplace
Paintingsorderlyhung
However, Despitetheneatnessandmessiness
Theroomstillholdsmemories
Comfort
Andcoziness
PaytonTaacaisafreshmanwholovesplayingvolleyballandsneakers. Specifically,sheplayedasalibero,andlovesJordan4's.
Forme,poetryisthepulseof andrefugefromsociety.Itis mymeditationanda throughlinetomyheart. -AimeeKorynta
Poetry:thebestwords
inthebestorder."- SamuelTaylor ColeridgeAsareader,poetryhasalwaysbeentwo thingstome It'stheplaceIgoto understandjusthowmuchpeoplecanfeel, but,moreimportantly,it'saplacewhereI cangivemyselfpermissiontofeelthose emotions.-Mr.Villagomez
Poetryisawaytounderstand themisunderstood
-Ms.Kay
[Rap]is poetry...storytelling, poetry,eveniambic pentameterisrap."TupacShakur
Poetryisthewayweviewtheworld withlanguage.
-Mr.Vu
Tome,poetryisthebeautiful manifestationofaperson'sthoughts andfeelings...Thebestpartisthat theycanbeenjoyedbyawiderangeof people
-MelissaBrown
Poetryisacraftedformofexpression.It bringsoursoulsclosertogether,andisbeauty personifiedinwords.Eachwordandsyllable iscarefullyplacedandcuratedtoelicit emotionsandthoughts.Likemusic,poetryis thedesiretoinspireandtoprovokethinking
-Mr Beiner
“Thisiswhatpoetry means languagethat surprisesandkeepsus onourtoes.”-GarySoto
Ilovetheconcisenessandcareofpoetry.Everywordhas tobedeliberatelychosenandplacedjustsoinapoem,to maximizerhythm,beat,andmeaning.Poetryis condensed,withmeaningsqueezedinontone,on placement,andespeciallyonwordchoice.Poetrytakes refinementandthoughtfulness.Eventheworstpoems demonstratetheseprinciples,andthebestpoetry compoundsmeaningonthreeorfourlevels.
-TraciPratt
"GlorybetoGod fordappled things."
GerardManley Hopkins
Rya:Whatwastheinspirationforyourpoem, JustBecauseIAm?
Samantha:Aboutmycomingoutstory.HowIfoundmorecomfort aftersolongwithmysexuality.
Rya:Howdoesyourpoemrelatetoourcommunity/youthinthe bayarea?
Samantha:Ithinkpeoplewhoreallyarequestioningthemselvesand need to figure out a part that's missing from them, that they can relatetoit.Findingthemselves.
Rya:HowdoyoufeelbeingpublishedinthefirstRodriguezPoetry Journal?
Samantha:Ifeelhonoredorexcited.I’veneverreallydoneanything likethistobepublished.
Rya:Whaturgedyoutosubmityourpoetry?
Samantha:Ioriginallywasn’tgoingtobutIhadateacherthatknewI likedwritingpoetryandreadingpoetry.Sothisteacherreallypushed metotakethatleapoffaithandjustdothisthingformyself.
Rya: Who are some of your favorite poets/Who inspires you the most?
Samantha:I reallylikethisonepoetRupiKaur.Shereally emphasizestheimportanceofbeingrespectfulandthingsweneedto talkabout.Howwomenaretreated.Womenofcolor.Womenofall sexualities.Herwritingstyleisadorable.Shedrawslittlepicturesand bringslifetoherpages.
KayleeLorenzoisasenior.
GabbyDiazisa12thgraderatRodriguez;herhobbiesinclude leadership,music,andmostprominently,art!Shespendshermorning workinginsideandoutsideoftheartclassroomworkingonvarious projectsforclassandtheapartprogram.
/hai-ku/ noun
A Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.
Cherryblossomsbloom, Herbeautyoutshinesthemall, Myheartbelongshers.
-CalebUsman,9th
Idonoticehim Ijustcan’tlethimknowthat Ijustlovehimso.
-MashaylaJohnson,9th
Hersoulbringsmejoy, hereyesshinelikeadiamond itmakesmyheartpump
-DannyLopez,9th
Ilovehisgreeneyes
Theylooklikebrightemeralds
Thesparkinhiseyes
-PrincessAllianaSolitario,9th
Ilovehersomuch
Shejustmeanstheworldtome
Letsstay forever.
-KylaByrd,9th
Autumnleavesfalling, Whisperingsecretssoftly, Nature'ssymphony
-ChrispinSmith,9th
OneveryMonday
Shealwayslovesapicnic Andstareatthestars
-JakeemMobley,9th
Theprettystarsshine
Intheuniverseforyou
Shiningbrightlikeyou
-CalystaFerdinand,9th
Amidstcherryblooms
Ourheartsbeatasone,entwined Loveforeverblooms
-MatthewSanchez,9th
Witchingafternoon
Abigspectacularglide
themagnificent
-NicholasDiaz,9th
Summertimeloving
Wassuchafantastictime
Iloveditsomuch
-PaytonTaaca,9th
Oneverywednesday
Igivehimrosesandlove
HesaysI'mpretty
-JakenyaHoward,9th
OneverySunday
Igivehimdrawingsandnotes
Herepayswithfood
-PhyllisCollins,9th
Himlookingather
Inawe,allofherbeauty
Feelnothingbutpeace
-ErajHussaini,9th
Horseshoe Press would like to express gratitude to numerous folks. First off, thank you to the students who were brave enough to submit their poetry to us, it means a lot that you all trust us with your work. Second, we would like to thank Aimee Korynta for giving this project the green light, otherwise the journal would just be an outlandish idea. Third, we would like to thank the art department for helping us with our cover. Fourth, Remi Gjemre, thank you for gracefully allowing us to use your art for the cover. Lastly, thank you Irrelevant Press for publishing this. Without the community, this would not be possible. Thank you.