Penguin Shuffling since 1895
VOLUME 137 ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 2022
@XAVERIANWEEKLY
Unspoken Truth: Angela Bowden, Poetry and Conversation AIDEN AHERN
ence had by familial predecessors became the emphasis of the night. Bowden comes from a family of writers. Reading poetry penned by her aunt and mother growing up, Bowden initially experienced it solely as poetry, but, over time, recognized it more as expressions of the challenges of their time. A celebrated and much-discussed passage that night, from a poem out of the Bowden family’s collection of written works “Family Treasures,” is emblematic of this: “time’s gone by rattling over my head.” The echoes of generational injustice subjected to Black Nova-Scotians reverberates in these collective works. Bowden states that she thinks about her grandfather, “who was a very dark-skinned man” – and what he had to endure in the province as a young man in 1917. After reading a piece written by her mother, of Jim Crow era, “when you had to sit in a different section of the theatre,” Bowden guided the discussion toward what she called “The persistent joy of Black motherhood”. Her and Reddick spoke further about how the things which enter the mind about Black motherhood, such as grief, and trauma, too-often receive more attention than the love.
Praised Black New-Glasgow author, poet, and activist Angela Bowden delivered virtual readings from her latest book Unspoken Truth on the evening of February 3rd for friends and students to join. The virtual event, cohosted by Black student advisor Tara Reddick, offered energy to every one of its thirty attendees. Bowden’s poems and corresponding discussions with Reddick provided an occasion of deep reflection, evocation, and insight on behalf of the experience of being Black in Nova-Scotia; both in the current day and historically. The connectivity between one’s personal experience of being Black, and the experi-
Bowden followed articulating how the pain is experienced differently from Black women to Black men. Black men, she reflected, get misgrouped often as stonewalled people, who cannot or do not express their feelings. “Our men have become emasculated even though they have so much love to share.” Both Black women, and Black men are continually pressured, as she says in her words, to: “take [on] all these faces […] act all these roles,” and, “make ourselves small,” and, not take up any space, as it were.
necessarily asked him to pay up-front. Her son replied to the driver that he had taken many cabs in that city, but that this had never happened. So, he decided to walk out. Telling his mother after the fact, he said confidently: “I was racially profiled tonight.” And, sharing the story to us after, Bowden enthusiastically commented that he was rightly indignant about the situation when he told her. Racial profiling evidently lingers in the province. And, its emotional, and fiscal consequences remain both relevant and tangible. Bowden shared a story with Reddick of two young Black friends whom she knows, driving a nice car which one of them had saved up for, going out to the city for fun – but still having to “watch out”; knowing how they would be seen. “My Grandfather’s Shirt” was the last poem that Angela read. She stated at its close: “It was important for me that my ancestors spoke first”, throwing in: “This is BLM III.” One female student later commented: “I really liked the ‘sisterhood’ aspect of the event. [The hosts] did a great job of sharing wisdom and a different perspective on the Black experience of a male. While the poems were heavy, they also had an element of humour”. Bowden stated that her book indeed has some humour, but that she felt drained after writing it. “But I’m an activist,” she said. We need to continue.
The poem that Bowden read during this discussion was “Black Boy Guilty,” on page eightyfour of the new book. The author shared that her son had recently been in a cab whose driver un-
Appreciating the StFX Art Gallery’s Newest Exhibit: Black Love, Joyful Lessons ZOEY PHILLIPS
Students looking to experience a unique and immersive display of artwork need to look no further than the first floor of the Student Union building. In line with Black History Month’s desire to highlight and make space for Black Canadians, the art exhibit “Black Love, Joyful Lessons” showcases the achievements, stories, and culture of black Canadians. The exhibit is being held from January 30th to February 29th in the StFX Art Gallery (located in the student union building) between 1:00 and 5:00 pm. No appointment is needed, but a maximum of 10 visitors are permitted in the gallery at all times. The project was organized by StFX African Descent Student Affairs Coordinator Kelsey Jones and StfFX Art Gallery Director Dr. Andrea Terry. According to Jones, the BLACC (Biracial,
Latin X, African, Caribbean, and Canadian) student society also played an important role in inspiring the initiative. Featuring the work of 22 different artists, visitors can appreciate an array of poetry, videos, paintings, photos, and so much more. There is even an impressive quilt depicting the story of the underground railway. According to the StFX Art Gallery website, the goal of the exhibit is to promote “Black voices, experiences, and creative excellence. The artworks support and celebrate Black love, joy, healing, freedom, and self-determination.” The gallery indeed showcases the Black community’s talent and artwork, featuring the creativity of several Black artists to be appreciated. By hosting field trips, school tours and being open to the public throughout the entire month of February, both the Antigonish community and
many students have had the chance to engage with the exhibit. Social media and digital spaces also played an essential role in sharing the artwork with the public. Starting February 15th, students might recognize pieces from the exhibit on screens around campus. Photos of the work are also being shared on Facebook and Instagram. It goes without being said that the importance of appreciating Black artwork and artists endures beyond the month of February. By reserving a space solely for Black artists and their artwork, the community and student body gain an appreciation for the strength and power of the Black community that hopefully serves as a springboard for further interest throughout the rest of the year. The exhibit “Black love, joyful lessons” is a testament to the importance, beauty, and uniqueness of Black artwork. If you happen to have even thirty minutes to spare between midterms, be sure to check it out.
ARTS& COMMUNITY Interview with Violet Silva, New Board of Governor Representative
Violet was born in Alberta but now calls New Brunswick her home, she is in her first year in a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Climate and Environment. She says she loves StFX for its community. Her high school music teacher went to StFX and would tell stories and talk about both the campus and community with such passion, this inspired her as she knew she always wanted to feel passionate about where she went to school. Violet says being one of the Board of Governors representatives as a student is essentially the bridge between the board, the Student Union, and the students. The board is
the highest decisionmaking body, so her job is to bridge the gap between the highest officials and the students where the decisions are directly impacting. Violet has always been passionate about activism, making change, loves being in the room where decisions are being made and likes being in the discussion, she jumped on the opportunity to be a Board of Governors Representative. Violet says she wants to continue to be in the Student Union throughout her years at StFX and will continue to jump at every opportunity. As a new Board of Governors Representative Violet’s biggest goal is to reinvigorate sustainability at StFX. She says we have been making great strides towards climate action, but the pandemic has put us behind. Climate change is still here, and we still need to act towards it, we need to move past just advocating and start producing
SPORTS& HEALTH
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Student Spotlight: Chloe Walker KALI BEATON
HALLE CORDINGLEY, Editor & Staff Writer
The Student Unions elections are over, and candidates have been chosen. I decided to speak with Violet Silva, one of the newly elected Board of Governor Representatives to get to know about her position and goals for her upcoming time in the position.
Editor: Halle Cordingley Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
real change. She hopes to present some proposals and plans to make sure the decisions that are being made have sustainability in mind. Violet ended by saying “she encourages students everywhere to stand up for what they believe in and demand change, just because you’re not on a decisionmaking body doesn’t mean that your voice isn’t valid, reaching out to people who are in the position to make decisions, even if it isn’t asked for is so important to making sure that the campus continues to be a place for everybody.” Ultimately, it seems Violet is excited for her upcoming position, and will do some great work at StFX. I’m sure the students are excited for her to start her new role also!
Our first student spotlight is Chloe Walker, a fourth year Public Policy and Governance Honours Student. She is a member of the X-Woman Track and Field and Cross-country teams and she recently became a top 8 finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, a nationally renowned award. How did you choose StFX? Stfx has always been on my radar, my parents came and met here, and my grandparents came here, a lot of family connections gave me the idea I would love the experience here. I was on my way to a recruitment event and a prof from the department called me and that really felt like a sign that I should be coming here. I also oved the idea of being in a primary undergraduate school and to have close relationships with my professors, also socially it seemed like a great opportunity to meet new people. Chloe recently began a top 8 finalist of the Rhodes scholarship, a very nationally renowned achieve-
ment. What was her takeaway from the experience? A huge takeaway for me was that I got to reflect on a lot on the things I have done while at STFX, and proud that I did not do things with the intention in mind of achieving certain accomplishments, I choose things that I genuinely cared about and felt intrinsically good about. I left the experience proud of myself for achieving that and with no regrets of any of the decisions I made academically, athletically, and socially here at StFX. I felt very supported by a lot of my professors and friends through that process and it felt very nice to know I was making my professors proud. I really could not have been where I am if it were not for the support of the community here. It was also very cool experience to meet the other candidates, they were very impressive. What are you most proud of at your time here at X? I was a walk on for the Varsity Cross country and
Track team here and that was a huge goal I set for myself, but I think for me, what I am most proud of is the friendships and relationships I made, I think that is what has really made my experience here stand out. I feel like I won’t find better friend’s anywhere else. Also, I am proud I didn’t let school or sports take control of my life and that I still maintained a balance! What are you going to be pursuing after StFX this fall? I am planning on attending Law School next year, as of now I am attending Ottawa U, but I am still waiting to hear back from a few other schools. I am really excited about it. I think it will be a good opportunity to push myself, do things I care about and serve others, which is something that is important to me. What advice would you give to others that helped you get to where you are today? I think you should just do things you enjoy doing, do things independently and
Editor: Jack Milbank Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
Custio Clayton makes strides towards Welterweight championship fight JACK MILLBANK
Custio Clayton, aka the “War Machine”, is a Nova Scotian born and raised professional boxer. Born just two hours from Antigonish, He stands at 5’9” with an orthodox fight style (left foot in front). He iscurrently ranked sixth in the world under the International Boxing Federation rankings. He currently fights in the welterweight division which is 147lbs. He has a professional record of 19-0-1, 12 of those victories coming from knockouts. In his early boxing career, he represented Canada in the 2012 London Olympics. Not only did he make it to the quarter finals of his division but this was the first time in 8 years that a cadian had won a boxing bout in the olympics. Clayton’s accomplishments do not stop there, as he is also a six-time amateur Canadian national champion. Along with the Intercontinental Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) international champion, the World Boxing Council (WBC) continental champion and is currently the North American Boxing Association (NABA) - World Boxing Association (WBA) champion in the welterweight division since 2019.
The “War Machine’s” most recent fight had the potential for more titles. On October 24, 2020, Clayton fought against Sergey Lipinets for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title, his biggest fight yet. Although the fight was declared a draw, Clayton declared himself undefeated. Given his statement in a post fight interview, “I won that fight,” Clayton still believes that he will be the reigning champ one day. Sources say that Claytons next fight is rival Jaron Ennis. Custio Clayton is set to fight for the IBF welterweight title eliminator in the spring. The winner has been guaranteed a title shot for the IBF welterweight champion against the champion Errol Spence Jr. Nova Scotians and indeed many Canadians continue to watch Clayton’s success, using him as inspiration to realize hard work brings success. When he was growing up, Clayton remembers being told that there were many good fighters from Nova Scotia. Clayton is now among several talented boxers Nova Scotia has produced. Clayton continues to inspire both professionally and personally.
Wishing StFX Cheer goodluck in their upcoming competition!
OPINIONS
Editor: Sarah Laffin Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
Staying Safe in Icy Conditions (A Guide for Beginners) KRISTINA DANYK
With the recent state of the icy sidewalks, students have been seen sliding down slippery pathways on route to class. Slips and falls are some of the most frequent causes of injury during the winter months, and to avoid any unnecessary court cases, the school has sent out an email to make sure we are doing our very best to stay on our feet! The email details numerous steps students can take to remain safe. Although helpful, reading these tips brought me back to the days of my childhood where my mom would insist I wear my heaviest boots because “they have the most traction!” Being reminded not to run on ice is something you would think a kindergartener would know, but as a suggestion—as well as damage control—it is pretty good advice. Additionally, the email states that we should allow ourselves extra time to get to our locations to avoid having to run, but you know that when I have one class in Bruce Brown and the next in Schwartz, the last thing on my mind is walking slow.
The email also tells us to be extra aware of our surroundings in these hazardous conditions. We are told to keep our eyes off our phones while walking, but how am I supposed to do that when I need to text my friend that I’ll be late after going to Starbucks? As the only place to get non-Sodexo food on campus, it is usually quite busy. Last, but definitely not least, is my favourite part of the email: a step affectionately named the “penguin shuffle”. To do this, one should point their feet out and take small steps while keeping
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be spoken about with as much care as the email managed to achieve, it must be a true miracleworker! If all else fails, students can report icy or snowcovered areas to Facilities Management. Though they might not have much luck breaking through the couple inches of ice that exists on many campus pathways, at least someone will be there to listen to our grievances. In these conditions we must all do our part to remain safe, for more reasons than one. Be extra careful and remember that if anything happens, your best friend will be there to laugh at you on the ground!
their arms out for balance. Additionally, these steps should not be like normal walking— no, they should be with a completely flat foot. To me, this seems more like a waddle then a shuffle, but as someone who has not once ever seen someone do this, I can’t say for sure. As much as the penguin shuffle has become a bit of a laughing matter on campus, I have not yet tested the effectiveness of the step and therefore can not speak against it too harshly. Surely, to
Declutter Your Life and Go Make a To-Do List GRACE STILL
Laundry–check. Dishes–check. English paper–check. There’s something so satisfying about crossing off that task that you’ve been dreading for days on end. Truly, I never used to be a “to-do list” kind of person. What changed my mind? Maybe it was some madness or mayhem that made me start something to feel somewhat organized. Writing down a list–no matter how short or long–makes those dreaded tasks worth doing. Sometimes, it’s the act of actually starting somewhere rather than nowhere at all. Achieving the art of the “to-do list” is not as difficult as one would imagine. Actually, it’s far from difficult. All you need is a pen and paper. In fact, you can use the notes app on your phone, a virtual sticky note, quite literally, anything. I’ve begun finding so much satisfaction from completing to-do lists, they’ve become a part of my everyday routine. Even tackling one of the ten tasks I had set up for the day makes me feel satisfied. If your life is a mess or you want to seem like you have your life together, start simple and make a list. In fact, it creates the illusion that you have it all together, and even if you don’t, you have a piece of paper with everything you thought you couldn’t achieve crossed off. That’s something to be proud of. I encourage you to attempt this when you are most stressed, even when you’ve pushed off that assignment or haven’t cleaned your room in a week. The “to-do list” is most effective when you’ve procrastinated long enough for a jumble of tasks to form together. This jumble not only creates clutter in your garbage bin and dishwasher but also within your head. Once you’ve gotten to the point where you need to declutter, take some time to write out a to-do list. Speaking of, now that I’ve persuaded you to make a to-do list, I can now cross the completion of this article off my list. Check.
Is Hockey, Canada’s Beloved Sport, a Sport full of Discrimination? GRACE MACDONALD
Just in! Canadas beloved Ron MacLean announces his step down from Hockey Night in Canada and is soon to be replaced by his beloved friend from Southern Asia. Okay - what I just announced isn’t true, but how many people do you think would read that and holler ‘Southern Asia!?’ in disbelief and arguably disgust. As Canadians, we take immense pride in our nation and those who assemble it. We boast our kind-hearted people, our love of hockey, and our inclusiveness. We often express how in Canadian society we are unlike other countries, like the states, because we do not discriminate as they do. If we sit and think about our society today, especially in our hockey culture, is that true? Why should people care if it is true? When Canadians choose to take off their rose-coloured glasses, their naiveness is diminished and we perceive things for how they genuinely are. Canadians aren’t perfect and neither is the hockey community. I believe Canadian hockey culture is not 100% inclusive and we refuse to recognize that it’s true. This is an issue that needs to be talked about because we can not keep pretending like were excused from fault and consequence for being discriminative. Hockey culture needs to change for the better if we wish to act in a progressive manner in society. The NHL is where every young Canadian hockey player dream of ending up. It’s a league young hockey players and advocates idolized and admire. As of 2011, 93% of NHL players identified as white. o, it is without argument that most of these young Canadians only see white hockey stars to look up to.
One may say, well countries with colder climates tend to be predominantly white countries, you won’t observe people playing hockey in thirty-degree weather. I say not a valid enough reason! If you are in Toronto and head to a club, walk in, and there is only a handful of people that aren’t white, are you going to think to yourself, well I guess only white people like to party? Or would you take a second to think if there are underlying racial issues there? To have almost one hundred percent of a professional league identify as white players should stimulate a conversation on how that is the case? Why aren’t we ensuring more diversity? It is not just a matter of one’s race when regarding inclusivity, sexual identity and identified gender are often skepticized as well. Kennedy et al. discuss this in their journal article about the Humboldt Broncos. They talk about how to be referred to as an authentic Canadian sportsman you must identify as a cis, white, heterosexual man (Kennedy et al. 198). They grab a quote from Adams (2006, p. 71) saying “if hockey is life in Canada, then life in Canada remains decidedly masculine and white,” this feeds into my notion of dis-inclusion within hockey in Canada. Halifax, NS, just had their first recreational all queer hockey game, the LGBTQ+ community of hockey players produced this so that they felt safe while competing in hockey. A transgender Halifax native quoted in a CBC article that before his teammates found out he was trans everything was fine, but once they found out they proceeded to utter comments and he felt so unsafe around his teammates that he had to stop playing due to safety concerns. Are you still thinking that hockey has no underlying moral issues? Mark Connors, a 16-year-old black goalie from Halifax called racial slurs on and off the ice, 2021. Ben (not his real name), an indigenous hockey member of the Eskasoni Eagles Junior Hockey League, was victimized by 15 people yelling racist slurs and chants at him on the ice, the RCMP did nothing, 2021. Akim Aliu, a Calgary Flames former player made claims on the flames coach at the time saying, “he walked in before a morning pre-game skate and said, ‘Hey Akim, I’m sick of you playing that n—er s–t,’ ” with regards to Aliu’s choice of music for the session. “I’m sick of hearing this n—ers f–king other n—ers in the ass stuff.” 2020. These are just a few examples to make you uncomfortable. As Canadians, we need to feel uncomfortable and ashamed knowing this is how non-white hockey players are treated in Canada. I believe it is time to shift the narrative of what makes a ‘true’ Canadian hockey player and time to change our underlying white male superiority in this sport.
HOROSCOPES
Blanche Pagobo
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What to Look Forward to in the Month of March Aries (March 20-April 19) During March 2022, you should focus your attention on the reformation of your hopes, wishes, and dreams. Be with people who share something in common with you, as they can be inspirational in helping you to spark your creativity and develop new realities for yourself. Try out volunteering for organizations that are related to your interests and ideals. It is springtime. March 1st and 2nd may look a little rocky, feelings-wise, so take a look at the things you could leave behind from when the snow came. The 12th, 13th, and 14th might feel like a ‘why didn’t I deal with that icky old emotional issue back then?’ You should’ve taken care of it sooner. Call that mysterious semi-stranger on the 17th and ask them for advice but take it with a grain of salt, especially on the 19th. By the 23rd, all this turning-over-a-new-leaf energy rushes into you (again) and you and your enigmatic cutie end the month very sweetly—together. Taurus (April 19-May 20) The month of March is an excellent time for you to improve your status in the world. Review what you have accomplished since your birthday and get on that unfinished businesses. Some aspects of your original plan may need to be dropped, while others will require extra effort if you wish to manifest your goals. Your activities will affect your reputation for the next year. Are you having some end-of-winter blues? Cheer up: by the 5th, 6th, or 7th, not only will your internal emotional terrain be feeling firmer, but you’ll be making some rock-solid travel plans. Talk to your friends about how you’re feeling on the 15th, 16th, and 17th but be patient until they understand what you’re going through. Good news will come your way on the 19th or 23rd. Gemini (May 20-June 21) You will start March in a reflective mode from the 1st through the 3rd: you’re thinking about your place in the big scheme of things. Explore all the options on March 6th and 7th. Tackle all the big questions but don’t expect to get your answers overnight! Don’t be surprised if you start to see a whole new side to life starting on the 16th. Breakthroughs come in all shapes and sizes, and something shadowy could somehow become clear to you around the 17th or 18th. After all the hard work you’ve put in, you will have earned the lighter side-of-things, a break that comes your way on the 23rd, 24th, or 25th. At the end of the month, be sure to enjoy every bouncy, bubbly moment— you’ll have plenty of time for the big questions, and maybe sooner than later.
Scorpio (October 23-November 22) Home affairs are in the spotlight for Scorpio. These are all connected to the very slow changes that have been occurring in reference to your personal resources. Possible changes of residence could be present and an opportunity to increase your income could be coming your way as well. It is important to remember though that these experiences are attached to learning. You may have some worries and concerns but the overall picture looks favourable. Sagittarius (November 23-December 21) Communication is the focus of this month. Unexpected news connected to an old investment could be reaching you. Look at the pros and cons carefully in order to have a better understanding of the situation and avoid any rash decision. This is connected to something in the past that has caused you a lot of agitation but a well-learned lesson will come from this. Capricorn (December 21-January 21) You will be dealing with expenses this month and making decisions to fast could make you regret a lot of things. Try and slow your pace down throughout any situation. Everyone deserves a break now and then. Your toxic trait Capricorn, is that you may still continue to run the treadmill. This month, reconciling past responsibilities with the future with your partner could work out and you can both decide where you wish to be in your life. The emotional need to move forward is very necessary Capricorn. Aquarius (January 21-February 18) Connect with your friends this month. You could also be meeting new people but beware of some misguided information that could emanate from this. Remember that love and understanding on your part could mitigate any wrongdoing. You could be feeling somehow confused about your role in the past and what is expected from you in the present; lots of communication could enlighten you. Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Cancer (June 21-July 22) There could well be some transition pangs for Cancer in March 2022. Nobody said springtime was always easy—you might feel some kind of up-and-down, melt-freeze, melt-freeze-crack during the 1st through the 5th of the month. Don’t sweat it though, it’s okay to have a stop-go, stop-go pattern. With all this accumulated energy, you might want to help somebody else on the 8th, 9th, or 10th. It could be a friend, coworker, or a stranger, either way, you’ll feel a whole lot better than doing nothing, waiting for winter to end. New beginnings come your way on the 18th to the 20th. There are more fresh beginnings waiting for you, and you get a little preview of it on the 24th or 25th! Leo (July 22-August 22) Career and prestige are featured this month for you Leo and you might find yourself front and center in the arena that you call your life. Changes will occur in your home— either a move or major renovation. Relatives may even be hanging around more than usual. Children are somewhat highlighted this month. Look to work with some kids in the community who could use a big sister or big brother. Money will flow like crazy from now until next October and that means in and out. You are so generous with friends and family that you forget to save some for a rainy day. Consider looking into some savings for the extra expenses that will be coming your way very soon. If you were born in between 9am and 11 am EST, pay attention about the things you buy for your home. Virgo (August 22-September 22) Unexpected developments at work could find you changing your mind very rapidly a few times. Insecurity connected to the opportunity of a lucrative enterprise will be calling for negotiations. Harmony should prevail this month and the need to be cautious on shared financial matters that could be present. The second half of the month will find you with a lot of activity in your area of investments and speculations. A past opportunity of a partnership could be bouncing back into your life, this could cause you agitation concerning your career, and negotiations in money matters should be discussed. Libra (September 22-October 23) Social activities are in the limelight for you this month Libra. You might want to look into taking a short trip. This could come to you in an unexpected manner, however, work out your relationships first before taking this trip. This could come into reality on or after the 15th. Adjustments should be made and if you’re presented with an opportunity to mend a situation, do it. Your work area could also be super busy this month but you can easily adjust so you can take your trip. March will bring benefits to new contacts and alliances—your natural grace is enhanced in work and play.
You will find yourself changing your mind in many circumstances but you will most likely keep it to yourself Pisces. Confusion about past experiences could be reflected in your personal income and values. This could bring hard lessons for you and some worries in spite of the opportunity to improve your money area. Don’t be so hard on yourself even if you feel a strong sense of responsibility. Put some enthusiasm into doing some social and entertainment activity. Be energetic but don’t be careless—watch your steps!
CREATIVE PIECES
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Baptism in Ice ETHAN SABATELLA
The warmth of the womb Makes a man formless.
Must baptize himself in the
And seal it in a shroud of ice.
A soft bed and sweet meats
Embrace of northern blood
Under the dim gaze of dark gods
Makes a man lazy and fat.
That is the frigid blood
In the stygian dawn of the world,
The jeers of women and
Of deep, nighted rivers,
Ringed ‘round the great black maw,
Disownment from his brothers
The sparkling mail of mountains,
Ice has tempered the flames;
Makes a man red with fury,
The hoary grasp of Nodens—
It forged the cosmic titan Ymir
And black with sorrow—
Ice, a man must baptize himself
Whose body became the Earth—
The fires of toil train his body,
In the rimy caul of ice.
A man forged in the flames of life
Straighten the sword of his spine,
For it is ice that tempered the
And baptized in the shroud of ice
Harden the skin of his hands,
Antient Atlantean steel wrought
Can be remembered as a father,
And purge the venom of
By smiths with smoke in their lungs;
A chieftain for a clan of daring lads
Placidness from the sweat
It is the breath of the world’s darkness.
Hungry for the blaze of glory
Upon his bloody brow;
A man who endures its hammering blasts
And running headlong for the rest
But even the fires of toil
Will survive the slayings in winter,
In a good death.
Can burn a man to a cinder,
He will refuse the wraith-hand
But they must swim thro’ the
Leave him forgotten and
That leads to an easy death,
Primeval, wintry path of ice.
Drifting in grey, sighing winds.
He will bloody himself thro’ his deeds,
A man on fire from his art
Set his soul and flesh aflame,
Life
ALAIN MPENZI The condition that distinguishes animals and plants, inorganic matter including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activities and continual changes proceeding death.
But at the end of the day, you’re sitting on your bed thinking what next in this endless pursuit of happiness. I tell you what is next, chasing something random that you believe makes you happy.
Well, that makes total sense of how life is described as, however according to my perspective knowledge I define life is all about what you have but mostly is all about what you do with it. It is light sometimes and dark next. The more you look, less you see.
Aristotle said “happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence”
For long time, I believed that there was only one purpose of life and that was only to be happy, and I had so many questions whispering to my ears. Why do you think we go through all the pain and hardships? Is it to achieve happiness in same way people are pursuing happiness in their lives?
I think we need to look at the quote at the different angle, because when you recall it, you think happiness is the aim or main goal. I just can’t believe that happiness is a merely a byproduct of usefulness Things we do in life are just activities and experiences, you go out, you go on vacation, you get drunk. Those things should make you happy right? But they are not useful. You are not creating anything; you are consuming and that’s great.
That’s why we collectively buy a shirt we don’t like? buying a car we don’t like only to get approval by people we don’t like. But why do you think we do all this? I think it is to do with history, culture, medicine, economy, psychology, politics and information among others. People do everything to chase happiness, for instance you can buy something, and you think that makes you happy. You go on holidays and think that makes you happy. you hang up with friends and think that makes you happy.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to go out or go shopping sometimes but to be honest its not what give meaning to life What really makes people is when they are useful When you begin to treat everyone equal regardless of the color of skin, religion and tribe. To be compassionate, useful and honorable.
A Dark State of Mind ISABELLE VAUTOR
On the moon
I like my house
On the moon
Arsenic in the sugar
I have been born a werewolf
On the moon
My box of silver dollars
Killed them all
Full of tiny sparkling things
I had buried it
Punish me?
Things were very bright
On the moon
Not on the moon
On the moon
On the moon
I am walking over their dead bodies On the moon On the moon
There are no ghosts We have everything Everything’s safe
I had three magic words: An imperfect magic
CREATIVE PIECES
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Two wrongs do not make a right or a welltrained spy CATHERINE POAG
“Keira is headed to the back of the store.” The man said into his walkie talkie.
“Keira is distracted at the cash, ill make sure she stays there. Go break into her locker, see if there’s anything good in there.”
who was coming towards her. She saw another man dressed in black walking full speed towards her.
“Roger that.” Another man’s voice replied. Keira looked around the store, she had a funny feeling that someone was watching her. She peered to her right, only to see a man duck behind a shelf of CD’s. “Move, move, move,” the man said into his walkie, “I’ve been spotted.” The two men ran across the store, trying to avoid Keira’s gaze. Keira continued to walk to the back of the store to retrieve the new Carry Underwood CD, a woman had asked for. Keira grabbed the CD and headed back onto the floor. “Here you go Miss.” Keira said as she handed the CD to the women.
The two men split up; Ricky made his way to the employee break room as John made his way to the cash and grabbed a few things to check out with.
“You idiot!” John yelled at Ricky, “She’s not supposed to know who we are.”
“Yes, I did. Thank you for your help.” The women replied as she took out her wallet from her purse.
“Oh right, never mind I’m not Ricky.” Ricky said, as he winked at John. John just shook his head.
“That will be $68.33 please.” Keira told the women. The women reached into her wallet and pulled out $80 dollars. Keira took the money and pulled out the women’s change from the cash register. “$11.67 is your change,” Keira said as she handed the money to the women. “Thank you,” the woman replied.
A man dressed in black stood up from behind a counter, looked around the room, and made his way towards Keira and the women. He searched for the other man’s whereabouts as he moved. “Where are you, John?” He asked into the radio. “Ricky, were supposed to be using our code names remember! Also look beside you.” Ricky looked beside him, and jumps. John had snuck up to the left of him.
“I’m Ricky.” Ricky told her.
“Did you find everything okay?” Keira asked as she rang through the items.
“Do you have eyes on her?” “Yes Sir, she is chatting with a customer in the CD section, move in towards her,” the man’s voice said across the radio.
“Who are you guys?” Keira asked petrified.
“Have a nice day,” Keira called after her. The man moved forward towards the counter and he put his items on the counter to be scanned. “Good Evening.” Keira greeted him. “Did you find everything you were looking for today?” “Not everything,” the man said as he put his hand over Keira’s as she grabbed the items. “I’m sorry, is there something I can help you find?” Keira asked, as she moved her hand away. “I’ve been looking for you, but now I have found you,” the man replied with a smirk.
“Do you guys have her yet?” Another mans voice came across the radio. “Have who?” Keira shifted uncomfortably. “You.” Ricky replied, “We’ve been watching you for days.” “You’re not supposed to tell her that Ricky!” John said as he slapped Ricky upside the head. Keira turned towards the exit and started to run. “This is your fault she is running.” John said to Ricky as he took off after her. “Shit.” Ricky said as he followed. The two men chased Keira around the store, trying to corner her. They watched as Keira tried to slip out the back door. “I got her, you idiots.” A mans voice came from the radio, “meet me in the van, so we can figure out what to do with her next.”
“Goodness, you scared me.” “Excuse me?” Keira asked. “Shush you idiot, she is going to hear you,” John whisper-yelled at Ricky. Keira looked up from the CD section, thinking she heard something. She scanned the room but didn’t see anyone around her.
“Your name is Keira Fredrick, right?” The man asked with a smile. “Yes, how do you know my name? Who are you?” Keira asked as she picked up the phone, getting ready to put a call into security.
“That was a close one,” Ricky chuckled to John. The women had finally gotten all the CD’s she wanted, and made her way towards the cash, Keira followed her to ring her though.
“I’d put the phone down if I were you.” The man said, as he motioned for Ricky to make his way towards them. Keira watched him motion and turned to see
“What the actual hell?” ISABELLE VATOUR
“What the actual fuck?” You can always count on people to be dumb as hell
I felt sick
Go.
It all made a horrible kind of sense
I wasn’t done with the war
Stumbled on the truth, but not the whole truth Empathy, moral intuition, and the ability to stand up to authority to do what conscience demands
A Trap Time Stopped
The President: But that hardly mattered Wrong about everything The past and present were collapsing Guilty as charged A funny feeling tickled my spine The Board: a bloated bureaucracy of incompetence And still they keep their hands clean Even as a storm of protestors massed outside the White House gates
A whiff of something wrong It’s funny… it’s all happened before In the end, I could come up with only one thing to say
But no point looking for the storm before the storm looks for you
7 Arms flexed, hair unbound ZOEY PHILLIPS
I rarely think of my childhood home, probably because I spent little time inside of it. My parents were young and broke, and consequently, we lived in a small apartment that my mother was constantly shoving me out of. My younger sister and I would tumble out our front door after scarfing down breakfast and spend our days roaming the streets like alley cats. At the end of a long day, our knees would be filled with gravel, our clothes dusted with hopscotch chalk, and our hands blistered from climbing trees. Sticky, sweaty and smeared with city, it was only when the streetlights turned on that our curfew ended. As is expected from a child, I felt pure devastation when my parents announced that we would be moving. I mourned the loss of my freedom as my new street crawled with cars and birthed only narrow yards. My father sensed my grief and crafted a surprise. Once a carpenter, he dug through his pile of scraps and built a wooden swing set. He used coarse white rope to attach three bright yellow swings, one for each of his children, painted the brittle wood with a leftover terra cotta colour, and revealed it to me upon our move. It was love at first sight. That swing set became one of my closest childhood friends. My younger sister and I would spend hours after school and entire weekends pushing each other. Her white hair would
float behind her as she begged to go higher, full cheeks squealing with delight. We were contestants in the playground Olympics, wowing the crowds with our underduckies, jumps, and daring shenanigans. Other times we swung unrestrained, raking fall leaves into piles that didn’t stand a chance against the barrage of catapulting children ejecting from their swings. Arms flexed, hair unbound, I would reach heights where my body was parallel to the sky and the sound of speed whipped by my ears upon my descent. On lazy days, I would swing softly, cradle a book in my lap and enjoy being immersed in the fictional world my swing set lulled me away to. A romantic place to read, a weapon of choice and an opportunity to hear my younger sister giggle─these are all memories that I only now remember, but as a child, they made up my entire world. As I grew up, my swing set aged with me. Once a proud terra cotta, its paint began to peel, exposing wood greyed with tire. The stakes once driven into the ground loosened, and with every swing, the entire A-frame heaved and groaned like a grandpa hoisting himself from a chair he had settled into. The back leg would even lift a couple of centimetres from the ground when someone dared to test its limits. I grew gangly and could no longer swing without dragging my sneakers in the grass below. Eventually, I created a bald strip in my backyard, a cleft constant-
ly expanding. When leaves were raked up, we simply put them away, and it was discovered that popsicles could be eaten on the porch in a much neater fashion. For no specific reason, I ignored my swing set. When my father announced his plans to sell it, I didn’t protest. And sure enough, when it was driven away, I was unaffected. Sometimes while eating my cereal, I’ll still glance out the window to where it once stood. All that remains of its legacy is uneven terrain and stripped earth. Even though several years have passed, the grass refuses to regrow as if it mourns the loss of a dear friend, the bald patch serving as a hollow reminder of the swingset’s forgotten magnificence. Last Thursday, as I slowed my pace to admire the stillness of an empty playground, an impulsive need to ditch the pavement for grass overcame me. There was something bewitching about its shiny red metal frame bordered with rust. I mounted the glossy seat and gripped its silver chain filmed with sticky fingers, began to pump my legs, toes tickling the belly of the sky. Arms flexed, hair unbound; it was as if I existed only to swing. My mind was devoid of care, weightlessness I had forgotten. Placing my faith in the universe, I let go, allowing my body to soar through the sky, mind flooding with euphoria, barely tensing with the knowledge that I would soon be grounded to the pit of sand below.
4 LINES FREE
8
Harvard is still very much out of my price range Boys are weird Nyd yw y gwr yn ty Country night< Matthew McConaughey musicians r hot Dibs on the violin I want the rock and roll guy I like the piano man I want the saxophone Dibs Dibs on the drummer only if he’s a heavy metal singer I fold Guitar… Wearing PJS in pubic is unacceptable apples to pears instead of love and war make children go bald Stressed? give up Stressed? Call Ivan Meatball meatloaf is on the rise Bye starbs, convience 4 you is $1.50 coffee Hey Alex, pick me up at 6 for Dinner.. Babies only see red!