The Voice

THE VOICE A Collection of Nature Poems

The Storm King School 2020-2021

The VOICE The Literary Magazine of Storm King School

Since 1867 students of our school have had a special

relationship with Storm King Mountain, Black Rock Forest, and the Hudson River. Their presence is part of our daily lives, which is to say that we have met Thoreau, Whitman, Dickinson, Teasdale, Berry, Frost, Oliver, and many other poets along the way.

© 2020-2021 All Rights Reserved. No works may be copied or reproduced without the express written consent of the writer or artist.

Table Of Contents One With the Woods-Kylie Marshall Beauty-Rita Tesfaye Ritual at the River-Miles Lucas Natural Beauty - Sude Bakal Wind Yulin Jin I put my love for you-Zhengyuan Liu Autumn's Class-Guanhao “Howard” Wang On a Winter Day-Flora Cai I Cannot See the Stars Tonight-Connor Biddiscombe Our Stars Full of Fault -Carly Neville A Dark, Winter Day- Sofia Benoliel Nobrega Silence-Cinque Robinson Storm-Kongcheng Liu Golden Autumn-Yiwen Ji Morning-Jianglan Li I’ve Never Liked Nature-Shayla Lawrence Five Minutes-Adela Arnal Marrun Sparrow-Chengtao Wu A Memory Visible Through the Fog-Victoria Smart Why Does the Sun Rise As Usual-Chengtao Wu Through The Woods-Chengrong Ian Yang Live-Hoang Phan Quy "Harry" Tran Hide and Seek -Kongcheng Liu I Climb the Old Maple in the Yard-Connor Biddiscombe My Senses - Justice Pessoa City Lights-Elizabeth Jiang Ding The Stars are Still Bright-Zhengyuan Liu The Green Leaves - Crystal Edeoghon No Idea-Chengrui Mary Yan Bloom-Jasmine Yuan Tian

Old Tree-Angela Cui Child of the Stars-Adela Arnal Marrun The Light of a Blind Girl -Nhu Nguyen Lighthearted Time-Anna Volkova Autumn Sight - Romee Choi Small Meteorite-Anna Volkova Autumn Sun- Jan Steiner Life On The Mountain - Noah Mendlewski A Walk at Storm King School - Jason Shrem Storm King Sunrise - Jan Steiner Sitting on My Porch- R.J. Delahaye Departure- Chengrong Yang The Whispers of Trees-Kylie Marshall Midnight Memories-Anora Mahin Mirror Sky-Moven Lai Artwork Flora Cai Adela Arnal Marrun Crytsal Edeoghon Rawnak Rahman Kylie Marshal Miles Lucas Romee Choi Alice Jianglan Li Mary Chengrui Yan Jasmine Yuan Tian Fiona Ji Anna Volkova Guanhao Howard Wang

Literary Staff Nhu Nguyen Shayla Lawrence Alice Jianglan Ji RJ Delahaye Kylie Marshall Noah Mendlewski

Cover Kylie Marshall

One With the Woods Kylie Marshall

(In response to Wendell Berry) I feel the pain of my grievances, Withholding the sleep from my tired body.

I fear I may disappear without truly living.

I run, becoming one with the woods.

I rest on a bed of moss, the fauna surrounding me.

I sleep, feeling peace spread throughout myself, finally, not worrying about my grief.

I feel the stillness of the world around me.

And above me, I see the stars shining in the night sky.

For a moment, The world is at peace with me, and I with it.

Beauty

Rita Tesfaye

(inspired by Ezra Pound) The sun is waiting; Waiting for you to rise; Looking eager to feel your heat.

Bees are waiting with their leaf-cutter, Ready to collect your beauty.

Singing, “please bloom, you beautiful Petunias.”

Ritual at the River Miles Lucas

I used to wander down to the river, where I had a secret spot.

It was guarded by the tall pampas, and besides, the peacefully flowing water.

Only the mountains and the dark sky could watch me sit in the soft snow and light my bonfire.

Meanwhile, the winter blew its cold air, and the flames danced as I stared.

I would know it was time to depart when the fire told me so.

And the moonlight would assist me in finding my way home.

It will be a while until the river and I meet again, we miss each other very much.

But I promise that in my lifetime, someday I will return.

Lucas

NATURAL BEAUTY Sude Bakal

I encounter a fascinating place bird choir fresh soaked soil aroma dancing leaves in the air A grasshopper's song screeching crows the buzz of bees surround me I listen My body is paralyzed from the cold The star's rays reflect onto my face A ladybug tickles my hand She stays, taking refuge in my palm

Rahman

Wind Yulin Jin

Listen to the wind, see how the wind blows: Blustery, the wind parades the trees.

All the trees bow like servants, The mighty oak doesn’t shed even a leaf, Wild!

I put my love for you.

Zhengyuan Liu

Into the nectar of the forest Such as bees to Turn it into sweeter verses.

The sun is spinning its skirt.

No one can escape being dependent on it.

It's like my name.

Autumn’s Class

Guanhao “Howard” Wang

Winter is here to pick up Autumn’s class,

Autumn took the golden color of the chrysanthemum, The fragrance of osmanthus, The beauty of hibiscus.

Winter,

Dye the world white with snowflakes.

I smelled,

Pure and clean.

Leaf,

I touched,

Fluttered like feathers, Gently falling,

They danced in the sky.

Wind,

I heard,

A piece of melodious song ringing, fresh and new.

Let my soul thaw, Clouds I saw,

A brisk and harmonious poem.

As light as smoke.

Air,

I tasted,

A young woman's body

Dragging my soul into it.

Wang

On a Winter Day Flora Cai

I wake up in the early morning Fairy snow dances with the breeze Gently floating like willow catkins The top of the mountain is white There are silver edges on the blue sky I walk outside in the afternoon.

The sun is hanging upon my head Today it'll be just be a giant ornament Slightest warmth I can never catch I lay in my bed in the evening Freeze air seeks corner gap in my room Then sneaks in and exhales A wreath of darkness clings to my shoulder, while a lullaby sings me to sleep I dream at midnight Thousands of stars chasing the blind sky A sudden drop of cold and a hidden light My pillow enshrines plenty of stories I create They are all about this superb Winter day

Cai

I Cannot See the Stars Tonight Connor Biddiscombe

I cannot see the stars tonight I wonder how bright they shine.

It is left to my imagination.

As clouds cover their luminescent pictures If I could hold one in my hand.

I wonder if it's warm.

Would it shine bright and feel sharp?

And smell like a smoldering fire.

Our Stars Full of Fault Carly Neville

From Earth, they seem so concise and close to one another.

Yet so far and full of fault.

Just like us.

Perfect from afar but eyes filled with salt Still trying to find love, yet our hearts remain locked in a vault.

A Dark, Winter Day Sofia Benoliel Nobrega

My footsteps leave marks on the muddy surface The fresh breeze of air relaxes my body Each step I take, the leaves crumble up, shrieking The highest branches swing accordingly to the wind A family of squirrels seeks shelter in the big oak trees They search together and follow a clean queue They do not separate from each other As of the peak of winter, the birds do not appear I could not hear the beautiful singing this time Today, the clouds overlapped, and the clear blue sky was darkened Traffic noises disrupt my peace Cars, airplanes, buses pass by, honking Even though it was not the most beautiful of days, These woods can never disappoint me.

Silence

Cinque Robinson The silence brings me tranquility,

The clouds are stable, just like my thoughts,

All of my distractions have vanished from my mind Like the leaves on the trees

One by one falling to the ground as the brutal winter sets them free

Storm

Kongcheng Liu With the wind knocking on the window, With the lighting tearing the sky, With the thunder crashing the air, I can tell you that it is coming.

Yiwen Ji

Golden Autumn Yiwen Ji

In Spring, we write down our wishes, In Autumn we receive gifts.

The sun rises, and golden sunshine gleams in the backyard.

The small orange tree that my mother planted last year has matured.

The bright round oranges look like golden gems.

My little brother and I eagerly await to pick them, Our first gift from the Golden Autumn.

Morning

Jianglan Li (Alice) After sunrise A silent morning The bay is as still as a mirror Only a few ducks rippled the water The air was moist And filled with a faint smell of seawater Like falling into a salt can I was facing the east, the sun was shining brightly on my face I closed my eyes Stopped and Quietly enjoyed the peace and beauty of the morning.

Jianglan Li

I’ve Never Liked Nature Shayla Lawrence

I’ve never liked nature But when the sharp breeze shivers my body I can't help but think how reviving I've never liked nature But when I hear the birds chittering I can't help but think what an alluring song I've never liked nature But when I touch the supple petals I can't help but think how fragile I've never liked nature But when I smell the rugged bark I can't help but think how reinvigorating I've never liked nature But as the frostbit grass breaks the silence of the evening I can't help but think how piercing I've never liked nature But as I walk through these sacred woods I think what’s not to like

Lucas

Five minutes

Adela Arnal Marrun Life has finally exhausted me.

I've come to dread every text message, It no longer matters from whom.

I rewrite hundreds of variations of the same lines, But I'm never satisfied with any of them.

And I skip every song at the first minute; I've heard them all before.

I fade away like mist into the forest.

My phone bubbles from the bottom of the little clear river I threw it in.

Sparrow

Chengtao Wu I like sparrows, Even though, They neither have sweet voices, Nor fancy feathers, They are so common That you can find them All around the world.

However, they have this spirit, “Give me liberty, Or give me death.”

They choose death, When they are caged.

For sparrows, Fly freely in the sky, Outweighing their lives.

A Memory Visible Through the Fog Victoria Smart

Standing on the time-worn brick structure, Stopping and looking at my own reflection in the glass where a beautiful witch in a blue dress once stood Shivering as I look up at the foggy trees The witch’s soldiers salute their mountain general Turning and heading to a wooden swing held up by nothing but cold chains The witch’s tears took the form of condensation on the creaky metal links My beige shoes dampen from walking in the wet grass Littered by the leaves from the green canopy above me I sit on the cold swing, rocking back and forth Remembering my friend who would sit on my left side My formerly wide eyes grow heavy as my body turns, taking up the whole swingAs I remember, my previous friend.

I fall into a light slumber while the swing cradles me, rocking me to sleep Singing its eerie lullaby

Why Does the Sun Rise As Usual Chengtao Wu

Roosters crow, When the sun rises.

Vampires hate; They hate the sun so much, So they killed Every rooster.

They are happy, Thinking the sun will never, Ever rise again.

Six a.m, Standing outside, Laughing at the sky.

They will never know, Why does the sun, Rise as usual.

Through The Woods Chengrong Yang

Through the shady woods， A few rays of sunlight through the branches.

Listen to the wind blowing gently, As if singing a song.

A few squirrels were hopping on the branches, I had to tiptoe forward, For fear of disturbing their happiness and peace.

Through the wide forest.

Live

Harry Tran I was a teeny seed.

Mother nurtured me, with water and sunshine, After those years, I am a big tree I have a vast umbrella, covered for my babies They are charming, deliver nutrition from me to humans Wind, rain and thunder, a storm came He was irate, flew everything away My feet are pinned tightly to the ground.

I lost my arms After the storm, humans came They cut me; they burn me, they hurt me I lost my body Lots of pains, that was my life.

Still, a fire ignites in my heart Still, I hope I hope I can live I hope I can dedicate myself to this dying planet.

Hide and Seek Kongcheng Liu

The sun is shining brightly, The trees are swaying slightly, But this is not the place.

The pond reflects the sky, The bugs are flying by But this is not the place.

Behind the giant rock, Submerged in tall grass, I finally find him lying on the ground.

The sun is shining brightly, The trees are swaying slightly, It is now my turn to hide and for him to find.

I Climb the Old Maple in the Yard Connor Biddiscombe

I climb the old maple in the yard.

Its branches feel rough as I grasp onto them.

I see a little bird nest with eggs.

I do my best to avoid disturbing their peace.

The leaves are shrouding the sunlight as I get higher.

As I get closer to the top I finally am awarded my prize for my efforts.

The tree sap that tastes like a circus in my mouth

My Senses Justice Pessoa

I feel the soothing cool breeze move throughout the air Like a dragon The leaves swaying back and forth, dancing To the birds' song I can hear the crickets talk to one another From the distance The repairmen renovating To beautify the school And I see the women who work in the dining hall Getting ready for another meal

City Lights

Elizabeth Jiang Ding Rain and snow fall from the sky, So do the stars.

Falling, dropping from heaven at a silent night, They start a brand new life as city lights.

Yellow, red, orange, and white, Decorate the evening skyline, On the plains, the hills, and the river banks.

City lights are in your sight, Vivid enough to occupy a poet’s mind, Blur enough to sneak in a romantic line.

Under the city lights, humans and nature unite.

Just let them guide you Until the very end.

The Stars are Still Bright.

Zhengyuan Liu

The moon is still in the sky Shining in the sky Shining in the brightly onto everyone's heart I just want to run, to catch the star, to find where you are

The Green Leaves Crystal Edeoghon

The Green Leaves Always attached to different trees So light like a feather And the shape doesn’t change in every weather Looks so huge all around the world But they deceive us Because they are tiny as well The wind blows like a fast car Moving them left and right As they suffer badly and deadly But they were still anchored on the lovely tree Time has passed by The leaves still green all the time But when the season fall suddenly comes It will turn red, and the green leaves will be long gone.

It’s officially Winter now And they are snow They are lying on the ground Quietly pleading for help The New Year just started Meaning the season spring is approaching They are thrilled with delight Because they know the Green will come back

Chengrui Yan

No Idea

(For T.E. Hume and Richard Aldington) Chengrui Yan A pale-face elder aside the river Overlooking the end of Lette Nothing but the lone, drifting boat Bloody-red Equinox flowers Softly chant a gloomy Ode -- an Ode for a farewell.

Sunken eyes with only vicissitudes He gazes after the boat with a wan-face woman Fading out beyond bluish mist Ripple rings by rings He has no idea -- no idea why he stays here, not there.

Jasmine Yuan Tian

Bloom

Jasmine Yuan Tian Have you ever walked into a forest?

In some forests, there are temples and streams.

But I’m talking about the forests on the other side of the world.

The forests on the other side of the world have giant trees.

I hope the flowers will not bloom again, and I hope I will not see you.

The wind blew like a pirate, robbing the temperature of my body.

The fury penetrated my heart like a sharp sword.

Autumn is fading out; it’s winter again.

The wind that passed my village has now traveled to your city.

The river that flowed through my village walks into your home.

Luckily, I buried my sadness without forgetting you.

Occasionally, I miss you.

Like this afternoon, when I saw the squirrel chasing pine cones down the hill, I thought of you inexplicably.

Suddenly, my vision became blurry.

The goodbye between falling leaves and branches cannot make me sad.

The lost aerial bird will not see his mother again and cannot make me desperate even if they die alone.

Under the sunlight reflected by snow, I left my shadow behind.

I am lifting up deceit and praise.

The impediment of life has been knotted by me repeatedly.

I will spend the rest of my life unfasten the fetter.

I sat on the stone alone and said to the grass, let’s go home.

The grass became silent for a long time and twisted his wait a bit along with the wind.

Old Tree Angela Cui

Who cares about the trees by the road?

Different in height, like a dwarf.

Who will guard these trees?

Every year, old again.

Rows of old people stood there.

Standing neatly, Those branches that are left unattended let the wind swing.

Their tentacles can't reach the sky or the ground.

The root of the body is looking for their children.

Now the big tree, It can only be guarded by money.

They can't go.

Where there is a sea, They have no way.

Fly like a bird.

Cai

Child of the Stars Adela Arnal Marrun

On nights when I hate myself, When my existence burdens me, When nothing I say or do feels like enough, I always find myself looking up to the stars.

I apologize to them, over and over: "I'm sorry, I've let you down, please forgive me."

-For I have failed them.

I have made an irrevocable mess of the life they've gifted me.

And as I sit in my window seat and start to shrink, They reach out and gently wipe the tears away from my eyes.

I feel them staring down at me.

With tenderness, I've experienced only a few times before.

They hold me with the warmth of a loving mother, And when I close my eyes, I feel at peace in their embrace.

I am the stars, and the stars are me, And in my loneliness, they are my only company.

They tuck me into bed and kiss the tip of my nose.

"Stay strong, my child. There is hope."

Rahman

The light of a blind girl Nhu Nguyen

I was born along with the darkness Despair, the loneliness I've been through But my life is not colorless Because I have eyes for the soul.

I love most when stories are told For then I can clearly see How magnificent nature is Through words and images.

I love to feel sunny beaches With the taste of the sea on my tongue And grains of sand through my fingers Whispering waves sing me to sleep.

Or the vast field of flowers I can feel flowers fill my lungs And the sunlight hugs me warmly Butterflies adorn my life.

Though I can't escape my darkness With this soul and creative mind I've loved nature and its grandeur Because it's the light for my life.

Lighthearted Time Anna Volkova

Our lighthearted time is quietly gone over the horizon.

And behind him, a new snowball covers with concern.

Hear this! Lighthearted time we will remember in a year.

Inscriptions on trees in neighboring forests that did not come true You know, mountains are knee-deep, Mountains are knee-deep if you maintain speed.

No loss comes the time.

The time comes to take this life apart.

Lighthearted time Among the dense forests, hid our secret password.

And in this Odyssey, jump straight to the bottom.

From the extended cliff, I gain speed, And mountains are knee-deep.

Autumn Sun Jan Steiner

The autumn sun rising.

Orange light flooding through the birch trees, melting the frost.

Wet leaves on the ground.

Lucas

Autumn Sight Romee Choi

Leaves are green, shivering in the breeze.

Grass sheds tears of rain as the top of the mountain fades.

The river far away, It looks a bit gray.

Some dead, fallen leaves rustled ‘round, creating a blanket for the barren ground.

Autumn came like this after Summer’s goodbye kiss.

Let’s enjoy this fleeting sight before everything becomes white.

Volkova

Small Meteorite Anna Volkova

Through sleeping dense clouds, I am crawling through infinity paths.

Far away and all alone flew a small meteorite.

Collecting all the drivel and dust, Racing past aloof stars Not finding a home for himself He only gained fervor and scars.

He was born to burn and explode on your Earth.

Don't try to hide; it doesn't make sense.

He doesn't want to fly in Death's gloom.

Life On The Mountain Noah Mendlewski

As I push open the door

a gust of cool air hits my face I look over onto the river Barely visible

Covered in a light blanket of fog

The grass wet with morning dew the faint sounds of cars passing

the first trees are changing colors Summer is over

A new fall has begun

Marshall

A Walk at Storm King School Jason Shrem

It is a brisk September morning here at Storm King School.

I feel a chill run up my spine as I walk outside.

My lips dry up as the cold air hits me in the face.

It's such a peaceful morning, I hear nothing but the birds and the trees rustling in the wind.

The sun casting a beam of light on campus, It is as if I cannot see a thing in the distance.

As I look around, I see a yellow wasp hovering just above the ground like a satellite on Mars.

I can hear it buzzing and looking for something to do.

I am tentative to everything around me, I can feel nature is alive all around.

The leaves are skydiving from the trees, And the clouds are floating like a bubble waiting to be popped.

As I look to my left, I see two birds flapping their wings violently, Like they are running to be the first ones seated at a five-star restaurant.

Nature and life are alive all around me.

The green and blue earth provide us with so many magnificent wonders.

Storm King Sunrise Jan Steiner

Dawn spreading its wings over Storm King Mountain, the smell of the wet, green forest, the subtle cracking of dry leaves, the lonely tree tips arching towards the horizon, dew drops chasing down the bark of the tree, leaving trails like ravines, the thick mist crawling up the mountainside, everything covered in Dawn’s grey light.

Sun shines over Storm King Mountain, a mesh of leaves in front of the lapis lazuli sky, flowing water as clear as a mirror, the silent whisper of the winds, the subtle hissing of the leaves, A lone boulder like a sunken dreadnought, everything covered in golden sun rays.

Nature and life are alive all around me.

The green and blue earth provide us with so many magnificent wonders.

Sitting on my Porch (inspired by Mary Oliver) Richard Delahaye

Sitting on my porch, I feel the cool autumn breeze Looking at the trees, Decorated with green, orange, and yellow leaves Stretched out cotton balls in the air, smells of clean laundry and underwear The birds are singing their favorite song, days are getting shorter, nights are getting long Whatta beautiful day to be outside, looking over the mountains, while cars are flying by.

Departure

(for Mayakovsky) Chengrong Yang Tear off a piece of the old calendar!

A breath of fresh air Blowing in through the blinds Let's go!

Let's go to the field and the stream Like a naughty child To a day in the full bloom of madness, Let's go!

To the warm spring dust Tonight, how many rushed out in the distance?

Let's go!

As long as there is an aspiring life, You will not walk alone in the desert.

The Whispers of Trees Kylie Marshall

The wilderness is a release.

It frees us from the true nature of humanity, Cruel and cold.

If you truly listen, the trees whisper to you without speaking a word.

They whisper softly of years past, Before humanity’s touch.

-before the black haze emitted from factories.

-before the floating countries made trash.

They whisper to us, Softly pleading for help from fire, from deforestation, from extinction.

We are all that can save them.

And yet, we elect to keep consuming until there is nothing left.

The tree’s whispers grow softer Until they are eventually silenced.

In this silence, the true nature of humanity is revealed.

Marshall

Midnight Memories Anora Mahin

i drink in starshine as moonbeams drench the thick green carpet beneath my bare feetreminiscence mingles with the scent of regret floating by as the world envelops itself in nighttime nostalgiai think of the empty bottles, empty hearts, and empty minds that have thrown themselves to the surrounding darknesslast words, final promises, broken loves leave the breeze bitter in my mouth as i too breathe in the mistakes of the past, clinging to them as the dewdrops of early daybreak will to the slender blades of grassthe glow of hope faintly glimmers in my shadowed eyes as i gaze up at the sky, and it reflects to me the hidden beauty i yearn forpassion and pain fly together on the tattered wings of lost purpose, past my ears as they whisper the confessions they’d stolen from me, freeing what had been concealed by the safety and the certainty that daytime brings, and unfastened by these midnight memories.

Mirror Sky Moven Lai

When I stood on the seacoast, on that building The silent night with the cold wind blew.

I dreamt I saw eternal lights full over the sky.

But what I saw was darkness and despair.

Stars cloaked in mist.

Something had gone forever.

Strolling along the beach Stars are found in the sea.

Marshall