tigerprints
2025-2026 | Volume1
tothefirstvolumeofthenewseriesofTigerPrints. It’sbeena fewyearssinceSAAhadanartandliterarymagazine,andI’mexcitedthatwe’ve broughtitback! Havingaplacetoshowcasestudentworkisn’tjustawayto celebratethetalentatSAA it’sawayforustounderstandeachotherbetter.
FACULTYSPONSOR VanessaLaWare Welcome
WhenIsawKathyXi’s(‘26)paintingThroughtheLookingGlass,Iknewitwould betheperfectpieceforourmagazine’scoverbecauseitcapturessomuchof what Ithinkthecreativeprocessfeelslikeasateenager.SometimesIfeellike thegoldfishinthebowl,smallandconfined,peeringoutataworldthatseems enormousandoutofreach.Othertimes,Ifeelmoreliketheschoolgirlonthe slide:poisedattheedgeofadulthood,carefullybalancingthemostdelicate thingIown myidentity whilealsotryingtoseetheworldthroughit.
Studentpieces,liketheonesinthisissue,capturewhatweareseeinginthe “lookingglass”ofourhighschoolyearsinawaynothingelsecan.Everypiecein thismagazineoffersadifferentviewofsomethingwefeltwasmeaningful enoughforustolookatcloselythroughthatlens,whetheritwasasuniversalas thewideskyaboveusorasuniqueasaglimpseofourownreflection.
Thankyoutoeveryonewhosubmittedtheirworkandhelpedbringourartand literarymagazinebacktolife Andthankyoutoallourreaders!Ihopeyoufind somethinginTigerPrintsthatleavesitsmarkonyou.
-AvaniYaltho ‘26
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AvaniYaltho‘26
DESIGNEDITOR LaylaYaltho‘28
BecauseIAmaGirl
ElizabethLee‘27
Iamastormtaughttowhisper, awildfirefoldedintolullabies; mylaughterstitchedwithsunlight, mysilenceheavyasunshedrain.
BecauseIamagirl.
Ihavelearnedtobloomintightspaces, likearosepressingthroughconcreteribs, petalssoftbutstubborn; aquietrebellionagainsttheworld’sweight.
BecauseIamagirl.
TheytoldmeIwasglass fragile,see-through,meanttobehandledgently, butIbecameamirrorinstead, reflectingbackeverydoubttheythrewatme.
BecauseIamagirl.
Myheartisanoceanwithshiftingtides, pullingmoonsandmemoriesalike, andthoughtheycallme“toomuch,” Iknoweventhesearefusestoapologize.
BecauseIamagirl.
Icarrygalaxiesinmychest, nottohidethem,buttosetthemablaze, tolightpathsnoonethoughtIcouldwalk, tobecomethegravitythatholdsmyownworldsteady.
BecauseIamagirl.
MrWhitman,AmIAmerica? AnaiyaNasir‘26
AmIallowedtojoinyourhappychorus, ormustImutemysong?
AmIallowedtodancewithyourfeet, ormustIshacklemine?
AmIallowedtolaughwithyouuntilourribsache, ormustIremainstaid?
AmIallowedtobewholewithyou, ormustIbesevered?
Mr.Whitman,AmIAmerica,forIsenseherpain, yetshecannotmine?
Mr Whitman,AmIAmerica,forIcanforgive, yetmustneverbeforgiven?
Mr.Whitman,AmIAmerica,forIamtoprostrateatherfeet, screaminginapology fortheterrorofthosewhounrightfullysymbolizeme, eventhoughsheisunableto hearme, seeme, feelme, Andknowthat it'snotme, knowthat theyarenotme.
Mr.Whitman,AmIAmerica? because Americais me.
Based on the poems
“I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman and “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes
DearNostalgia
JessicaWang'27
DearNostalgia,
ThefirsttimeIheardyourname, Ipronounceditslowly asIleteachsyllablerolloffmytongue thesamewaythatdollar-storecraftbrushes hadoncesweptacrossmyforehead, paintingmyfacewhenIwasachild. Nos-Tal-Gia.
Youwereastrangertome, abeautifulgirlinashortroyalblueskirt andwavyravenhairthatrippled inthesummeroceanbreeze. Youwereadreaminggirl whoprotectedachildhoodbestfriend intheheart-shapedlocketaroundyourneck. Didn’tyoupromisetoloveherforever? Ididn’tknowyou, butwhenyouspoketomeforthefirsttime, youreyessparkledlikethesun’sreflectiononapond, andyourrosy-redblush somehowmademeflushevenharder.
YetwhenItracedyoursilhouette onthedustyphotoframeburiedinmydrawer, myheartfeltcolderthantheglass asIdrewinabreathassharpasthepain thatyourmemorycausesme. Nostalgia,howIoncelongedtoknowyou! HowIlongedtobeyourfriend, topaintyourserenesmileontomyownlips, dustmyselfinyourglitter,anddousemyself inyourlavenderperfumethathadoncemademesneeze. Ihadlongedtoknowyou. Butnow,IthinkIknowyoufartoowell.
Niñaenunaidiomadifferente
MonikaCondon'28
Cuandoerachicita, yohablabaEspañolperfecta. Ahora,mecuestamucho paradecirunoraciónbásica. Laniñachiquitanomepreocupéporlagramatica. Hoy,tengopenahablar porqueyosequenohablaperfecta. Si,ahoraestamasdificil parahablar. Wheniwasachild, IspokeSpanishperfectly. Nowittakesalot formetosayabasicsentence. Thatlittlegirldidn’tworryaboutgrammar. Today,Igetnervoustotalk becauseIknowIdon’ttalkperfectly Yes,nowit’sharderforme totalk.
Scraps
LeahPittman-Laplante'28
Givenscraps,whatcanbedone? Someonlygetscraps, Thestemofthevegetable, Thebonesofthemeat.
Motherswithfivemouthstofeed, Afatherhalfwayoutthedoor, Ahandtoolarge,aheadtoosmall, Puzzlepiecesthatdon’tquitefit, Allcutfromdifferentfabricsoftime, Picturesthatusedtobewhole, Gluedtogethertomakesomethingnew, Yetold.
Theyneverquitecompleteeachother, Theyappearasanafterthought, Arushedcollageofscrapsgluedtogether, Thedivideisclearinthesharplines, It’seasytosneerattherags stitchedtogether. It’shardtoappreciatethebeauty increation, Thetalentforinnovationisbrushedover, Eyesskipoverthechaos, Searchingforsomethingcohesive. Itisn’tcomfortable, Itiscrowded, Tooconvolutedtoglanceover, Youcannotseeitwithouttime. Itfeelsliketheaftermathofacrash, Twistedmetalandbrokenglass, Victimscartedintoambulances, Mangledandcutup,
Theywillbestitchedtogetheragain. Youwonderwhathappened, Youtakealookingglass, Tryingtogobackintime, Searchingforthesecondbefore collision, Andyoubecomeapartofthechaos, Youbecomethepersonlyingona stretcher, Youareimmersedinthecollage, Tryingtofindyourbearings. Sonexttime, Youskipoverthatpiece, Becauseitisuncomfortabletosee, Butitlivesinthebackofyourmind, Andyouknowwhatliving withscraps islike.
Tobecomeacandle LucyJones'28
Thefirsttimeyoulaughedbecauseofme,itfeltlikeananachronism— Iwasfluorescentlights,you’reapocketwatch (Ihuminthedimhallway,stu(r)dy whatmakesyoutick)
Isawallofyourteethatonce
NobodythoughtIwasfunnybeforeyou
Thesoundofyourlaughisfamil(ytomyown)iar,now, Madesoftbyroughness,ordinaryandverdant Andyousitbesidemeandweshareclemen(cy)tines,peelingopensoft citrusscabsthatstingacidic
Andweforgetwhatweknowandrememberforgetting
Theairhereiscrowdedwiththepocketlintofsubjectsandverbsand Youmo(u)th
Somethinghalf-obscuredbyflickeringlight, Laughflutteringandthesoundofitdripswaxenintomybloodstream Iblinkandmissyou
Idon’twanttoburnyouupso
Iamlearningtomoveslowlikethethawofthewinter
Iamlearninghowtobecomesomeonewhocanloveyouthewayyou oughttobeloved
Iamlearningtobewarm
Stars,Parties,andWhiskey*
AleezaMorris-Khan‘27
December17th,1925.
Prohibition,alawinstalledbyUnitedStatesCongressorbiddingthemanufacture, transportation,and/orsaleofanyalcoholicbeverages,withanexceptionfor medicalandsacramentalpurposes,wasinfulleffect.
Hewatchedthefishtwirlaroundoneanotherinthedeeplakebelowhim,their tailswhippinghighandlowwiththelake’stides.Heleanedclosertotheedgeof thesilver-tintedbanisters,whichwrappedaroundhishouselikeastrictprisonfor hiswellbeing Alongoperacigaretteholderlaybetweenthetipsofhisleatherglovedfingers,blowingshortsteamwiththesky’scloudspaintedonmidnight’s borderline.Midnightbecameacrow,flappingitsonyxfeathersacrossthe BrooklynBridge.Evenfromafar,hecouldshuthiseyesandflyaway, disappearingintothecityhecalledhome.
Theextravagantbanquettablestoodinthecenteroftheballroom;foodglossed asifitwasmadetobeadmired,noteaten.Roséchampagnebubbledover. Colorfulpaperstringsstretchedthroughouttheroom.Candles,tallandshort,lit intothegreatestfireofthenight.Lavishchandeliers,glitteringlikeathousand diamonds,brightenedtheroomevenmore.Thedark,cloudedshadowsthat alwaysseemedtofollowhimfaded,andtheorchestralaunched—strainsof mixedinstruments:violinsdrawnbybows,pianospressedlightlybyfingers,flutes blown,trumpetsbuzzed,saxophonespiped.
Shearrivedatthelastcall.Hersoftfacewaspaintedwithmakeupthatmadeher emeraldeyespop,lipsplumpedaswithcherrysyrup.Shehadletherdarkhair falltoherears,withagiantfeatherplacedlikeaquillinaninkwell.Sheworea black,slim,loosedressbedazzledwithjewelsandsilverfeathersthathung delicatelyatthebottom.Shinystrandsofpearlsdangledoverherneckandears, andlongjade-blackglovesadornedheruptoherelbows.Apicture-perfectlady.
“Don’tyoulookalldolledup?”hemumbledwithagrinasshejoinedhimonthe balcony.
Shebrushedanairkissuptohisjaw,almostreflexively,likeabadhabitsheforgot tobreak.
*Edited excerpt from longer work
“Ithoughtyouhatedhighsociety,”headded.
“Everythingbutthewhiskey,”shesaid,aglintofamusementinhereyes.“It’s abouttheonlyhonestthingintheroom.”Herhandssettledonherhipsasher heeltappedlightlyagainstthefloor.“Wellthen,doIhavetogofinditmyself?”
Aquickglancearoundtheroom,andthenhishanddisappearedintohis jacket,returningwithaslimflask Hepouredslowlytostretchthemoment; goldenwhiskeysplashingintothesilvercup.
“There.Somethingyoucantrust.”
Thelargedoorstothebalconyswungopenwithfanfare.Thenasharpbeat.A highnote Someonesang,theirvoicerichandvibrant,echoingoutoftheroom Thechorusfollowed.
Heofferedhishalf-filledcupnearhers.“Here’stotherisk.”
Withaclinkofcrystalglasses,memoriesdarkenedtobeforgotten.
Herredlipstickcurvedintoashinysmileassheraisedherglasstohis.Inthe distance,NewYork’scitylightspeekedunderthesky’scovers.“Totherisk.”
Thetinyflappersfloatedacrossthestage.Theperformancehadbegun.
YoSoyMe
CopelandFulbright'28
Yosoyminombreylaropaqueyouso, Yosoycomomeveoyqueyohago, Yosoyquemehacefeliz, yosoycomocaminarelcaminoyotomo.
Yosoycomolosamigosquetengo, Yosoylapersonaqueyoquieroaser, Yosoyunaestudiante,unaniñayunaamiga, Yosoyqueyoencantar
Yosoyquemegustahacer, Yosoyhonestoyamable, Yosoydiferentedetodoslospersonas, Yosoyyotodoslosdías.
Iamme IammynameandtheclothesIuse, IamhowIlookandwhatIdo, Iamwhatmakesmehappy, IamhowIwalkthepathItake. IamthefriendsIhave, IamthepersonIwanttobe, Iamastudent,agirl,andafriend, IamwhatIlove.
IamwhatIlikedoing, Iamhonestandkind, Iamdifferentfromallpeople, Iammyselfeveryday.
Doll
SophieGerard’28
Istare Assilence surroundsus
Myfistsgripontomyskirt It’spuffyandextravagant Andmakesmefeeldolly Whichisodd
Istare
Assilencesurroundsus Heworksonmyhair Whichisn’tmuch It’sshortandchoppy Butheworksallthesame
Istare
Assilencesurroundsus Andnervesswirlinme Helooksathiswork BeforecallingfortheDoctor
Istare
Assilencesurroundsus Andasthedoctortakeshimaway Heturnstomeandsays “Whatdowesay?”
Istare Astearsthreatentoleave “Thankyou.”
WhatItAll BoilsDownTo
NinaLiang'27
Dishesclinking,bubblesrising, Theknifeheld,splicing,anddicing. Chatter,bicker,voicesspiraling, Thepoolsofoilafloatinmybowlof ⽺⾁汤 (yángròutāng).
Poursomebonebrothstock, Slanderyourmother’sspan-newfrock. MSG,tablesetforthree, Oneatpeace,twoatrivalry. Atlast,thefastisover. Addsomemorecilantromoreover.
Letthesavoryumamiglideacrossyourtongue,Thebeartraphasbeensprung. Steamdrivesupwardinaflyingcar, Cleavedfractionsofdaikonlikesplashedstars,Simmeringsegmentsoflamb, Conversationquiet,aclam.
Aspersions,quips,allprompt, Sentimentallstomped. Twocastlesunwillingtobend, “Oh,Ididn’tmeantooffend.”
Dishesclinking,bubblesrising, Theknifeheld,splicing,anddicing.
Chatter,bicker,voicesspiraling, Thepoolsofoilgrippingontomybowlof ⽺⾁汤 (yángròutāng).
AStoryteller'sSongbird*
KaitlynKimble'27
Thevillagehadayounggirlwhowasalwaysandforeverwriting;ifshecould reachit,touchitwithherfingers,orholditinthepalmsofherhands,thenithelda story.TheyoungStorytellerwroteherstorieson rocksandonleaves,onthebark oftrees,onthewallsofherhouse,andtheground.Theeldersinthevillage believedsheshouldbemoreuseful.Mostdidn’tunderstandherpassion.Her parentshopedshewouldgrowoutofit.
Forthesereasons,shesatalonemostdays.disappearingintotheforestwithout somuchasaword.Mostothersneverdaredtoventuredeepintotheforest, with itsstrangesightsandsounds, surrealplantsandanimals,and mesmerizing sounds. TheStorytellercameandwentwhenshewantedthough,listeningtothe forest,gatheringupitsstoriesasiftheywerethedarkestsweetestberries.
There was a strange little boy who lived in the forest. No one knew who he truly was. The boy, with the stars in his eyes and a love for the trees, was the only one who could get the Storyteller to speak, until stories spilled from her lips and echoed through the forest into the hearts of all who heard them.
The boy would accompany her tales with the most irresistibly delightful song anyone had ever heard, singing until the forest disappeared under the night sky. She called him Songbird.
And so, the Storyteller and Songbird were a pair to behold. One so inseparable and aligned with the other that many were envious of their bond. As one was incomplete without the other, and no one dared to separate them, Mother Nature claimed them both as her children.
Artifice
LucyJones'28
whyareyoulivingthroughyourselfvicariously? whereyouwereonceaware,awake,alert,alive, humminghopefulalongtothecreakingtuneofyourworldturning tothesonginthesplitofachrysalis,greenandnew tothemurmurofthebloodintheworkingofyourhands yousitstatic,flickering youstandby, consumedbyfirethatdoesnotburn, abeastthatdoesnothunger, desiccatedandcrumpledbyartifice, buriedtoyoureyesinthefalsemusicofmachinery. andwhentheyreplaceyourboneswithbronze,yourskullwithsteel,your eyeswithiron willyouthenbelieveyourselfstronger? whentheycometoplacemetalinyourmind,togiveyouthoughtsof titaniumandacallingformedofcopper—willitbeenough? iftheychangeouteverypieceofwoodthatkeepsyouafloat,removeand replaceeveryelementoftheclockworkthatmakesyoutick,whoareyou goingtobe? acopyofacopyofacopyiseatingyoualiveandyoudon’tevennotice. canyoubecontentinthisplasticpeace?
oldsoul LeahPittman-Laplante'28
I’vebeencalledanoldsoul, Asifit’samedalIshouldweararoundmyneck, Ablueribbontopinonmychest, Yetitfeelsmorelikeweights, Pinningmyfeetdown, EnsuringIdon’tescape, I’mweigheddownwithsinsIdidn’tcommit; Maybeitisthecrimesfrommypreviouslives, AtrocitiesIcommittedonceuponatime, PerhapsIwashateful, AndthatiswhyIampilloried, Iwreakeddestruction Whenmysoulbelongedtoanotherskin, NowIamsentencedtowalkonanearth, Steppingovercracksasthegroundcrumblesbeneathme, Ifeelasifmyweightwillbreakit, Iwastraitorous, NowIamconfinedtoacountrythatforsakesitspeople, PerhapsIwasgluttonousbefore, AndthatiswhyIstarve, Iamravenousforglory, Sickwithhungerforfame, Iwanttobegreat, Ifeeltheacheofallthepoetsbeforemewhowrotetobeacclaimed, Perhapsiftheworldknowsmyname, Myenemieswhoboastedofmyfaultswillbeashamed PerhapsIwasnothinginapastlife, Iamjustanactorplayingthepart, MaybeIdonotpayforprevioussins, AndIsimplyhostarottenheart.
PORTLAND,OR AvaLynch'27
Alairepuro,cielosvacantes,montañasnevadas, Animalseverywhereyouwalk, Familyfromafarwholovetotalk, Hacerkayakenaguasazules,nadarenelríodeClackamas,reírseconmisamigas.
Desayuno,almuerzo,ycenaalairelibretodoslosdías, Pizzaovensandfoodgalore, Foodtruckparksandrestaurantstoexplore, Portlandesdivertido,Portlandesunloco,Portlandeselmajorparalascomidas.
Padres,abuelos,lafamiliayamigos, Alltogetherinourfavoriteplace, Childrenandanimalsrunningaroundplayingchase, Portlandeselsentimientodeamorsinpeligros.
TreadingWater LeahPittman-Laplante'28
Whenthefloodwaterscame,Itookonelastlookatallmystufffloatingaroundthe roomandwentunder.Thecoldwaterencasedmyhead,Ionlyheardtherushofitinmy earsasmylungsbegantoburn.Ididn’ttrytosaveanything;itwasalltoofargone,yetI couldn’thelpbutstay,refusingtomoveon.
Istayedbeneaththeflood,determinedtodrownwitheverythingIloved.IsworeI wouldn’tcomeupforairuntilthesundriedeverylastpuddleup.Isankbelowtheblack coldandtookmyfinalbreathofwatertotakemysoul.Bettertodrownnowthantryto liveaftereverythingIhadceasedtoexist.
Thewatercalledtome,andtheicycoldnumbedthestingingpain,anditfilledmyears, blockingouteveryothersound;afinalmercy.
Theysaythatwhenyoudie,yourbrainstaysaliveforanothersevenminutesand replaysyourlife Iwonderwhatmylastglimpseoflifewouldbelike Whatmemorieswill hauntmyfinalmomentsbeforeIdie?Perhapsmymother,whoalwaysworeablue ribboninherhairandusedtosingmetosleep,I’mgladshewon’tbealivetoweepfor me.MaybeI’llseemyfatheragain,shroudedinshadow,justbeforehedisappears, slippingthroughmyfingerslikenothingmorethanair.
Thereliefoverpowersanydesiretobreathe;allIfeelisthepeaceasIallowthefloodto carrymearound.Nooneevertalksabouthowniceitistobefullyembracedand carriedthewayonlyawavecanachieve.There’snothingquitelikethesensationof beingfree,nothingasgoodasthatfeeling.
Whenthebrightlightappeared,Iwasready.
Reverie MilaDimitrov'27
hermellifluousvoice hiddenbeneaththevines ofuncertainty ivygrewlike tearsdrawntoherface wordspaintedon herdelicateskin lostinreverie,shesaysa knifefromwithin
LittleSpecks
LilyGaidosik'28
Ifyouleft,itwouldbemyfault. ItwouldbebecauseIfailedyou. BecauseIwasn’tgoodenoughtosaveyou. Becauseyoubelievednoonecared. Thatnoonethoughtyoumattered.
ButIcare Icare,
BecauseifIdidn’tcareIwouldn’twantyoubymyside. ButIdo.
Iwanttoseeyouatmybirthday.
Iwanttoseeyouatthenextdance. Iwanttogiveyouyourbirthdaypresent Iwanttoseeyouexcitedfortheendoftheschoolyear. Iwanttobetherewithyouwhenweapplyforcollege.
Iwanttoseeyouwhenwearereminiscing aboutbeingyoungandnewandfulloflife.
Iwanttoseeyouatgraduation,wearingacapandgown.
Iwanttoseeyoumovethattasseltotheotherside IwanttoreceiveChristmascardsfromyourdorm. AndIwanttoseeyouatmywedding.
AndIwanttoseeyouwithmykids.
AndIwantyoutohearthispoem.
AndIwanttoseeyou,standingbesideme, foraslongasIhaveeyestosee Becauseyoumattertome. Youareoneperson.
Aspeckinaseaofhumankind. Andyet,thisperson. Thisotherspeck,seesyou.
Becausetothisspeck,yourlightshines brighterthananyotherspeck.
Andthisspeckcouldn’tliveifthatlightwentout.
Seabird
SophieDaSilva‘26
