Lit by Design 2021

New Design High School's Literary Magazine

Lit By Design Vol. 2, No. 1 / 2020-2021

The Lit Team Kelly Shi (Managing Editor)

Kelly is a rising junior at New Design High School. She spends all of her time on school work but when she's free she likes to draw, watch anime, and sleep. She also has a major love for Pandas.

Fun Fact- She likes to sing!

Jasmine Sosa (PR/Marketing)

Jasmine is a rising junior at New Design High School. She likes to go on walks and cheer.

Fun Fact- I am currently reading I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou.

Ariful Ajmir (Editor)

Ariful is a rising sophomore and is usually on YouTube watching random videos. He likes to draw though he says, “I'm not good at it.” He watches anime like One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Black Clover.

Fun Fact- He hates hospitals and doctors because they take too long.

Travis Dizon (Editor)

Travis is a 17-year-old rising junior at New Design High School living in New York City.

He likes to write poetry, play violin, make bow ties, and loves fashion and dressing up.

Fun Fact- He has had brain surgery!

Denisse Valiente (Editor)

Denisse is a rising junior at New Design High School. She likes to draw and read.

Fun Fact- She has a big interest in cats!

First Semester Editors Bintou Diop, Eddie Chabla, Fernanda Da Silva, Alexis Morillo, Matthew Negron, Dianey Perez Serrano

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CONTENTS The Lit Team Masthead Alex Guzman The Fear of Death; The Hope for Life Fariha Chowdhury Inspired by “Fear” by Ciaran Carson Talia Thompson Colorism Lylah De Jesus Inspired by “Where Is My Self Love,” by Kiro Angel Velasco Cruz Her Sujeily Nuñez Around Him Cindy Macancela Who Am I Naeemah Mozumder Inspired by “For My Mother,” May Sarton Zaylee Humphrey Horror Geneysi Quezada It's Raining Somewhere Else...

Elizabeth Nazario Inspired by “Love Comes Quietly,” Robert Creeley Melody Coleman Regret Tehra Hamid Oasis Travis Dizon Firefly Imanie Vasquez The Halls Melody Coleman Obstacle in Life Eddie Chabla Glizzy Gladiator

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CONTENTS (continued) Brianne Anthony Ignorance Abigail Garcia Therefore Savannah Simpson Dick and Jane Chess Game Brianne Anthony Reflecting Angelina Elizabeth Colberg Friday Alex Guzman Striped Socks Alone at the Doctor's Office Jesus Ortega Deceitful Love Ayah Fahme The Red Mist Lil Richard Uncontrollable Deeds Carolina Sosa Keep Doing What You’re Doing Scissor Hand 8＜ Animal Dasia Young Love the One You're With Jibeh Fatty African Oxygen Jesus Ortega Expect the Unexpected Skylar Brown Liberosis Joslynn Flores 2 Photos Bryan Rivera Imperfection Dasia Young The World

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CONTENTS (continued) Yurico Juarez Little Body, Big Heart Sara Sofia Monroy Vargas 4 Photos Denisse Valiente Flourish Gia Shah Mystical Maybell Martinez Inspired by “Dreams,” Langston Hughes Nain Chiriboga The Power of One’s Voice Elizabeth Nazario Early Morning Snow Kitty Luther The Downpour Hillary Nunez Loneliness Hoy Yan Zyta Mak My Sister fathomcoast Stories Maybell Martinez Everyday Joselyn Tapia-Pena Memories Tehra Hamid Escapism Ariful Ajmir Sky Lights Contributors Contributor bios A Note of Thanks

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Alex Guzman The Fear of Death; The Hope for Life It's going to be my birthday soon I hope it'll be a happy one...seven I'm turning 17 you see And that's a whole different set of responsibility Not old enough to be an adult But too old to be a kid I've lived, 17 years of my life That brings me closer to death Heart beating out of my chest I hope Father Time will be kind He has no care for rights No concept of bad or good just day and night I guess that's why we all die So many people never reaching their full potential Youth...Life...Time is forever fleeting I hope I grasp it If not then that's tragic Detrimental to my state of mental I need to leave but I can't even pull a rental I know this feeble hope can feed But can it still support me way past 17, through 70 or 123 That's just 1 of the ways I feel Only 2 things to do, that is to Live not die, I think I get it...right But 3 things need to prosper, that is body, soul, and mind I hope I don't lose mine It would be pretty hard to find All so jumbled in a mess I just don't want to deal with stress You can end life but not death I hope there is a day where the opposite can be said with all my chest I wanna live forever Because I need way more time to enjoy my life Heaven knows I haven't really lived I hope paradise exists But there's not enough time to get into that or is it this I wanna live forever Because I'm scared of reaching the end of ever Are the things I do all for the better Sometimes I wish there was a never I'm scared of unsuccessful fails at failing failure Scared of standing wrong at the tailor's Scared of not being the best Scared of not getting a check on my test Scared of not getting enough rest But most of all I'm scared of death

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Fariha Chowdhury

Inspired by “Fear”, Ciaran Carson Lit by Design

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Talia Thompson Colorism “You're pretty for a dark-skinned girl!”

“You're so beautiful, what are you mixed with?”

“Wow… you're so articulate.”

These are all backhanded compliments and microaggressions that dark-skinned Black women constantly hear. These comments stem from colorism. Colorism is the term describing discrimination or prejudice against people with darker skin tones and the favoritism of people with lighter skin tones, usually among people of the same ethnic or racial group. Colorism has negatively impacted beauty standards in the black community because it influences the notion that lighter skin is better.

Colorism in the Black community first began during the enslavement of African-Americans. “Enslavers typically gave preferential treatment to enslaved people with fair complexions,” affirms writer Nadra Nittle. Dark-skinned slaves were forced to work in a plantation's fields while lighter skinned slaves performed domestic tasks.

Lighter-skinned slaves were favored because they were usually the product of a slave owner sexually assaulting a slave. “While enslavers didn't officially recognize their mixed-race children, they gave them privileges that dark-skinned enslaved people didn't enjoy” (Nittle). This caused enslaved people to view having lighter skin as an asset. William Wells Brown was a house slave whose father was a white plantation owner and his mother a Black slave mentions that as a house slave he received better treatment: "I was a house servant - a situation preferable to that of a field hand, as I was better fed, better clothed, and not obliged to rise at the ringing of the bell, but about half an hour after."

After slavery ended in the United States, colorism didn't disappear. In the 1900's, The Brown Paper Bag test was introduced to the African-American community. The 8

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Talia Thompson Colorism (continued) Brown Paper Bag test was used to determine if a Black person 'Passed' as being White or Black. In order to pass you had to either be the same color as the paper bag or lighter. If you passed you were still considered to be Black, but because your skin tone was lighter, you were able to have a better life than those who were darker than the paper bag. The Brown Paper Bag test was even used to determine if a person was allowed into a space or considered for hire.

Colorism has been systematically passed throughout African-American culture for generations. Colorism has implied that having lighter skin is associated with beauty and intelligence while darker skin is deemed as uneducated and undesirable. In today's society, women in the Black community with darker skin are mostly affected by colorism. Research shows that dark-skinned black women are less likely to get married than light-skinned black women. Dr. Margaret Hunter who teaches sociology at Oakland's Mills College and has studied the relationship between marriage says, “It's typical to see light-skinned Black women as representing beauty in the Black community and therefore being highly desirable for high-status spouses” (Brown).

Most successful Black men marry women who are either outside of their race or Black women that pass the Brown Paper Bag test. Black men marrying dark-skinned Black women isn't something that is seen often. On social media, Black men are constantly making posts that degrade dark-skinned Black women while praising light-skinned women. In an article called 'What You're Really Saying When You Call Black Women Undesirable' the author, who goes by the name Bih, mentions “Black men have unraveled pages worth of detailed misogynistic explanations about why we are deemed undesirable. We're too belligerent, too poor, too hungry (but we're golddiggers when we want a partner of a higher economic status), too ugly, too angry, too bitter, and just too much.” Unfortunately Black men are unable to recognize how wrong this is. “For Black men to acknowledge this would mean that they would have to acknowledge they Lit by Design

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Talia Thompson Colorism (continued) have internalized a racist/sexist bias and thus, also function as an oppressor” (Bih).

Many people will try to say that colorism doesn't exist by calling it preference.

Colorism and preference are similar but there is a clear reason why they are not the same. Preference simply means that you like one option more than you like the other. For example, a person may prefer to date tall people but that doesn't mean they completely dislike short people. Colorism on the other hand includes discrimination. So when people say that they only like light-skinned women and then proceed to downgrade or demean dark-skinned Black women to justify their preference, it's no longer a preference. It's colorism and it's wrong.

In the end, colorism has negatively impacted beauty standards in the Black community because it influences the notion that lighter skin is better. That isn't true. Having lighter skin doesn't make someone more intelligent, educated, or desirable than someone of a darker complexion. No one should receive more privilege or be better liked because of their skin tone. As a community we shouldn't allow European beauty standards to divide us and influence what we consider to be beautiful. All shades of melanin are beautiful.

Works Cited Bih. “What You're Really Saying When You Call Black Women Undesirable.” Medium, 04 August 2020, https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/what-youre-really-saying-when-you-call-b lack-women-undesirable-bdcfc94f5c51. Accessed 26 May 2021.

Brown, Ann. “Dark-Skinned Black Women In The US Marry Less Than Others. Is Colorism To Blame?” Moguldom, 02 May 2019, https://moguldom.com/195636/dark-skinned-black-women-in-the-us-marry-less-t han-others-is-colorism-to-blame/l. Accessed 26 May, 2021.

Nittle, Nadra. “The Roots of Colorism, or Skin Tone Discrimination.” Thoughtco, 28 February 2021, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-colorism-2834952. Accessed 25 May 2021. / https://spartacus-educational.com/USASbrownW.htm. Accessed 25 May 2021.

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Lylah De Jesus

Inspired by “Where Is My Self Love,” Kiro Lit by Design

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Angel Velasco Cruz Her I never knew what love felt like I thought it was random, just how it would disappear like a kite But when I first met her I never knew that she was filled with love that was soo pure That she would help me get to the path of light She would distract me Make me stay up overnight But when I'm with her I get filled with excitement She truly has brung happiness into my life Her soul is perfect So bright Every time I'm with her, I start to get butterflies I know we aren't perfect but what we have is nothing but true love People say love is complicated, stressful, overwhelming, exaggerating, annoying, and hard work But all of that doesn't matter when you find the right one And she is indeed the one I asked myself before Am I too young?

Am I ready?

Will I ever find love?

But I've never asked myself that ever again I learned what love truly is Ever since I met her 12

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Sujeily Nuñez Around Him The sun arises with its shining beam of light Tired as usual but delighted to see another day Getting ready to see that special someone The person that brings me more joy when I'm with them He is the one that brings me happiness Joy into my life every time I see him Love is beautiful once you find that person That person is him We are not perfect We try to be We all do But what matters most is what we feel for each other Others opinions does not matter when I'm with him The world has more color whenever I'm with him With every glare he gives me makes me the happiest person Happiness is truly found when you're with that special someone

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Cindy Macancela Who Am I Who am I I’m a strong girl that has a voice that everyone could here But wouldn't, Even if my voice is louder than a siren no one can hear me It always feels like my voice is getting trap like a roaring tiger in a cage, Who am I I'm a girl that is scared to walk alone in the night wondering what might happen to her, However I stand straight and walk in the night like a brave knight in a fairytale, Who am I I'm a girl that walks in fashion to look nice for herself but i'm not a girl that walks to impress anyone else YES I might be kind like a soft care bear, But once you make a bad move, Then the soft warm hearted bear Will fight back Like a mother bear ready to attack for her cubs?

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Naeemah Mozumder

Inspired by “For My Mother”, May Sarton Lit by Design

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Zaylee Humphrey Horror Fear itself can be scary.

Nothing more than the devil creating something that shouldn't be brought to earth.

Caught in a wave of heat as your body gets sweaty.

Now don't be petty, Pray to your god to let these demons out.

Never be afraid of something.

It's make believe.

Don't listen to the whispers, listen to your own voice.

Don't fear anyone or anything.

Geneysi Quezada

It's Raining Somewhere Else...

Rain is such a comforting feeling The soft yet heavy drops of water hitting your skin The feeling of getting soaked but brushing it off while Dancing and feeling alive for the first time in forever It's the best I love the rain It makes you feel like your in a movie with the happiest ending It's a feeling you could only experience there in that moment So you should enjoy it the most you can cause it'll pass soon But you can always smile and remember that it's raining Somewhere else in the world.

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Elizabeth Nazario

Inspired by “Love Comes Quietly,” Robert Creeley Lit by Design

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Melody Coleman Regret December 29, 2020 Today I lost you.

You were like my school sister. Marializ. You had long black hair, tall like me, and light skin like caramel. People would say we looked like sisters or cousins.

It's sad, honestly, the way you passed because it was not of natural causes. It hurts me that you would do something like that. I do regret not really talking to you during quarantine or saying what a good friend you really were when we were in school, how you helped me when I needed someone to talk to.

I want to say, “Thank you.” When I was in 8th grade and my sister was in 6th, we got into an argument because of the person she was dating ( I did not like him, he cheated on his other girlfriends). I was in After School and I made her cry. Of course I felt bad but I was still mad.

After about 10 minutes you came to me and said, “Yo, I just saw your sister crying.” I acted like I did not care because I was pissed off. “You know you're acting like a b*tch right now,” you said.

I knew that. I was happy that you said that to me because I needed someone to be honest with me.

You took your own life, but did you ever consider how selfish you were? Your dad found you and you left your family broken. You left all your friends and teachers hurt. You hurt me as well.

I do kinda feel like I should have done my part as your friend a little better so that maybe you could have told me more about your problems and how you felt.

Now, I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for letting me be myself around you.

I want to say thank you for helping me and my sister when we had that big argument at school. I want to say thank you for helping me with my friend issues and being able to have someone to talk to. I want to say thank you for just being a good friend.

You were one of my closest friends in school and I couldn't see that you were hurting and I never really asked if you were ok. So I do have regrets.

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I miss you so much.

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Tehra Hamid

Oasis Lit by Design

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Travis Dizon Firefly Fireflies, so ephemeral and weak, but it's shining with all its might, thump thump, like a heartbeat, that is the light of life.

The glow of a firefly shines so brightly during the night so fragile yet so beautiful, as the human heart.

Just like fireflies our lives are a miracle, to be able to feel pain, to be able to suffer, yet we still shine.

To be able to love and sympathize, shine!

In everything you do, Shine!

We only get one life and one chance, So shine with all your might!

Let all the light out of your heart and glow!

Imanie Vasquez The Halls

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So white and empty No one is glaring No one is judging At me with their eyes I like the quiet company of my presence Yet It feels like I'm sinking into a hole These school halls keep me from ever being noticed I don't have to be anyone Not pretty Or wild Or edgy Yet why do I feel like I want to get noticed It's as if a flower can't sprout without the sun I hope a hand will reach out and seek comfort in me As a warm touch seeps into my heart There I say I am noticed Lit by Design

Melody Coleman Obstacle in Life

I am like a vase, fragile and broken Pieces still broken And need repairing I am athletic as Serena William in a tennis match I can find myself drawing and painting some would say I'm artistic People take what they can get and take my nice personality as a advantage and try to use me I am not a puppet controlled by strings but a person who has feeling I used to be quiet, somewhat a rabbit eating carrots on a grassy field Some say I am tall as Mount Everest Or I am beautiful as a model And as smart as Einstein I am like a vase, still fragile and broken

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Eddie Chabla Glizzy Gladiator Many athletes do the unimaginable and break records that defy human comprehension. The greatest example is a beast of a man named Joey Chestnut.

He has accomplished feats that redefine the biological limits of humankind. He is also a 13-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion.

In 2019 Chestnut became known as “The Glizzy Gladiator” because he ate 71 hotdogs (glizzies) in under 10 minutes. He destroyed his opponents--the runner up only ate 50. Does this last championship make him the greatest athlete of all time?

To become competitive eating GOAT, Chestnut created a unique training method different from your typical sports athlete. Since he specializes in eating large amounts of food, he bites down on stress balls and lifts weights with his jaw to strengthen his bite, allowing him to consume all those glizzies. Joey knew he was destined for greatness. In an interview with ESPN.com, he said, "When I was in college, I'd eat healthy during the week, and as my reward, I'd just go home and eat everything in my mom's fridge.” When he was still living at home there'd be a whole week's worth of leftovers. He chowed down on everything in the fridge.“I'd just eat it all. I was an animal." Now, when he practices, he waits until the food has been digested. “I'll have one good day of protein, whether it's fish or turkey, maybe chicken. And then I go back and do a fast, where it's all liquid. It's a cleanse, pretty much, a two-day cleanse. And then when I'm at the weight I want and I know I'm empty, I can do another practice."

Some people would claim Chestnut has a food disorder, but he turned his compulsion into a high degree in the art of eating. In this period of his life he didn't know what he was capable of but somehow he started to turn himself into a champion. He is dedicated to his craft and practices different strategies to consume insane amounts of food. In one sitting he can consume what multiple people can in a day in just under 10 minutes.

Chestnut started his professional career in 2005, earning 3rd place at Nathan's famous contest. He began his reign as a world champion after 2007.

Year after year he breaks his own mark, eating so many glizzies it becomes more 22

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Eddie Chabla Glizzy Gladiator (continued) difficult to break his own record. In 2015 he was beaten by Matt Stone who ate 62 glizzies to Joey's 60. This left a scar on Joey's mind, knowing that someone beat him. Ever since then, his scores are in the 70's and he's won every contest.

Nothing can stop this man. Even during a pandemic he managed to beat his score and wolf down 75 glizzies in under 10 mins. He pushed forward and never gave up or let the pandemic consume his spirit like his other competitors. Darron Breeden finished second but only ate 42 glizzies during the 2020 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Championship. This cements Chestnut as the greatest athlete of all time due to his incredible dominance in his sport. And even before he became the Glizzy champion of the world, in 2006 he broke the record for eating the most jalapeno poppers --118 -- in under 10 minutes.

Now the bigger question is how he compares with the other athletes in the world in other sports. Is Chestnut the greatest? What makes him unique is how dominant he is in his sport. In the food-eating world he has multiple records to his name. For example, people say that the GOAT in basketball is either Michael Jordan or Lebron James, but there is no disagreement in the food eating world because we already know who the true champion is. He's only getting better and increasing the distance from his opponents due to his superiority in the sport. Michael Phelps realistically is the Joey Chestnut of Olympic swimming.

Chestnut no longer needs recognition from other competitors because he has transcended them and reached the level of deities. This being is capable of eating 32 Big Mac burgers from McDonald's in 38 minutes--that's 15.36 pounds of America's finest cuisine making him a true patriot and a symbol for our country. Compared to athletes in other sports, he is underrepresented in the media since he has no real competition due to his undeniable skill to gobble food.

Joey Chestnut is pushing boundaries by experimenting with human capabilities. He is becoming stronger every year and there is no limit to his eating powers. He's underrepresented in the sports world even though he competes as a real athlete. Competitive eating contests continue to grow but Chestnut is the champion. At this rate, he will never be beaten, which proves his dominance. At this year's Nathan Hot Dog Eating Contest he aims to eat 80 glizzies in under 10 minutes like it's natural. The GOAT lives on, breaking records that surely will become grander with age.

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Brianne Anthony

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Ignorance Lit by Design

Abigail Garcia Therefore

Therefore you and me All we do is yell you tell me so many mean things so why are we together I feel chained to you unable to ever escape you the grip you have on me hurts my wrist is so sore Leave me alone “I love you” then you hug me you give me everything I ask for I get your praise and undivided attention you tell me things you've never told me before sometimes I forget that you love me so much and then you're distant. and you leave. for a long time. it gets quiet. and you don't respond. and it leads to me to ask Why are we together?

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Savannah Simpson Dick and Jane Oh weeee ohh wooo Dick and Jane have found me boo hoo, But this time it’s different because this is my world where they don't fit in, Instead of being a free little pretty human they are now my experiment where I will dissect them into I understand every part of them that makes us so different Because I am beautiful just like them but for some reason I am neglected and seen as a dumb child, But if I am being honest their whiteness, their cleanliness, their perfect little lives are the most DISGUSTING THING I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE, I never hated something so much why do they fit in while I don't we are just a like just to different shades more black then white, One less with equity than an animal and less accepted in life, While I dissect these so called beautiful creatures I will figure out why they are beauty when beauty can be anything,

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I will prove to the world and those who wish to be white and have blue eyes that we are more beautiful than anything else in this whole world but for now the only thing I can do is learn by destroying this so called “beauty.”

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Savannah Simpson Chess Game Dick and Jane more like sick and blame, A society where you should be white to win in this game, While we black pieces just sit and be lame, Don't have to fit in to still be insane, Don't have to be boy crazy to be put in vain, Oh dick and jane dick and Jane this is your fault I am put in pain, Jane and dick and dick and Jane hope you found your dog in a dead lane, Who allowed you guys to make up society's dream life and for those who are only white, Do you not see those in the background who is hiding in the light, Waiting to be apart of something that isn't a fight, Maybe in the future there will no longer be just dick and Jane but a Nick and Rain, Someone who can help represent us in the future, Help us win this game not be the king but the queen where we have the power to make a change and maybe if the world is ready we can become the king where we can get protection and become the important piece in this game, So oh Dick and Jane get ready for a juice game because we came to win in this chess game.

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Brianne Anthony

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Reflecting Lit by Design

Angelina Elizabeth Colberg Friday Late nights are filled with lost thoughts Many thoughts crossed in my mind Overthinking is at unease “Am I Lost in my thoughts?”

“Am I Lost in my thoughts?”

Yes indeed I am a slight breeze that rushes through trees Calm and agile I am as silent as an empty road on a rainy night Magic! Magician's make objects disappear...

Call me a magician because my thoughts disappear Poof!

Poof!

Poof!

Now I may be lost like a tourist in New York But I am a BOLD young lady I can be much more BOLDER than the actual font!

Being bold taught me to stand out and not blend in And that's being UNIQUE! Bravery is in my blood I am the knight in shining armor The knight who is brave enough to slay the evil dragon The knight who slays the bad energy away!

But that's not the only thing in my blood When I open up to people Call me a clown because I am a goofy person But just because I am funny. Don't mean to take advantage!

I am as serious as a judge in a courtroom Oh you're mad that I am difficult?

Sorry to say but people made me this way!

Yes, I may be difficult to understand but... you just can't read me like a book I am a Rubik's cube It's hard to find a way to solve me It's hard being asked “who am I?” because truth is...

I'm still trying to figure it out!

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Alex Guzman Striped Socks The laundromat is the set destination A couple underwears in a fine box Desperation A pair of striped socks Destined to be together you could say However cursed to separate Or at least it seems so Cause every time they are apart the days just seem to be slow They are only right when side by side If you can't find the both of them Forget the Tide This pair is only getting washed together Or they will start a scandal like Martin and Coretta Usually out on one of the seats That's where they'll be They always get up Don't know how to get down Somehow the left ends up out of town It's an adventure to get the two together The type of bond you can not sever The type of bond that pulls neutrons and protons together The type of bond that seems to last forever

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Alex Guzman Alone at the Doctor's Office Sitting at the doctor's office Can't get my mind off of you Not that I really want to Reading clothes store magazines All the models have your presence Say we make a really good team Just being able to get in contact is a present When I'm near your aura I feel like a child Nearly got lost in my mind That would be difficult to find While the nurse checked my blood pressure I started thinking of you somewhere down the line I have a set image of you roller skating On the TV government officials were debating The birds outside Chirping and mating No matter how hard I try it don't get easier to say things Chairs lined in columns, rows or both You not here by my side is what I loathe

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Jesus Ortega

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Deceitful Love Lit by Design

Ayah Fahme The Red Mist

The red mist of her aura suffocates me Her horns, Her blood-red eyes, Her long black hair, Her red silky dress She comes for me She compels me with her bright blood red eyes “It's okay sweetie. Surrender to me. You won't feel the pain anymore” Touching my skin ever so softly “I can heal you.”

Her voice is as soft as a fluffy pillow and as calm as the sea on a sunny day Everything is spinning, it's all upside down I can't see or hear or breath, I am no longer here I become nothing “THE BITCH IS DEAD” she screams in ecstasy as I fade away Calmness spread through my body like a plague Now that I have risen no one shall hurt us again I have forged walls made of diamonds Although I am not the same I see leaves start to grow on my horns My dress turning into the lightest green My eyes are still a bright blood red I am new I have a soft gentle touch yet still deadly The red mist subsides and a purple mist grows around me As the world fades away, I become new Someone I do not yet know However, I am at peace As blue as the ocean As beautiful as the flowers in bloom I grow Lit by Design

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Lil Richard

Uncontrollable Deeds Deeds, you do them consciously Deeds can affect you badly I want to stop but can't Why? I know it's unhealthy, so then Why? I tell myself “this is the last chip” As I chew on the rough surface of one Do I go along?

Does my mind control my body?

Does my body control My mind?

Either way I know I'm doing something wrong But why can't I stop it?

Why can't I stop these DEEDS

Carolina Sosa

Keep Doing What You're Doing I wish I believed, I wish believed when you told me you believed in me. I wish I can see in me what you seen, when we talked last two things, you said, I love you. And no matter what keep doing what you doing. Keep doing what doing, whatever you do well keep doing it, you gotta keep it moving, gotta keep it moving, do what you do, keep doing what doing.

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Scissor Hand 8＜ Animal

Efforts to evolve, laughing animal world is too fake The ancestors have worn away their minions There must be a better way to fall in love and kill each other Compare it, who kneels down first Don't evolve, don't make the animal world too fake Love and kill each other, don't think of a better way Survival of the fittest, self-licking scar Pretending to evolve, desperately trying to be different from animals Play a noble and elegant Under people's decayed desire Animality too late to kill Forget it, don't bother to struggle Humans use sand to squeeze out the tower to heaven in the dream For greed at all costs Riding an expensive Trojan horse The nests are stacked one after another In the end, but naked Don't be afraid, we are all alone

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Dasia Young

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Love the One You're With Lit by Design

Jibeh Fatty African Oxygen I COME FROM A FOREIGN LAND CALLED AFRICA A BELIEVER OF THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH I WILL NEVER IDENTIFY AS AN AMERICAN ONLY TO FORGET MY ROOTS LONG SPARKLY BOOTS THAT ROSE HIGH TO MY THICK THIGHS BEING TOLD THAT MY PRETTY CURLS WERE NOT IN STYLE MAMMA SPLASHED PAINFUL PERM INTO MY SCALP CHEMICALS BURNING MY BLIND EYES WHAT A DISGRACE JUST SO OTHER KIDS WOULD BE PLEASED BY STRAIGHTENED STRANDS Just so the public eye wouldn't deny - WHAT THEY CALL ME, “an African booty scratcher” MY BEAUTIFUL CURLS DAMAGED ROOTS DAMAGED ENDS DAMAGED MY MENTALITY WAS DAMAGED THE WORLD PERCEIVES US BLACK WOMEN AS INFERIOR SPECIES WHILE LIGHT SKIN WOMEN ARE TREATED AS IF THEY ARE SUPERIOR BEINGS We are tired of being manipulated WE ARE TIRED OF BEING MANIPULATED TO Destroy our skin cells, And follow the latest trends WE ARE TIRED OF BEING MANIPULATED TO To hate our culture, and be ashamed of who we are Because who we are are Mathematicians, teachers, activist, doctors, dancers, singers, POETS, ATHLETES, rappers, actors, BEING black is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I am proud to be a black woman.

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Jesus Ortega Expected the Unexpected Ever since I was a little kid, driving a car was one of my biggest dreams. I always begged my dad to let me get behind the wheel but he wouldn't let me. I understood that I couldn't because of my age but I was still desperate. Although I couldn't legally drive, that didn't stop me from learning. I would always pay close attention when my father would drive me places and memorize all of the signs we passed. Learning what I could at my age about driving made me mentally prepared. I knew when the time came, I was going to be a great driver and make my father proud.

I was fifteen when my dad finally allowed me to drive his car short distances. I was surprised because I wasn't old enough to obtain a permit but I wasn't complaining. He let me park his car in his garage, drive him places when he had errands to run, and let me drive from his house to mine which is about seven to ten minutes. Each time, my dad taught me the right way to drive. He was hard on me at first, but I know he meant well. I did okay the first time I drove in the streets with other cars, but I still had a lot to learn.

While I was driving my dad would say, “What are you doing?!” or “You don't know what your left or right is?!” or “Are you blind?! Can't you read the signs?!”

I have absolute respect for my dad, but when he raises his voice at me my body trembles in fear. I do everything in my power to avoid my father getting any bit angry with me, but I always fail to do so. Sometimes I ponder if I'm a terrible son or if I deserve to have a father like the one I have. All my life my dad has put more focus on my substandard acts and I don't feel worthy of him anymore. I've had to learn how to block my father's negative remarks towards me and accept him for who he is.

Although my dad would sometimes act unpleasantly in the car, that didn't stop him from letting me drive. One day, I had a baseball game in Long Island, about an hour away from my house. There was a parking lot and after the game my father gave me the car keys to go get the car. When I pulled it over to where my father stood, I was prepared to get out of the car so he could drive back home but my dad casually got in on the passenger side.

“Go on. Drive this way,” my dad insisted.

“Okay,” I replied, as if I didn't know we were an hour away from my house.

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Jesus Ortega Expected the Unexpected (continued) I was still prepared to get out of the car before I entered the highway because I had never driven on a highway before. Since I didn't have a permit, I didn't think my dad would risk me getting pulled over by the cops.

“Stay in the right lane and take the exit that says New York City,” my father said.

I nodded my head. Not only was I surprised I was going to take a highway for the first time, but I wasn't scared. I merged into the middle lane where cars usually drive when they're not in a rush, and drove sixty to sixty-five miles an hour. I assumed going three times faster than the speed at which I normally drove was going to be frightening but, on the contrary, every other car was blowing by me and it didn't feel like I was going fast.

I looked at my GPS and it said I had twenty minutes to arrive at my destination. I couldn't begin to fathom the fact I've been driving for forty minutes. To be honest, it didn't even feel like forty minutes. I was so comfortable and relaxed every second of the way I didn't bother looking at the time. I wanted to keep on driving until I reached the horizon.

Finally, we arrived home. I felt like I did an excellent job driving on the highway but hearing it from myself wasn't enough. I wanted to hear it from my father as soon as I parked the car in his garage. Unfortunately my father got out of the car quietly. On the way home, he was critiquing my driving ability as if my experience at driving was the same as his. I thought since my dad and I made it home in one piece I would get a “Good job son,” or at least a “You did well but you still need to work on a couple of things.” But he remained silent like he always does.

I wasn't raised with my father. I was raised with my mother and three sisters. I would see my dad on weekends, but sometimes I wouldn't. The times I would spend with him I only had one thing in mind, making my father proud. He always had high expectations for me which made it hard to please him. One thing I'm certain is I always did everything in my power to be the best son I could be. It pained me listening to my dad point out my defects when I tried my best to satisfy him.

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Jesus Ortega Expected the Unexpected (continued) This situation has carried on my whole life. I had to get used to the way my father conducted himself with me. I know I'm not the perfect son that he desired but he should recognize that I'm just as human as he is. The same way he can freely point out my imperfections, is the very same way he can encourage and inspire me during my exemplary moments.

Although I didn't get the motivation from my father that I needed, the day I put my hands on the wheel for the first time and got on the highway, was the beginning of something new. Something that I still use to get my thoughts together. Driving is an amazing way for me to forget about things happening in the real world. It helps me enjoy the moment I'm living, gives me purpose, and makes me content with myself.

Photo by Sara Sofia Monroy Vargas

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Skylar Brown Liberosis A taste of freedom The smell of rain, Raindrops dripping down onto My own window of a birdcage That was never even there, A key that was never found by my own contorted Monster.

A peace of mind that has been lost For 7 dreadful winters.

A child looking onto another side of the mirror, Finding what she looks like in the future.

Only to find out That she needed to be Freed.

She just wants a taste of Liberosis.

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Joslynn Flores

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2 Photos Lit by Design

Bryan Rivera Imperfection

Humans commit a lot of sins, but that's why we aren't perfect We are the babies in this small world we inhabit I'm lazy and weak Like a Sloth hanging out in a tree I give up easily and I know this yet I don't do anything Hypocrisy and Pride is what we all do or did The seeds that gave birth to Hate Some hate more than others some more obvious and others more subtle But with all the bad comes good Intelligence, Creativity, the ability to sympathize and connect with each other.

We may be hopeless now but we might be able to fix that by helping each other in any way possible.

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Dasia Young

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The World Lit by Design

Yurico Juarez

Little Body, Big Heart I am pale as the snow that falls in December.

I am fragile like one of the porcelain doll in your grandma's collection.

I imagine what's it like shining bright like the sun that beams on your eyes on Fourth of July.

The faucet in my eyes turn when things go bad .

If they do I scream as if it were a scary movie.

Half of the time I'm drowning in a sea of sadness .

You'll barely see me fishing for compliments.

The only thing that's keeping me going is that maybe one day I'll be on the wall of fame.

But until then, my face will remain pale as the snow that falls in December.

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Sara Sofia Monroy Vargas

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4 Photos Lit by Design

Denisse Valiente Flourish

Hope can spring from life fruitful beginnings in us a season of growth Eternal noon sky sweet hope cultivates through time future reflection The past flows away fluttering the way wind blows everything changes

“Mystical” Created by Gia Shah Lit by Design

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Maybell Martinez

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Inspired by “Dreams,” Langston Hughes Lit by Design

Nain Chiriboga

The Power of One’s Voice We all have a voice.

The voice that we have been given is quite unique to the human being.

By having a voice you can communicate with others and understand what others are saying.

But how much is it worth having a voice?

Any and all voices should be important no matter what.

The one that speaks has the light and those that listen are those that see the light and speak of the light.

So don't be scared to show the light to others.

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Elizabeth Nazario Early Morning Snow In my winter bed Blankets of white snow Why am I still cold?

Kitty Luther The Downpour The rain came today.

“It's a thirty percent chance.”

I yearned seventy.

Hillary Nunez Loneliness

Unwanted thoughts in a dark room where an older sad child cries, self betrayed.

Hoy Yan Zyta Mak My Sister My younger sister smiles like the sweetest candy which lights up my day 50

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fathomcoast Stories Stories you tell everyone Stories you tell to your friends Stories you don't tell to anyone

Maybell Martinez Everyday

Feels like I'm falling Knowing no one will catch me But I'm used to pain

Joselyn Tapia-Pena Memories Memories don't fade Broken friendships are lessons Grateful and special Lit by Design

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Tehra Hamid Escapism dragons as powerful as divine beings sword fighting alongsidemagic as limitless as the void ancient ruinsdungeons so dangerous it's a miracle you survive and gods, watching, eyes rotten with insolence. the possibilities are endless. which world shall I choose this time? a countryside village brimming with charm even as the overbearing sun lays to rest the moon embraces the land with her elegant beauty I feel comfort or the bustling capital? the giant castle you can see from the port it competes against the arrogant sun gallantly scraping the sky, it's a sword so sharp, colored with the blood of royalty. an ancient ruin, as old as the surrounding universe. nothing but dust awaits, how boring. a mountain-side temple what awaits me there? shrines, so life-like it's as if they're alive. is there a god waiting to meet me?

I don't care. what would there be to even say to a god?

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is there any relevance to what a deity might say?

I'll hide from the thoughts that are dragged along. escaping Lit by Design

Ariful Ajmir

Sky Lights Lit by Design

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CONTRIBUTORS Brianne Anthony: She is a graduating senior in the class of 2021.

Skylar Brown: Skylar is an 11th grade student. She says about her poem “Liberosis”: “It was 5:30 in the morning. Early February. I was struggling with my depression and had been trying to cry everything out. That’s when a light bulb struck into my head. I wrote a poem about it. The message here is that all I’m trying to do is free myself and heal my mental health.”

Nain Chiriboga: “I’m a 15- year-old-boy who wants to adventure across the globe and can't wait for the future. I made this piece because it was my last English project of the year.”

Fariha Chowdhury: (she/her) “I created a comic.” Fariha is an upcoming junior and she is currently working on a comic called Survive which is still in development so stay tuned for updates!

Angelina Elizabeth Colberg: Angie is a freshman at NDHS. Her poem was inspired by Juice WRLD, may he S.I.P. She says, “His songs are mostly about him fighting his inner demons and finding his true self, which is a long process. Many people can relate to staying up late at night just letting their thoughts taking over their emotions. Some people are trying to figure out who are they and what's not them.” She is trying to tell young teens that it's okay to not know who you are as of yet. Just take it one day at a time!

Melody Coleman: Melody is a rising sophomore at New Design. “My piece 'Regret' was written to say goodbye and thank you to my friend.”

Travis Dizon: My name is Travis Dizon. I am 17 years old and a rising junior. I aspire to be someone who brightens the days of others, my pronouns are he/him. I love spreading kindness and positivity through the magic of words and poetry. One day the Lit by Design team has asked me to submit a work I would like to share. The message of “Firefly” is all about embracing life with both arms, in hardship and joy, be grateful for the gift and magic of experiencing life.

Ayah Fahme: “My name is Ayah, I'm 16 and my pronouns are she/her. My poem was an assignment we had to do. I chose the topic of growth. I wanted this poem to show that growth isn't easy, and sometimes it will be painful but once you allow yourself to grow you become even stronger and more beautiful.”

Jibeh Fatty: “My name is Jibeh. I am a West-African born in Gambia. I have 12 siblings, and I'm the middle child. I love making short films and editing because I am a creative person and it is one of the ways that I express my art. I also love dancing, singing, and being a student activist.”

Joslynn Flores: A young rising 10th grader, her mind is always wandering so she often observes things and their details. Because she can't always draw what she feels or thinks, she grabs a camera and quickly conceals whatever it was that reflected herself in that moment. Her inspiration happens to be music and her emotions. For these photos, she was fascinated by how the lights reflected off of the glitter. She also started writing and learning Korean with the hope of traveling to Korea and other parts of the world with a friend who's always encouraging her.

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CONTRIBUTORS Abigail Garcia: “I'm a high school kid who had internet access way too early on and a not so nice upbringing. I'm just preaching what I know. I made “Therefore” because I think it's important that teenagers are aware of what are examples of unhealthy relationships are early on to prevent us from getting into dangerous situations. It's okay to be hurt, we need to make it known that being in those types of relationships isn't okay.”

Alex Guzman: He is a rising senior. Of his poem on p. 31 he says, “I was inspired to make this poem because of a relationship that I am no longer in and boredom in the doctor's office. I truly was in the doctor's office when writing this. This poem was written a while back, around a year to a year and some months ago.”

Tehra Hamid: About her art work “Oasis”: “What inspired me to make this piece was my love for personifying natural elements as gods and deities. I'm trying to convey an oasis through this art piece with the sand-colored skin, running water and, plant life.''

Scissor Hand 8＜: A rising junior, he says, “This poem talks about human nature in a distorted view of love.”

Zaylee Humphrey: “Hi, I'm Zaylee, I'm in 10th grade and my pronouns are they/them! I created my poem because I have many fears like everyone around the world and my mom always told me that the Devil created fear and to never be scared.''

Kitty Luther: I am a 15-year-old girl living in Brooklyn, New York, who likes to skateboard and write all day long.

Cindy Macancela: Cindy is a rising sophomore at New Design High School.

Sara Sofia Mornoy Vargas: Sara is a rising sophomore at New Design High School.

Hillary Nunez: Hillary is a rising junior at New Design High School.

Sujeily Nuñez: “I am a 16-year-old girl who is working hard to pursue my upcoming goals. My pronouns are she/her.''

Jesus Ortega: He is a graduating senior in the class of 2021.

Geneysi Quezada: I'm a female that's in 10th grade I really enjoy being creative and reflecting myself onto whatever I work on. I made it for my final assignment for ELA.'' Lil Richard: He’s a rising junior. He says, “I'm a student that needs more sleep. It was hw.''

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CONTRIBUTORS Bryan Rivera: “I necessarily like having friends to play or have fun with, but I don't necessarily try to go out of my way to get any. But since the pandemic it's gotten easier in a way since I can become anonymous to people around me. My hobbies are drawing, playing games, and writing. The inspiration behind the poem was my personal experience and thoughts of how I see everyone superficially as a community. I have been having negative thoughts because of the stigma of our society and of my impurities, but I've seen people do the relatively good things I mentioned in the poem. So I mixed those thoughts and wanted to be optimistic of our future.''

Gia Shah: (she/her) “I'm an outgoing extrovert that loves hanging out with friends and making people smile! I wanted to work on new colors as well as just experiment with new or strange body features like the neck on this specific piece since it stands out. Also, I decided to add flowers on the drawing since it would feel more 'mystical' especially with the curly hair.''

Carolina Sosa: (she/her) “Well there's nothing much to say about me except that we all have different stories coming from a person. My life has been mainly revolved around my house hold and why I am the way I am but that's just about that. I created this piece because everything I've said is actually a story behind it that's based on a true event. It means a lot to me every single word that I wrote down does as well.''

Talia Thompson: (she/her) “I am first generation American and my parents are from a country called Guyana. Since middle school I have been interested in writing about social justice. I created this piece because “colorism” is something that has been negatively impacting the black community for generations. I have personally experienced “colorism” and when writing this piece I had been seeing a lot of colorism on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. It was important to me that I write this piece to inform others about colorism and its effects.''

Denisse Valiente: “I go by any pronouns, and I'm someone that likes to express myself through various forms of art. This was an English assignment, we were given the opportunity to create poems. I chose the haiku format since they're very impactful in their own way.''

Imanie Vasquez: “I'm a 17-year-old Latina girl who just wants to spread love and kindness to people. I created this peace to show readers an insight of what it is like to be introverted and not a outgoing person. To lend a hand to someone who is broken.''

Angel Velasco: “I'm just a 15-year-old kid wishing for the best in life.''

Dasia Young: She is a graduating senior in the class of 2021.

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Mission Statement Lit by Design, founded in 2019, is an online and in-print literary magazine run and operated by the talented students of New Design High School. Lit by Design is dedicated to introducing teenagers to the world of writing, publishing, interviewing, reviewing, editing, and designing, whether it be slides, websites, or magazines. We hope to entertain readers like you with the best work from 2020-2021 by NDHS students. We thank all contributors and the many talented artists and writers who did submit work, but for a variety of reasons could not appear in these pages.

Thank You! We hope you had a great time reading!

This issue of Lit by Design would not be possible without the help of New Design's ELA teachers: Brett Burns, Darren Chase, John Chiaravalloti, Tori Chirafisi, Marlene Godoy, John Istel, Alexa Lee, Laura Madera, Rachel Posner, Ranesha Singh, Caitlin Thomson and Design teachers: Charity Lord, Nicolle Minaya, Dave Vranich, Julie Zenobi, along with the help of Claire Butler, JoanAnn Chovnick, and the rest of the NDHS staff!

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The Literary Magazine of New Design High School 350 Grand Street, 4th floor New York, NY 10002 Scott Conti, Principal John Istel, Faculty Advisor