FALL 2024 EXCELSIOR FALL 2024
A journey is never just about the miles traveled. It’s the quiet ache of loss. The spark of discovery. The twist in the road you never saw coming.
This issue is a map. Not with neat lines and printed labels. The stories, are waypoints. Breadcrumbs left behind by travelers who have wandered the winding streets of memories and the rough seas of change. Some of whom’s stories are still unfinished, The last sentence extending past the edge of the page.
So browse this edition and see where the road leads you. And, of course, don't forget to enjoy the adventure.
Your Editors, Archisha And
Sanjna
TABLEOFCONTENTS
CoverImagebyReneeBouMansour
Prologue
TableofContents
Image by Suhani Jerath
TheCrowbyArjanSingh
Image by Sanjna Thoguru
SameNamebyOlukayomideOdusote
Image by Olukayomide Odusote
MindinYourFirstHand(somewhatstorypoeminanother perspective)byOlukayomideOdusote
Image by Sanjna Thoguru
HowtoCatchaFallingThought byOlukayomideOdusote
Image by Sanjna Thoguru
WorktheDay,LivetheNightbyThomasLemme
Image by Maya Shamiyeh
FlowersbyAanyaJeganathen
Image by Suhani Jerath
ForgivingbyOjurereoluwaKassim
Image by Jay Raval
TheJourneyofaMadmanbyClementLacroix
Image by Sanjna Thoguru
Life’sRegattabyKelliChang
Image by Archisha Sonig
Acknowlegements
TheCrow
TheCrow
By Arjan Singh
Istartedontheroadwithnoideawheretogo, Surroundedbylushfoliageandtheharshcawofacrow. Themarvellousblackcrow,withfeatherssleekandfine, Itssharp,knowinggazeheldsecretsdarkasmine.
Itcawedoncemore,andIlookeduptosee Thiscrow,scarredandbattered,stillsoaringsofree. Eachscartoldataleofsorrowandstrife, Butalsooftriumph,andthestrengthofitslife.
Thescarswereasign,apromise,away, Thateventhroughstruggles,we’llseeanewday. Remnantsofapastwhereithadseenbrighterskies, Yetstillitsoaredonward,refusingtocry.
Nowthecrowflewfree,glidingthroughtheair, Nowthecrowflewstrong,withoutworryorcare. IttaughtmealessonI’llneverforget: Thatnomatterthestruggle,wemustn’tregret.
Pastchoicesandtroubles,thethingswecan’tchange, Arescarsonoursouls,butthey’renotoutofrange. It’snotwherewe’vebeen,it’showwehavegrown, Thatdefinesourjourney,thepathwe’vebeenshown.
Thatdayontheroad,Ilearnedsomethingtrue: It’snotwhereyouwander,it’swhatyouwilldo. Andnomatterthetrials,I’llfindmyownway, Soaringlikethecrow,withgracethroughthefray.
Same Name
Same Name
By Olukayomide Odusote
It’snotfun,butI’musedtoit
Awashedoutflame,neverrelit
Painisdistracting,soIeatmymouth
Alwaysgotswallowed,soplangoessouth headneedstoimplode,toobaditsresistant
Feelingssodifferent,thoughcombinedinaninstant
Deathwouldbeacrime,insuchapeacefulhole
Itisclimbingout,iwishtodisapatemysoul
Desiresarecruel,aroomiwishtoflood
Drowningisboring,butsuchatastefulsipofblood
Thefutureiscorrupting,spreadswithnocure
Sucharelieffromnothing,athoughttopure
Stompingmyfeat,tolittlereleased
Crushingmyhead,couldonlydecrease
Sadnessisunwanted,butalwaystooinviting
Lifeisannoying,butforeverdelighting
Powerlesstodoanything,butanythingicant
Itisovernothing,whenimakethebiggestrant
Ringinginandout,nowheretohide
Exposedtoomuch,howdreadfuloutside
ParalysisImanaged,Soundispiercing
Forcedtolucid,tortureoftime’sticking
Angerluresall,suchanimmortalpest
Fingersinears,asfailuresmanifests
Aslitinthought,invitingpainforameal
Asireopenitup,assoonitssealed
Arrivalattheend,embarrassmenttowalk
Itieupwhatsleft,knowingthat’sonlyjusttalk
Thesilenceinabsence,notlonelywithout
Alonewiththought,butwithnowayout
IwillcrywhenimhopelessIntruth
SoIsithomelessrelivingyouth
3
Mind In Your First Hand
Mind In Your First Hand
By Olukayomide Odustote
WhereareYou?
Idon’tcareforwhereIam Besidesit’stodarktodiscernanyland I’mfocusedonYou,eyeslockedonYours Butitseemslikeyourdistracted,Ican’tseemtoseeyouanymore Whatareyoulookingat,lookingfor? Itseemslikeyourstallingforsomethingmore OristhatYou?
You’velostYourself,icantellfromYoursenselessface Yourgone,withYouremptybodyleftinYourplace Youreyesaretrappedbehindopendoorsoflight OrdoesitcloseYouoff,blindingYoursight Youhideinthenight,sinkingintothesky Butno,YoucreatethedarknessYoufallinto,aspoursfromYoureyes You’redrowningYourselfout… BlackinkdripsoffYourface,unwarranteditcontinuesflooding ThatswhyYounormallylivelifeontheshores,forthefearofdrowning Ialwaysaskedwhy,becauseiknowyoucanswim ButYoualwayssay,howcani,ifHewilldragMein?
IknowTheyescapefromwithin,intothewarmthofYourhands butShecomesfromasource,moreimmensethananyofOurlands Idon’tunderstandItbutiforeverunderstandYou… IwillpullYouout. Iwillsaveyou.
How to Catch a Falling Thought
How to Catch a Falling Thought
By Olukayomide Odusote
Thoughittakessometime,successisintangible
Failureisdead,soalwaysstayaudible
Speakwhatyoucanreceive,althoughyourgivennone
Manywillfollow,soyourchanceisone
Iseeitthroughyoureyes,howwondereatsyouwhole
Thethoughtisalwayscommon,butyetitfindsyoursole
Quietyousay,thoughyourwordsareclearasablur
Howenergyisunused,youstaystandingasyouwhere
Yourpupilsswimfast,racingacrossyoureyes
Amouthwithnosound,yetfilledupwithlies Earsareblind,sowhyisyournosesodeaf
Asimpletasklost,soyouarestuckwithnothingleft
Work the Day, Live the Night
Work the Day, Live the Night
By Thomas Lemme
Theinstructorsaid,
“Gohomeandwriteapagetonight. Andletitcomefromyou—thenitwillbetrue.”
SixteenyearsonthisislandofNantucket, Wherethewavescrashafteroneandanother Likemyworkschedulethatneverends. Iridemybikedownthatsameoldroad Withrustedgears. Theduckstorerequests, AndIdeliver.
Twelvehourslonginasunburnedtrance, WhereIfoldshirts,shakehands, Andsweatinmyclothemployeeshirt.
Theoceanisrough,likemydailygrind. Itswavespullmebackwithnopeacetofind.
Istandthereandtakehitafterhit, AnunbrokenwavecrashesovermewithanendlessforceoftaskstomakemyselfrethinkwhyI wentintothesewaters.Thesamewaveneverquitsduringthelongshiftsatwork. Eachtaskrollsinwithoneafteranother, Thereisnobreakinsight.
However,whennightfalls, Thetiderecedes, AndIamfinallyfreefromthestore’sgreedyneeds. Thesandcoolsbeneathmyhotfeet whileIruntothebeachwhereweallmeet. Ilaughloudunderstar-litskies.
ItislikeIfinallywakeoncethesundies. ForthesemomentsthatfeellikeIamnotbeingcommandedbynogreed,
InsteadIamincontrolofmyowndecisions.
Theocean’sroarisalwaysnear, Whichisanaggravatingreminderthatmorningwillsoonreappear. Anotherday,anotherwavetotheface, WhereIambacktothegrindandstuckinplace. Doesthewaterwin? DoIsinkorswimagain?
Flowers
By Aanya Jeganathen Flowers
mygrandmagrewinafieldofflowers afieldof Gorgeous Poisonedflowers
Burdenedbyapatriarchalinstitution builtontheshouldersofallthewomenthatcamebeforeher forcedtoquitschoolin8thgrade; forcedtomarryin11thgrade; forcedtobesilentforever. eachplaitshebraidedinherhairwasbraidedwiththe Invisiblechainsthatstrongarmedherintoherfemininity everycupofteashemadehadthe Bittertasteofdysarthriamixedintoit mymothergrewinafieldofflowers afieldof Gorgeous sproutingflowers
theygrewfightingthepoisonthatinfectedtheflowersthatgrewbeforethem strong;
Butweakenedbypoisonedweedsthatgrewintheirowngarden WeedsthatspreadideassuchasStarvationforValidation
Weedsthatplacedascarletletteroneverywomanthatdaredtoremovethepatriarchalchainswrapped aroundherroots
Igrowinafieldofflowers
Afieldof gorgeous Powerfulflowers
Wegrowfightingfortheflowersthatgrewbeforeus Unitingtoteardowntheweedswereoncewrappedaroundourroots
Replacingtheirplaitswithourfreeflowinghair Unbindingthechainstheyonceattachedtoourscarletletters
Forgiving
Forgiving
By Ojurereoluwa Kassim
Youractionshurtmorethanwordscouldsay Actionsnomoreacknowledgedthananormaltuesday Ourrelationshipfragmentedandfilledwithinsecurity Asimpleargumentthatshouldhaveembodiedmaturity DayslaterI’mleftwithconvolutedfeelings Amajoroffensetoocomplicatedforhealing Friendshipsplintered,astruggleentails Tensionincreasingourheartstringfrails
Awallerupts,twosidesdivided Disconnectionensues,ourbondunwinded Avastdivideseemlyimpassable Ourconnectionfails,rekindlingimpractical
Anilluminatinglightiscastoutfromacross Ourfadingrelationshipafterallisnotlost Acrossthisgreatchasmahandreachesout Withaneffortfortwoanewbeginningsprouts.
Areturntocompassionseemedsobizarre Notquiteashowitbeganbutnotquitesofar Friendshipamendednotwithoutafewscars
The Journey of a Madman
By Clement Lacroix
Ajourneywhichfewdareembark,fearingtotrespassuponsomesacredgroundinwhich logicdefiesreason.Walkingalongtherazorthinwireofsanity,peeringdownintopoolsof effervescentclarity,sizzlingwithbubblesoflosthumanityclawingatitssilverysurface. Divingbeneaththisguiseofpurity,onlytomarvelatthetarnishedfringesofafractured universe.Thoughtsanddreamsplastereduponitsfrayededgeslikesilverywaterdroplets uponashimmeringweb.Isolated.Beautiful.Trapped.Agreatarchitecthadoncestoodover thisvastmindscape,forincoherentramblingscannotexistwithoutthepresenceof monumentalintellect.Now,initswake,aworldofstillbornpotential,withitsnaturallaws composedbyamadman,singingsomedistantsymphonyforabygonecrowdofequal sentiment.Orperhapsthislostsoulhasfoundhisownsalvation,asanctuarydeepwithinthe woodstothesoul?Woulditbecrueltytosavehim?Totakehimfromhisserenityand indoctrinatehimbackintoanequallymadworld,devoidofhumanempathyorselfactualization?Sopassionatelyhesingshisanthem,howalluringit’smelody,burstingatthe seamswithmanicvitality.Itfindsitsmagnificencedeepwithinoceansofcrystalline memories,immortalizedinsong,splinteringintoasombermosaicofwhatcouldhavebeen;
Thesearchforfulfillmentdrapedinacloakoflyricalversetothetuneofsomeoldsong whosenamehasbeenlosttotime.Melodiessoarpasttheheavens,envelopedbytwilight,and climbingeverclosertothedistantsun.HasIcarusdiedinvain,acautionarytaledrivento obsolescenceasacongregationofhopesanddreamstaketotheskies,daringtoflyalittle higher,pushalittlefurther,tryingtosatisfytheirinsatiablehungers?Whenthelinebetween ambitionanddelusionrippleintodesperatedetermination,wasmadnesseverthatfaraway?
Cradledbytheirbrokenwings,poetsandprophetsandsaintsalikefeelfleshteartobone, strippedoftheirbrillianceastheyfall,falldowntothejaggedEarth.Whenrocksofteethand skinofstonetearthroughthesoftbodiesoffallensparrows,doesdeathsitandmarvelattheir resolve?Ordotheirnowfragile,shatteredminds,underminetheirfallfromgrace?Oncea firedies,nomatterhowbrightitoncewas,allthereistoseenowareashes.Sparksofwhite glimmeringupondarkcharcoal,asiftryingtomimicthetwilighttheyhadonce encompassed.Thejourneyfrombrilliancetoruin,astatteredfortresseskneeldowntothe handoftime.Thejourneyofdenialtofalsesanctuary,whendyingfiresoptimisticallythink oftheirpastradiance.Thejourneyofredemption,asamsaraofdisgraceandrebirth.The journeyofamadman.
Life’s Regatta
Life’s Regatta
By Kelli Chang
Thesailaheadisnotsimple, Aswavesofdreadrippleandlodgetherudder, Windshadowsofgreaterboatsblockthewind, Everyunforeseengustdippingtheedgeintothewater, Asifwhispering, “You’re only one jibe (jyb) from going under.”
Insidiouswordspuncturemymainsail, Unfeltbruisesenduredfromdockingalone, Saltwaterevaporatingwhiteanddry, Themainsheet’sropebitingmyglovedhand, Asmyownswingingboomthreatenstoknockmeofftheside.
Thosewhoclaim“first in spirit”suffices, Speakitfromstillwaters, Hadtheirownstunningboatfromayoungage, Aparenttoproperlyguidethemthroughthebay, Theirvoyagefueledbypassionnotdesperation.Know,
IfIceasedtosailon, Tosomeambiguousdestination, Therecoveryofeachsinkwouldnotbeapieceinmyjourney, (ButthefactthatI had aboat), Wouldproveonlymyincompetentnature.
Whensomeday(praynottoosoon)whenItackback, ScanthebayI'vebattledthrough, Reelinmysailasmytelltalessignaltowardshome, AndIreturnonceagainbatteredfrommyvoyage, InthechanceIdon’tsucceeddoyouthinktheywouldstilldockmyboat?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Editor-in-chiefs 2024-2025:
Archisha Sonig ‘25 & Sanjna Thoguru ‘25
Co-Vice Editor-in-Chiefs:
Ojurereoluwa Kassim ‘26
Features:
Kelli Chang ‘25
Aanya Jeganathen ‘25
Clement Lacroix ‘26
Thomas Lemme ‘26
Olukayomide Odusote ‘27
Arjan Singh ‘27
Special Thanks to...
Ms. Angelos, Club Advisor
Dr. Loy
Dr. Chodl
Ms. Bautista-Burk
Mr. Domanski
