Calliope 2025 by Marianapolis

MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

FacultyAdvisors:Mrs.Conley,Mr.Nalbandian&Mrs.Tata

EditorsinChief:LaurenGingo’25&SophiaWildes’25

Marketing&Communications:LuisaHenao’25

WritingEditor:TianaChahine’26

VisualArtsEditor:ReganBenedict’25

LayoutandDesign:CaitlinDiaz’25

AdditionalClubMember(s):JeenaAnnKidambi’28

Contributors:

ReganBenedict’25

MwewaChiwaya’25

Pin-YenChu’25

CaitlinDiaz’25

LaurenGingo’25

LuisaHenao’25

MadelineJoyce’25

NorahLarson’25

ThiLe’25

MarkoMilacic’25

NhuXuanNguyen’25

AshNichols’25

DunjaRadukic’25

SophiaWildes’25

LelinChen’27

XiruiWang’27

HwakyungKang’27

GabriellaCote’28

KyrahGingo’28

Mr.DavidDiCicco

Coverphotoby:LaurenGingo’25

Backphotoby:LuisaHenao’25

Letter from the Editors

DearReader,

Welcometothisyear’seditionofCalliope.Itiswithgreatexcitementthat wepresenttoyouthiscaptivatingcollectionofworks,showcasingthemany talentsandimaginationsthatmakeupourMarianapoliscommunity.

Calliope,themuseofpoetryandeloquence,remindsusthatartisnever createdorcelebratedalone.Itisabridgeconnectingtheartistandthe observer:theindividualandthecommunity.

Throughoutthisschoolyear,we’vecarriedthethemeofunity,notjustas somethingtocheckoffalist,butasaninvitationtoleanin,tolistenmore closely,andtoseethepowerinstandingsidebyside.ThiseditionofCalliope encapsulatesthatspiritwholly.Eachpoem,painting,andphotographoffersa glimpseintoauniquevoiceandvision.Butwhenplacedtogether,they becomesomethingmuchbigger:asharedstoryofwhoweare,anda celebrationofwhatwecancreatewhenwecometogetherasone.

Thankyoutoallwhocontributedtoandsupportedthispublication.We hopethatthesepageswillinspireyoutocontinueseekingthebeautyall around,tocontinuetellingyourstory,andtocontinuetobuildunity,both withinandbeyondMarianapolis.

Asthisyear’stheme wasunity,we’dlike todedicateaspecial pagetotheunityart contestwinner, KyrahGingo,for herartwork representingunity atMarianapolis. Eachofherpieces holdsaspecial meaning,andwe applaudherwork!

ArtContest Winner:Kyrah Gingo’28

WRITING SUBMISSIONS

Marko Milacic ’ 25

KindestpersonI’vemetsofaratMarianapolis

Helpfulsincedayone,withthingsweshoulddooravoid doing

Absolutesunshine,eachandeverydaybringsjoyto someone

Literalhooper,hashisownfunandbullieshisdefenders

Eternallygratefulformeetinghimalongtheway

Barbados,couldn’tleaveitout,it'sabsolutelywhatmakes himwhoheis

Concrete poem: Blue by Billie Eilish

Caitlin Diaz ’ 25

Désolé, Cage Mon, A Amour In I’m Bird Trying A My Overseas Best, Still Don’t I’m Know Mind What’s My In Of Store Back Open The Up In The Door Thought I Sleep ’Bout Three You Were Made For Me I Try To Hours Each Night Live In Black In White But I’m So Blue Means Only 21 A Week

Spiders vs Monster

Lauren Gingo ’25

I feel like a monster.

I knocked a spider off My window

And he did nothing

But exist.

Mr. Spider

Lauren Gingo ’25

I watched a spider fall Into a vent.

I thought he had taken his very last Breath. I shed a few tears For this poor ugly bug, Only to find out he survived, Oh, what luck!

Luisa Henao ’25

Thi Le ’ 25

Helooksintohereyes

“Don’tlie”hewhispers

Glitterhithiseyes

Astheymeethers.

Ohhowglamorousthegalaxy

Althoughtragedyiswarned Warstoreherapart

Buttheywillnotbethelast.

Ocean

Drowningheragain

Flatteringdreams,childhoodones

Schemes,youcouldtellfromthestart.

But whatifallwerearts?

Asifpartsofherwerewars

Theonesneverfought

Thi Le ’ 25

Afternoon

Lelin Chen ’27

Yes,Iloveyouwithartandwithpoetry Witheverybreezethatpassesby WitheverywordthatIwrite Ipictureyoubeingmine.

Yes,Iloveyouwithtrustandaffection Withprotectionandwithpromises Foryou,Icanbehonest Foryou,I’matmycalmest.

Yes,IloveyoulikeIlovethisseason Forasimplereasonthatwemet.

Thi Le ’ 25

Maybeit’llhurtless

IfIdidn’tmissyouthismuch Maybethosecutswillheal

Ifmyfeelingsarelittle Lovecomeslikeawhistle Soswiftandsogentle

Theycalledmemental Sincemyloveforyoustayedstrong Blueeyes,longingforyourtouch Fluttered,myheartwhenit’syou.

Ifoursoulsaren’ttouched Thenwhyareoceansfillingupmyeyes? Thosetidescrushmyspiriteverynight WitheverylieIpaintwithmyself Apartofmebreaks.

You’veseenthemost Thehighsandlows Thecoldestofmynights Andthebrightestofmydays Somehow,youchosetostay?

Maybeit’llhurtless

IfIdidn’tmissyouthismuch ThoughhowamIsupposedtokeepmyeyesshut Whensoneardoesthesunrise? Fear,Ibecomeofthesunshine Sowarm,andtheblindinglights

Caressmybeautylikenoothercould Leavingtraces,itshould

Pushmeontoedges

Ididn’tknowexisted Slowly,dropletsfrommywindows

Rolldown

Touchingtheground

Again,streamsoflightpouredintothathouse

Lititupforeternity “Worthy,isn’tit?”

Idon’tknow.

Eyeball Sketch

Lauren Gingo ’25

Heading Towards the Next Chapter

Luisa Henao ’25

Itisgettingclosertotheend

Thereisnolongerabilitytopretend SomethingI’vebeenlookingforwardto AndsomethingIworkedhardforfouryearstodo Senioryearflewby ThereisagoodchanceIwillcry WhenIsaygoodbyetomyteachersandfriends

AsIheadtowardsthenextchapter,asmytimeinhighschoolends Graduatingsoundssoexciting

AsIleavemymemoriesinwriting

Delighted,tohaveexperiencedthethingsIdid Andclosingthosethingsinajarwithalid Iamgrowingeachandeveryday ButstillrememberthosedaysIwouldjustplay Iamgoingtoneedtobecomeanadapter

AsIheadtowardsthenextchapter

Pink

-Xirui Wang ’27

Thi Le ’ 25

"To err is human," that's what I always hear from people around me - my mom, my friends, and my teachers. Usually, I pay little attention to the quote as I'm proud of my ability to fully understand and convey its meaning. Forgiving is always easy enough for me, yet a specific situation made me rethink, not the quote itself, but rather the aftermath - the consequences that made my mind twist and twirl.

It is more than common for people to fall in love and then fall out of it, especially teenagers, and I am not an exception. As love brings lots of positive feelings, people love being in love, and typically, they hate falling out of it. But nothing can last forever, particularly teenage love. My naive mind thought that my heart was shattered, too broken to fall in love again, and that my memories with him were irreplaceable. For days, my Instagram search history was nothing but his accounts, my phone's gallery full of our old photos, and my diaries - his name engraved on countless pages.

Where time goes, it heals. I was going out with my friends one day when I caught a glimpse of a nearby bookstore. As a bookworm, I squealed and dragged my friends into the world of magic and knowledge. While they were sitting in the corner, bored to their bones, I meandered through the shelves and found a well-known book named "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," written about relationships and how men and women experience them differently. Without a second thought, I purchased the book. The more I read it, the more I realized how my failed relationship was the perfect illustration of men being men and women being women in a relationship. I have nearly finished the book now, and as the number of pages left reduced, my mind was finally at ease.

Embrace. I learned how to forgive him because we were both young and dumb. Every moment, every fight, every argument we got ourselves into, even the tears I shed after that, they all acted as a lesson for me. I give up trying to forget those ugly memories, but I look back at them, admiring their beauty as my experience with first love wasn't perfect for the definition of "love," but it's perfect in its own way because when it left, it left me with lessons.

Sunsets

Pin-Yen Chu ’25

It has always started the same way, With the sky resting her chiffon in different blues, Onto the blazing sun.

She hugs the sun to sleep, In the softest way possible, Until the very last bit of sunspots, Sink into the gentle cradle of the horizon.

Far away and quiescent, The night sky fully appears before me.

In her silence, She sentenced, The day to come to the end.

The Ball as a Passport

Marko Milacic ’ 25

The gym smelled like dust, and I could hear the sound of sneakers on the floor. It was a sound I knew very well. Even though I was far from home, holding a basketball felt familiar. People around me spoke a language I didn’t understand, but that didn’t matter. On the court, we didn’t need to speak. Basketball was the language we all understood.

To me, basketball is more than a sport. It helps me meet new people, learn about different cultures, and find new chances in life. A simple ball has helped me connect with others in ways I never thought possible. Basketball has taken me to new places and given me great memories.

In Serbia, where I grew up, basketball is a big part of our life. I remember playing on broken courts with my friends, dreaming of becoming like Jokić or Divac. It didn’t matter where someone came from. What mattered was how they played. Those moments taught me that basketball can bring people together, no matter who they are.

The first time I played outside Serbia was in Greece. Everything was different; the food, the language, even the game. I didn’t feel like I fit in at first. But once I got on the court, I felt better. My game spoke for me. My new teammates respected me, and soon, we became friends. They taught me Greek words, invited me to eat with them, and helped me feel welcome. Basketball made me feel like I belonged.

Now, as an international student, basketball is still how I connect with the world. I’ve played with people who spoke many different languages, but we all understood the game. Every pass and play helped us trust each other, even without words. Basketball made us a team.

This sport has opened many doors for me. I’ve played in new places, met great coaches, and made friends from around the world. Basketball taught me more than how to play. It taught me how to work with others, be respectful, and stay strong during hard times. These are things I use every day, not just in games.

Playing in different countries also showed me how basketball can feel the same but also different.

The rules are the same, but every country has its own style. In Greece, the game was fast and aggressive. In other places, it was more about thinking and teamwork. Every new place taught me something, not just about basketball, but about people.

When I think about my journey, I see how much basketball has given me. Every court feels like a stamp in my passport. The sound of the ball bouncing reminds me that this game is played everywhere. It helps me feel at home no matter where I go. Basketball connects people and makes the world feel smaller.

I’ll always remember what this game gave me. From those small courts in Serbia to big tournaments far from home, basketball has been with me the whole way. It’s more than a sport. It’s how I connect, grow, and learn about the world.

The Secret

Luisa Henao ’ 25

I can't hold it in any longer. My head hurts even from just thinking about it. Tears would blind my vision if I bring this secret back to life. I bury it deep into the ground. It's a heavy weight I have to carry. The only way this weight will disappear is if I told someone else. I believe that this secret shouldn't be spread, because of the devastation it will bring. Therefore, I will have to carry this burden, as long as I live

This secret is like a tattoo, permanently imprinted into my skin This tattoo needs to be removed by telling someone, but I cannot. I physically and mentally cannot. All of a sudden, something flew by me. It was a gust of wind that made the hairs on my skin stand up. A shiver down my spine made me shake a little as I looked around for what could have caused this. A subtle light appeared in front of me with no distinct figure. All it said was to 'tell everyone.' It disappeared, with no explanation. Tell everyone? Tell everyone THE secret? The DEVASTATING secret? No. I cannot. I feel that shiver down my spine again. This time it made me tremble. Is this a sign that I need to...tell everyone? Tell everyone that the world is about to end?! No human can save us, there is no hope. This is fate.

I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have touched it. I shouldn't have experienced the paranormal world that gave me this answer, this secret. Why me? The gust of wind made my head turn towards the crowd in which I had to speak to. This crowd had about thousands of powerful people around the world. I have to tell everyone. I go up to the stand and adjust the microphone and clear my throat. Everyone is staring, oblivion in their eyes. I stood there for 30 seconds not saying a word. I turned to the side, seeing the host about to bring someone else to speak. I whip my head forward and with the most terrified voice I said, we are all going to die. All of a sudden the power went out, and a huge blast occurred Then there was nothing Nothing except that light figure in the middle of all the destruction

Thi Le ’ 25

Itcomeslikeawhistle Soswiftandsogentle Candles,mesmerizing Oureyeswhilewearefantasizing. Chilly,theairasthesunsets Therearefestivalsallaround ThoughIcouldn'tcareless Whenthere’syoursound. Caressmyhair Asfifteenflaresbrightenthenight Mymind,boundtoyourbeauty Alwaysamysterytomankind.

“Whoputyousohigh?”Iwonder Whileyourpiecesscattered Westayedtogether,allasone Forsomedistance,theycouldn'tseparate. “Diamondofthesky,”theysaid Butalltheknights’bladescouldn’t Brightenupmyeyesasbrightastheydid Tonight.

Unapologetically Me Caitlin Diaz ’25

=I am a beautiful blend of Irish roots and the vibrant pulse of Puerto Rico

I am a child of lively music and also slow soulful expression

I am shaped by the flavors of potatoes in all forms and the savory blend of paella

I speak English fluently, though some echoes of my past Spanish fluency shows through

I love the powerful rhythms of hip hop, the infectious beat of salsa, and some good RnB

I also find joy in the many cultures that my friends share with me through food and games

In my free time, I enjoy playing lacrosse, volleyball, and attending dance classes

On the field, I am a focused and aggressive defender

On the court, I am a hard hitter

On the stage, I am a charismatic performer

My academic vigor comes from my mom, my passion for perfection comes from my dad

I am a bridge between the hardships my parents endured when they got together

I am a reminder of all of their accomplishments

I am a sister, an aunt, and a friend

I am a sassy woman with a really big heart

I am the first person to say what is on their mind and I am not sorry for that

But, I am also the first person to lock up my vulnerabilities until I burst

I have a spark that can ignite energy into a room I have a strong unbreakable spirit, no limitations, no conditions

I am unapologetically me

Luisa Henao ’ 25

WINTER

Keyuan Zhang ’ 25

Wind raises fluffy snow

Inside the house we meet

Not a big day

Together only for hot pot

Eased in white steam

Realizing daily bliss

ART SUBMISSIONS

Lauren Gingo ’

Dunja Radukic ’ 25

Embrace Hwakyung Kang ’27

The title of this artwork is "Embrace." An embrace is an expression of love for oneself and others just as they are. In a society where disdain for others has become commonplace, I wanted to convey the beauty of unconditional love for humanity itself.

The green and blue circle at the center of the artwork represents the Earth. Within that circle, two figures of different sizes, shapes, and skin tones embrace each other, symbolizing unconditional love and acceptance.

The red background represents the flow of human time toward its inevitable end. In this fleeting time, I sought to depict a beautiful Earth where people embrace each other unconditionally.