SIX WORD MEMOIRS

“Loudness is a Necessity in Life.” Emma Schuller

“Laughter is my medicine; I overdose.” Alyssa Barcia

“Many awesome friends; one lucky person.” Noah Chun

“Life’s triple play: Catching-Fielding- Managing.” Michael Wright

“Life has problems – basketball fixes them.” Elliott Wehrle

“My journey is a constant struggle.” Amber Chan

“Living among the highest tree tops.” Leah Higgins

“Falling through the passing of time.” Alma Erickson

“Giving up isn’t in my vocabulary.” Sarah Y. Ryu

“My Life Story? Still being written.” Adina Radu

“Hyperbole is the key to friendship.” Gregory Duke

“While others walk, I simply run……” Sally Hwang

“I am a contradiction; compliantly inflexible.” Elettra Preosti

“As long as you are having fun.” Nina DiMeglio

“You can’t go back in time.” Ihkwan Kim

“Someday my art will be noticed!” Cassy Blanco

“The world of weird, crazy me.” Carlos Lemos

“Hard work will pay off someday.” Cameron Crosby

“I have always embraced my life.” Isabella Edgarian

“I live like there’s no tomorrow.” Jordan Lee

“Shooting buckets makes me go wild.” John Weber

“I am defined by my jerseys.” Demetrius Kazanas

“Why work when you can dance.” Sophia Spiegel

“I am known for awesome style!” Jonathan Guerra

Rain

It rained today Yesterday

And a day once more It never did Not before

It rained today

And it will rain tomorrow I watch from the window as rain drops in sorrow

And hear the tick-tock of that stupid clock The sound belittles, saddens, and mocks

Time, it taunts me

It brought me upon a different sort of life Where the birds do not chirp

And the sky is painted with strife So I wait for the sun to come my way

But for now it will rain

And I hope for the light of a new day

Dina Tutari

LIMERICKS

SIXTH PERIOD CLASS There was once a terrible class. With the grades they got, they would never pass. They all fooled around. Their report cards were F bound And they always gave the teacher sass. Dane Gannon

THE WISH

There once was a very big fish This very big fish had only one wish “I wish I could fly up high in the sky

Like all the others do.” But it wasn’t to be

The wish couldn’t come true Because water made the big fish

Squeamish!

Rihana Illias

A PREDICAMENT There was an old man with a beard Who said, “It is just as I feared.” Two geese and a hen My friends Tom and Ben Are all stuck in my big bushy beard. Jason D’Souza

PARADOX

There once was a girl from school Everyone thought she was cool.

But she was quite mean From her attitude you could glean

That anyone who trusted her was a fool.

Faith D’Anna

LEONIA BASEBALL TEAM There once was a baseball team that was great Runners would steal and slide into home plate The catcher would frame Two no-hitters were claimed And endless victories were theirs to celebrate. Dane Gannon

MEN

There once was a boy who played ball Because he was very, very tall.

His brains were hard to find Females occupied his mind

Sports and girls were his life and that’s all.

Faith D’Anna

HAIKU

SNOWBOARDING Board beneath your feet There is snow all around you Memories of fun Julianna Choi

A DAY AT THE BEACH A day at the beach

My amazing book with me On my fuchsia chair

Maya Tutari & Emely Torres

VOLLEYBALL Like a bird, it flies

Across the court with a slam, Breaking all silence.

Gianna Pernetti & Alexis Kim

DOCTOR Like a tree, he is Stable, controlled and in charge Saving us from pain. Gianna Pernetti & Alexis Kim

JULY 4TH I see red and blue,

That enlighten the night skies To show happiness.

Gianna Pernetti & Alexis Kim

Favorite Memory No more studying It has all come to an end Into the summer.

Sally Chun & Kaylee Kim

CAREER CHOICE Choices in the midst Endless possibilities

Not sure what to choose.

Sally Chun & Kaylee Kim

OUR FAVORITE FOOD Apples, fresh and crisp Granny Smith and Gala too A gift from nature.

Ashley Choi & Kaylee Rivera

OUR CAREER CHOICE I am President

Taking control of the world Always wise and fair

Ashley Choi & Kaylee Rivera

FAVORITE HOBBY Soft voice pierces the air

Sings a melodic ballad Like a gentle breeze

Alex Bien

CAREER CHOICE Pots boil and pans fry This is the life of a chef Nature’s wholesome food

Alex Bien

DISNEYLAND Laughter here and there

And the sky as clear as glass In a world of dreams

Jeong Min Kweon

EARTH DAY Barely acknowledged Earth has a special day too To cherish it’s bloom. Jeong Min Kweon

WATCHING TV Hiding from the sun

Potato chips on the couch Staying up all night.

Sarah Y. Ryu & Haemi Lee

ICE CREAM Sweet, creamy and cold A fine treat for the summer On a waffle cone.

Sarah Y. Rhu & Haemi Lee

FAVORITE HOBBY Splashing in the lake Fish struggling to escape I adore fishing. Brian Terreros

HAIKU Draw like a warm spring

Expressing creatively Light and colorful.

Michelle Byun

HAIKU Hot summer has passed

It is the first day of school Summer come again.

Michelle Byun

THE SEASONS They’ve all changed colors Red and brown leaves falling Next will come winter. Andreanna Z. Papatheodorou

SEASONS Water parks and pools Barbecues and summer blues Why doesn’t it last?

Andreanna Z. Papatheodorou

CHRISTMAS

It’s the time of year The sweet smell of the Christmas tree

Hanging all the lights.

Jeremy Pak & Marcus Duran

GOLFING

The golf ball flew far Sat at the edge of the green The sign of relief. Khine Nunu

MY MEMORY She caressed my knee

As it swelled from itchiness I held out the bee.

Sophia Kim-Brookes

HIKING Follow a dirt path Stones surround me as I run Waterfall nearby. Jordan Lee

\

HAIKU

Falling to the ground I watch a leaf settle down

In a bed of brown.

Cameron Crosby

As the wind does blow Across the trees, I see the Buds blooming in May Cameron Crosby

Into the water Never to come out again

A shielded beauty

Cameron Crosby

Golden leaves falling Water dripping from the leaves Mockingbirds in trees. Cassy Blanco

THE WOODS Sweaters and pine trees

Gathered around the campfire Feeling the sweet warmth.

Sophia Spiegel

DREAMS I never quite knew Just what I wanted to do But I knew I’d fly. Sophia Spiegel

FAVORITE SPORT The crack of the bat The sweet smell of the ball Baseball is the best.

Demetrius Kazanas

CELLIST Crowd in front of me Sounds flowing from my cello Encore they all say Jordan Lee

Kleos and the Eruption of Ntropi

Long ago on the island of Thera,

there was a queen named Agape. Her

loving and handsome husband was

gruesomely killed in a battle for land, and

all her life, conquerors desired her for their

wife. This was not surprising for Agape,

for she was a fair maiden, sister of Helen

of Troy. Legend claims that the queen was

far more beautiful than Helen, that if

anyone lay upon her gaze, they would

immediately fall in love.

Hades, the god of death and the

underworld, was forlorn and miserable, as

he saw his lovely Persephone wave good-bye. He wretchedly watched her as

she broke to the surface of the mortal world.

“Why? Why can’t Persephone actually like me, and stay with me the

whole year? What is wrong with all these women rejecting me? Am I ugly?”

Hades muttered as he tossed a steak at Cerberus, who pulled and gnashed at

it with its three massive heads. Distraught, he tore into the earth’s surface.

Hades climbed up the colossal Mount Olympus in search for his brother,

king of the gods, Zeus.

“Zeus! Zeus!” Hades called for the mighty god, as he summoned rock

pillars to push him to the top of the mountain.

“Hades,” Zeus called as the god of death leapt off the columns of

blood-red stones. Zeus was all dressed in white, as he sat on his matching

throne, like a king.

“Zeus, I need your help. Please find me a wife,” Hades begged.

“But Hades, you’ve got Persephone,” he reminded Hades, while

tapping his fingers on his throne.

“No… for the spring and the summer!”

“I’m afraid, I can’t do that…” Zeus replied. “But Aphrodite can.”

Without another word, Hades dove off of Zeus’s temple and headed

straight towards Aphrodite’s temple.

Hades begged to Aphrodite as she listened to every detail; Hades’s

sorrow, his love life, his broken hearts. She looked at him in sympathy as he

explained.

“Please Aphrodite, please help me find someone who will love me,”

Hades asked.

“As you wish,” Aphrodite replied as she led Hades to a large city in

Thera.

…

“Agape. Agape!” a mysterious voice called for her as she cautiously

got out of bed and opened her door. Agape slowly looked out, but was

viciously swooped up by a shadow. She saw a black beard and heard the

screams of the dead.

“Hades,” was the only thing Agape thought as she dreamt of falling in

a dark hole.

Hades brought her to his palace in Tartarus, where he set up a throne

for his new wife, Agape. She learned to love Hades and when Agape was

pregnant, she had a dream that their baby grew up into a ruthless killer.

Agape ran to tell Hades about her dream when they heard an angry scream.

Thunder rumbled and shook the ground, as a bolt of lightning struck the

earth. The ground split in half as Zeus jumped into Tartarus. His expression

was as mad as the thunder around him.

“HADES!” Zeus boomed in anger.

Hades was confused, for he did not know what he did wrong.

“Bring Agape back! You already have Persephone!”

“B-but she is only with me for hal-”

“You may be my brother, but Persephone is still my daughter. You

and your wretched son will be cursed forever!” and without another word

Zeus jumped out and left the dark and gloomy underworld.

Later that year, Agape gave birth to a

monster; part eagle, part goat, part lion, that

ate human flesh and emitted hot rocks and fire

that we call lava. To control this monster, the

people of Thera dug a hole into a mountain

and it became the monster’s home. The beast

was called Ntropi after the Greek word,

shame. Ntropi was easy to control at first, but

as it grew stronger, it became more

dangerous, almost burning the whole island of

Thera.

Somewhere else, in the island of Crete, a young warrior practiced his

sword and archery skills, which surpassed every other hero and god,

including his father, Apollo.

His name was Kleos, for he was the glory of the island of Crete, hero

and heir of Apollo.

“Kleos! Kleos!” the trader from the market ran to the hero with haste.

“Did… Huff. Huff. Did you hear about the monster?”

Kleos stared at the trader with curiosity and determination. “What

monster?” he asked boldly.

“Ntropi, the fiercest monster that ever lived. People say, it lives in a

mountain, and feeds off of human flesh,” the trader said with a shiver of

fear. “The people of Thera are in trouble, but I’m not telling you to kill it, I

just wanted to know if you were willing to help.”

“As my job as a hero, I am willing to help,” Kleos firmly said as he

sprinted down the road towards the docks.

Back in Thera, Ntropi grew uncontrollably strong, as it killed people

and ate them up. It erupted into flames and caught the whole city on fire.

Kleos was at the docks but there were no boats. Just then, three

glowing figures appeared before him; Zeus, Demeter, and Apollo, his father

he never met.

“Kleos, we support you on killing Ntropi,” they chanted in unison.

“We all hate Hades and his son, too, and so we have things for you to take

for your journey.”

“Those armor are useless. Ntropi

will just burn them up,” Demeter said

while handing over black armor with gold

lined around it.

“ Kleos, accept Pegasus and this

lightning sword to help you with your

voyage,” Zeus firmly commanded.

The hero then stared at his father

awkwardly, when Apollo held out his

hand. “Take this enchanted arrow. It was

tipped in the River Styx, and can kill on

contact. Good luck,” Apollo said as the

three gods dissolved into the air.

The young warrior, determined to

kill the beast, put on his armor, and jumped onto Pegasus’s back.

“Hyah!” he screamed as the winged horse lifted into the air and Kleos

made his way to Thera.

“GRRRR!” Ntropi could be heard miles away, where Kleos swiftly

made his way to save the people of Thera.

Lava poured off the sides of the volcano as Ntropi roared. Kleos

jumped off of Pegasus and into the sizzling volcano. A normal mortal would

have died due to the extreme temperature, but he was a demigod and had the

armor that Demeter gave.

Ntropi growled and lunged at Kleos, who was standing on a pillar of

rock. The warrior stuck out his arm to choke the monster, but his hand got

burned badly.

“Aarrgghh!” Kleos screamed as the searing pain melted into his arm.

The monster bashed into him, knocking all the armor off, as it

dropped into the magma around him.

With the remainder of his strength, Kleos stuck the lightning sword

into Ntropi’s chest.

Ntropi roared in agony and pain, but still lunged at Kleos.

“What do I do?” Kleos thought. “I feel so weak.” Just then as the

beast jumped at Kleos, he remembered the arrow. We quickly grabbed his

bow, and drew his arrow.

Thock! The arrow pierced into Ntropi body, as it fell into the lava

deep under the earth.

Kleos’s whole body was burnt and he slowly felt his eyes close. His

body fell of the pillar and into the magma, as he started to dissolve. A

teardrop trickled off his cheek and as soon as it touched the magma, the

whole volcano exploded. All the people of Thera died from the horrible

eruption; the poisonous gas, the lava, and the huge tidal wave caused by the

explosion.

Kleos did not get his proper burial and his honor he should have

deserved. People blamed him for the destruction of Thera, but at least the

monster was stopped… for now.

Two thousand five hundred years later, Ntropi, still angry, ascended

from the underworld and exploded again. But that time, in a large city called

Pompeii, where Ntropi got its Roman name, Vesuvius.

Isaac Yi

How the Planets got their Names: Greek Myth

Corinne Pita

“Ahhhhh….what a lovely day,” thought Zeus, the mighty thunder god and king of Olympus. He

and his wife Hera were celebrating their 1000 year anniversary out in the fields of the island of Crete,

and they were perfectly alone, since they had ordered mortals to leave the island for the occasion.

Instead of a giant party, the just wanted peace and quiet, and that’s just what they had.

“Indeed, Zeus. You couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate our anniversary.” Hera

stated fondly.

“Only the best for my queen.” Zeus crooned as he kissed his lovely wife on the cheek as they

roamed around the abandoned island. Or was it abandoned? Lurking in the shadows behind their

father were Ares, god of war, Hermes, god of mischief, travelers, thieves, and herald of the gods,

Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, Demeter, god of the harvest, Hades, god of the dead, and

Poseidon, god of the sea. And no, they were not there to celebrate the happy king and queen’s

anniversary. They had something much more mischievous planned for the happy couple. . .

“What a perfect plan, Hermes!” Ares declared when the gods hushed him. Zeus and Hera

looked around, but soon thought the sound was just the gentle wind Zeypher, and carried about on

their long silent walk throughout Crete.

“I can’t believe they were foolish enough to have their anniversary in an abandoned island!

This is the best place to pull a prank: a place with no witnesses!” Hermes whispered to himself, since

he was on the other side of the couple with Hades’s invisibility cloak raped over him while the rest hid

behind a rock. He was fond of pranking, being the god of mischief, and decided to pull a prank on Hera

for accusing him of boring Argus, her faithful servant to death. Well, he would use this as his excuse

for pulling the prank anyway, since he really DID bore him to death. Aphrodite was only doing this

because Ares persuaded her to do it by reminding her how she had been taken away from him and

given to Hephaestus on account of Zeus.(He did this because they needed her magic sleeping powder,

otherwise he would have just let her be innocent and have nothing to do with the matter.) Otherwise

she would sit with her husband while he made her jewels and let the two be, since love is her favorite

thing and she would never disrupt any celebration having to do with love, like an anniversary. Ares

had gotten into a fight days early with his dad since he would not let him go to the war games going

on in Greece. Poseidon and Hades, on the other hand, were there for the same cause: they had both

loved Hera and wanted her for their bride, and when Zeus won her over by swooping in as a cuckoo

into her arms during a thunderstorm he OBVIOSLY created to act as an abandoned little bird right

when they both were about to present her with lovely gifts to see who would be better fitted for her,

they became angry with jealousy and swore revenge on Zeus for taking her away from them. Now, on

their most special anniversary, they decided to work with Hermes to sabotage the lovely day. If only

they knew how much trouble they would get into!

Sneaking up behind them, Aphrodite would use some of her magic sleeping dust to make Zeus

and Hera fall to the ground unconscious. Ares would then take them to the nearest shores in his

chariot which contained the giant cliff. Hermes, with his magic wand would then touch the eyes of the

sleeping couple, and after a second to make sure they were awake, he would run away fast in his

winged shoes. Hades, in his cape of invisibility would make noise and draw the couple to the rocky

cliff high above the sea. The Poseidon would create a wave so big it would push the two off the cliff

into the water, making them soaking wet. All they needed now was Hermes’s signal, and then the plan

would fall into action.

After they waited for a while, Ares became impatient and peaked over the rock they were

hiding behind.

“Hermes!” he whispered loud enough for him to hear but not his parents. Being the god of

war, he was specialized at calling out to soldiers on his side without having the enemy hear him call,

giving away his hiding spot.

“What?!?” Hermes whispered back.

“Dude, we’ve been sitting here for, like, an HOUR waiting for mom and dad walk to the attack

spot, but instead of walking, their just kissing and talking and moving an inch a minute!!!”

“What did you expect? They would just HAPPEN to waltz to the exact spot we need them to

be? It’s not like you’re in a war were all your troops are exactly where they need to be exactly when

you want them to! You have to be patient! This takes precision, and one wrong move will have us

blown into ashes!”

“Uhhhhh. . . well, they had BETTER hurry up, or I’LL chop you to BITS for making us wait

here for an HOUR for them to prance to a spot they may never COME ACROSS!”

This scarred Hermes and made him tense, because he knew how brutal and ruthless his

brother could be. This made him lose concentration, and caused him to miss when his parents finally

approached the spot in which they needed to be. Hermes, in sudden shock of realizing that his parents

were finally there, gave the signal without taking off the invisibility cloak. Nobody saw, of course, and

still being a bit dazed, he had no idea why, so he decided to go tell them that they could start. He

tripped on the cloak, making him fall right next to his parents who could not see him, but could

defiantly hear him.

“Ok, REVEAL YOURSELF!” yelled Zeus in a trembling voice almost as scary as his lightning

bolts. Hermes quickly scrambled away towards the group, the gods waving their hands and mouthing

“NO! GO AWAY! NO!” but Hermes, in such a struggle to get away from his outraged father, ignored

their pleas and quickly hid behind the rock, but only for a second, because mighty Zeus, who had

followed the sound, quickly used his mighty strength to lift the bolder and throw it far as the eyes,

even of the gods, could see.

“AHA! So here are the culprits!” he said in a triumph before realizing that these were not

ordinary, sneaky Cretans who had decided to stick around and catch a glimpse at the glorious gods,

but his own kinsman who sat there in front of him, fear covering every part of their body and

petrifying them.

“How . . . why . . . who . . .” and as soon as the shocked Zeus said “who” everyone pointed at

Hermes, who had sat right in the middle of them to try and be covered up. Obviously, THAT didn’t

work, since now his father stared at him blankly.

“SEE? I told you he was only good for mischief.” piped in Hera, scolding him. Though not his

birth mother, Hermes feared her like one would fear one’s own mother. But Zeus remained in blazing

shock, piercing his sons and brothers (at least his daughters and sisters had enough sense to not mess

with Zeus on such a special day.) with a death-stare of shock.

“Um . . . if . . . I could just say that this was ALL Hermes’s idea . . .” began Ares. If he had just

kept that fat mouth of his shut, maybe he wouldn’t have been hurled into space, but he was. Zeus just

grabbed Ares and pitched him out of Earth like a pitcher would (not that anyone KNEW what that was

at the time.) and off Ares went, landing on the desolate planet Mars with a thud so juristic. It had no

name, so Ares had no idea where he had landed. He just got up and looked around, pleased by the

blood red appearance of the atmosphere. “Hello?” he called, and began to wander around, having no

clue of what just happened.

Back on Earth, the other gods, even Hera, were mortified in fear and looked back up at Zeus

after getting a grip on what just happened. Zeus had a crooked, satisfied smile on his face, and turned

to the other gods so they could see in his eyes how angry he still was, even with that eerie smile.

“Who’s next,” he drawled slowly as he began to walk towards Poseidon.

“Brother . . .” he chuckled nervously. “I never would have done anything to . . .” and quickly

as you could say “throw” was Poseidon picked up by his brother and chucked, but this time in the

opposite direction in which Ares was thrown, screaming in fear as he hurled deeper into the cold

infinity of space until he found himself on a faraway planet that we now know as Neptune.

“Oh my . . .” whispered Poseidon to himself (as if anyone would hear) as he realized what had

just happened to him. It was funny though, since the planet looked exactly as the dark blue see did,

like Zeus was aiming for coordinating planets in which each god was thrown. He got up, or at least he

tried to, when he realized there was no ground and that he had just been floating in the center of a

vast blue planet. As if he was in the middle of a swimming pool, he swam his way around and began

exploring the ice cold atmosphere.

“Zeus . . .”Hera began, but was shut up when Zeus replied in a Cronus-like tone “They MUST

pay. I will not let them free for ruining our most special day. THEY MUST PAY!” he screamed at the

cowering gods, now crying tears that shimmered with fear, since they though both gods where dead at

the hands of their mighty ruler, and feared they were next.

“Zeus, you must understand. These are your kinsman. You can’t just chuck them into

oblivion. Zeus . . .” Hera tried again. Sadly, he was lost in his rage, walking towards Hades with a

glowing smile that could have frightened even mighty Cronus.

As you can predict, the rest of the gods got chucked into the vastness of space at

corresponding planets. Hermes got the worst of it, since it WAS his idea to trash the special day, and

found himself on boiling Mercury, the toxic air, filling his godly lungs and nearly suffocating him, but

being a god, he could not die by something as harsh as toxic air, and sat there, suffocating, instantly

regretting what he had tried to do. Meanwhile, all the other gods Zeus had thrown were on their own

planet, each having a similarity to the planet they were caught on. Aphrodite landed on pretty Venus,

the landscape of bright yellowish colors quite dazzling, and the goddess instantly liked it, since some

colors matched her glowing hair. Hades landed on Pluto, and embraced the dull look of the planet. He

couldn’t believe his luck on landing such a wonderful planet. All the gods, except Hermes, fell in love

with the planets that they landed on.

Hera was silent, and Zeus, realizing what he had just done; fell to the ground in tears. Hera

tried to comfort him, but he shook her away, and she eventually called for Iris’s rainbow to take her

back to Olympus.

Zeus sat there for days, crying and crying, tears covering the island of Crete, thinking that he

had just killed his sons and brothers and the most beautiful woman he had ever known. He eventually

returned to Olympus mournfully, and his wife and brothers and sons and daughters welcomed him,

Hermes most happy to see him, and Aphrodite gave him a welcome home kiss. Wait . . . Hermes?

Brothers? Aphrodite? He looked up. There stood Aphrodite, Hermes, Ares, Poseidon, and Hades (the

first time he had ever visited Olympus) all looking at their king joyfully. He hugged them all at once,

with the same strength he had used to throw them into oblivion.

“My brothers and sons and beautiful Aphrodite,” he began. “I cannot tell you how happy I am

to see you. Is there anything I can do for you to clean off my sins?”

Hermes stepped forward. “Father, we ask that you allow us to remember our mistake by

naming the planets after ourselves so that every mortal and decedent of the mortal may know the

mistake we made so that they will never make it themselves.” Even though Hermes didn’t find it

suitable that he be named after an inhabitable, scorching, deadly little planet, he knew he would never

forgive himself if he let mortals go about making the same mistakes he made.

Zeus, proud of his son for his thoughtful wish gladly decreed that the planets would be named

after the god that wanted it named after themselves. Aphrodite got pretty Venus, though called

Aphrodite at the time, Hermes got Mercury, Hades got dull Pluto, and Poseidon got sea-blue Neptune.

Zeus had a party to celebrate the occasion of the day that the planets got named, and rejoiced in

having his whole family back.

When the Roman’s took over, they kept the legacy of the gods in their hands and kept the

names of the planets, just in Roman. Hermes became Mercury, Aphrodite became Venus, Hades

became Pluto, and Poseidon became Neptune; but they did not stop there. They named the colossal

planet (Jupiter) after the head god Jupiter, and they decided to honor his father and name the

neighboring planet that was just barely smaller than Jupiter Saturn, to represent how Zeus barely

overtook his father, Cronus. (Or in this case, how Jupiter took over Saturn.) Now you know why those

big circle things orbiting that hotter circle thing have names, because I assure you, those dumb circles

just circling in space doing NOTHING ELSE wouldn’t have gotten their names any other way.

Six Sentence Stories

“The Quiet Soldier”

“Hey Jake,” I greeted as I treaded toward him more quietly than a mouse. I held some flowers and his birthday present in my trembling

hands as I sat in front of him. He remained silent as always. Jake’s been quiet ever since he came back from war three years ago. Ever since he

left our family prayed that he’d come back, but not like this. “Happy birthday, Jake,” I wept, as I placed the flowers and present in front of his tombstone.

April Hong

“Overrated Love”

He always made me smile. We would sit laughing for hours about things that didn’t make any sense. Only he understood me. He was the

only one who made me feel like I actually fit in. This one beautiful Sunday night I walked into the restaurant with him, laughing, but walked out alone, crying. If only I had walked into another restaurant.

Taylor Molina

Poetry

“The Raging Calm Sea”

The deep blue sea

As treacherous as can be Waves pound the shore

Humans shaken to the core The sea roars “BEGONE!”

Ships cannot go on The sea takes and doesn’t give back

What’s left over; a ran sacked shack The deep blue sea

As treacherous as can be The deep blue sea

As calm as can be Waves roll toward the shore

Humans serene to the core The sea invites “c’mon!”

Ships sail smoothly on The sea leaves be and gives hope back

What’s given; a new clean shack The deep blue sea

As calm as can be

Daniel Park

THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

One might say she’s beautiful One might say she’s fat

One might say at some point She’ll own a dozen cats

One might say they despise him

One might say he’s cool One might say he’s awesome

Or maybe just a tool

One might say they love her One might say they hate her One might like to praise her While others will berate her

One might say they adore him

One might say he’s cute One might wish they didn’t know him

Or wish that he was mute

Some will see the devils That sit upon their shoulders While others see the angels Oh, the eye of the beholder

Aiyanna R. Orta-Batista

To Look Into Her Eyes

Look into her eyes, the sad man tells himself They’re doorways to her soul They’re doorways to revival

Cast my heart upon her, and feel my sorrow no longer

Look into her eyes, the heartless man tells himself If I only had a heart

If I only saw the good Cast my heart upon her though I feel no beating in my

chest

Look into her eyes, the plain man tells himself I might say they are special

But I do not know the meaning of the word Cast my heart upon her, let her show me wonder

Look into her eyes, the happy man tells himself

I’d gladly drown in their waters Within them are more beauty than every imagined

Cast my heart upon her, view a joyous future

Aiyanna R. Orta-Batista

BYE

My pillow said “best” Your pillow said “friend”

We talked about jerks And girls

And gossip And guys

And wishes’ And hopes

And dreams And you And me

Now I can’t find my pillow I saw yours at a garage sale.

Taylor Molina

FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

A Pencil’s Point of View

A pencil’s life seems easy, carefree, and lazy too.

But not when you stop and see it from a pencil’s point of view,

I am sharpened at both ends, chewed and broken in two.

This painful lifetime is what is real, for this is what people do.

Decorating a ceiling with pencils seems fun, But sooner or later I fall when I’m done.

At first I am perfect – the best when I’m new, But how can I be best if I’m only #2? Think about it, it’s nothing good. It’s horrifying through and through.

Now you see a pencil’s life from a pencil’s point of view

Cassy Blanco

A Shoe’s Point of View

When you think about what you wear, You always think of shoes,

Sad and stinky is how I see it From a shoe’s point of view

Sweat and fluids trickle down, And get soaked up by your socks

Athlete’s foot becomes a problem Some shoes wish they were still in their box

Shoes deal with all kinds of pain Blisters, blood, pressure, and smell

We jump, we kick, and we dance a lot, Shoes have it hard,

Can’t you tell?

John Weber & Sophia Kim-Brookes

SPORTS

Sports are a favorite of more than a few

But not when you look at them from the sport’s point of view

I am bounced and I am dribbled And it hurts just a little

I am slammed and passed, shot and dunked too Life is not so easy from a basketball’s point of view

Skateboarding seems easy but there’s a lot to do When you stop and take a look at it from

The skateboard’s point of view Ollie and caveman plus a 360 spin too

Puts weight and pressure on the back wheels Coming from your shoe

Grind it, scrape it, scuff it, the board takes it all Especially if the board breaks during a rail or ramp fall

The skateboard looks sleek, black and shiny when It is brand new

But soon it is grey, worn and carved And that’s the real point of view.

Demetrius &Jonathan

Athletic Games

The game of golf is mean and cruel The silence is so menacing too

When you stop and try to see it From the golf ball’s point of view

Bumping and setting seems quite nice

Spiking and serving too Till you stop and look at the volleyball

From the volleyball’s point of view

A point guard can block a ball So can a goaltender

These balls go through such torture They really need a defender

Emma Schuller & Leah Higgins

ONION’S POINT OF VIEW

For dinner I was peeling onions

With tears streaming from my eyes But when I stopped just for a second,

I thought I heard the onion cry.

“Why, oh why?” it wailed out loud Sobbing in despair

“Do you think that I’m so ugly? I don’t think that’s fair!”

As I stared blankly at my food

I continued to loudly sob Not because of its stinky fumes But because I had been a snob

Now I know how an onion feels

As I stop to think it through Never will I cry again

For I see it from an onion’s point of view

Lauren Schultz & Elettra Preosti

EARTH

You pick my flowers, ignoring my pleads, And cut down my trees for your own needs,

Ever since your birth, You have not cared for the Earth.

You build houses and factories,

Zoos, schools and libraries, You humans need to get a clue,

About how I feel from my point of view.

I am surrounded by a blanket of gas, I feel like my time has long passed, Because you can not see what I do,

Try just once to look at it from the Earth’s point of view.

Amber Chang &Alisa Chen

MY RULES

If you want to be a Noah, here’s what you’ve got to do,

Be annoying as a bee and be as busy too Love the color green, not the color blue

And most importantly you have to worship Doctor Who Be attached to your phone for games and music galore

And remember that school food is to be deplored You have to be especially studious

Become extremely curious Of course you must love food

Pasta, Curry, and of course, Wasabi, Dude! You have to love animals; to them you should be affable

Mistreating a dog, a cat, or a bird is not to be seen as laughable.

A proper Noah should be musical For music is absolutely therapeutical

You’ve got to specialize in guitar And jam out all night like a superstar,

I know it seems like a lot to do If you can’t handle it, just say adieu

Be loyal, sympathetic, and thoughtful Good golly, that’s hard to do

But when you cover all these tracks a “Noah” will be you.

Sarah Ryu & Noah Chun

MY RULES TO SHOPPING If you want to shop here this is what you will have to do: You must learn how to stuff bags with boxes and shoes And pick shirts and pants in the colors you choose Use a credit card to purchase the items in your cart And when shopping you must always be smart In the stores you will find racks and stacks as you walk by And when using coupons the savings they will apply Never watch the time; shop like you were meant to If you follow these rules- shopping will come easy to you Sofia Martniez

MY RULES FOR TENNIS If you want to beat me at tennis,

It must be some sort of fluke. Because compared to me,

You are just a Marquis, and I am the Grand Duke.

I am among the best, Better than all the rest.

Because in the great sport of tennis, Me losing is never the premise,

To beat me, your skills will be put to the test

AS I said before, I am the best.

Alex Bien

MY RULES

If you want to hit a baseball, here’s what you’ll have to do… You must wait for your teammate

Then bring him home just like Babe, Mickey, or Lou To get on base, you must get up to the plate,

Choke up your grip, check your stance, and wait Step into the pitch and swing the bat too

Match the ball to the bat and watch it go too-da-loo Do these steps and you’ll be the best

That’s what you have to do to hit a baseball like the rest.

John Weber & Sophia Kim-Brookes

MY RULES If you want to keep me forever, here’s what you’ll have to do Buy me fancy clothes and some designer shoes too Throw in a sports car, brand new and shiny blue Aside from the material things, you must love me too Sentimental text messages will endear you even more But to earn my happiness think flawless diamond from a reputable jewelry store You must dance in the moonlight for hours on end My tortured soul, my broken heart, will surely be on the mend Always be faithful; your love must be true If you want to keep me forever, here’s what you have to do. Christopher Espinosa & Ana Ruiz

MY RULES FOR FASHION If you want to be a fashion designer you must follow my rules. Know your style of fashion, Fabrics and materials as well as your tools Know how they will fall with the design, Whether it’s like Lady Gaga or simple and benign. You must know what materials to use for each item. Make it funky and fashionable so it will excite them Not only that but you must know how to decorate your outfit. Ruffles and lace, pleats and stripes, logos that just won’t quit. These are my rules; you must obey. If you fail to follow them a fashion designer- No way! Cassy Blanco

IRON MAN

People think being Iron man is the best thing anyone can do

But not when you stop and look at it from another point of view I may be powerful and famous but I have responsibilities, too many to

name Keeping people safe and fighting evil villains is all part of the game

Although I have government support, my life is in danger without my suit

I am at risk at all times and held accountable to boot I do have a nice car, a mansion, and a beautiful wife

But amounts to nothing when compared to losing my life I am Iron man in everything I say and do

But it’s not as easy as it look not from my point of view.

Cameron Crosby &Ikhwan Kim

Living on the Edge:

Across the Seas With Nitra Genero

Amber Chan

July 5, 2013

Hello!! It is so nice to finally be able to have a place where I can let out all my feelings and talk

about my life without someone else constantly judging me. I am Nitra Genero and I currently

reside in a beautiful white orchid on the coast of Venezuela. For the past month, I have been

living in the orchid with hundreds of my new friends. When I first met them, I did not expect

such friendliness. The second I arrived, the band of nitrogen atoms pounced on me and gave

me a complete makeover. Such a greeting made me feel so welcome into their family but I

knew that the day of separation would come... it always does. My last reservoir was up in the

clouds with a bunch of my friends but it was not long before we rained down into the alpine

meadows.

Okay, enough of that depressing story. There is so much that I want to write down! For

instance, the other day I was introduced to Genny. She had SEVEN eyes! I was shocked but

there have been stories of others like her. While I was busy staring at her, my lips

automatically moved and muttered, “Uhhh... I’m, uh, N-N-Nitra Genero??” In turn, she thought

I was the one with problems! Anyways, I got to go. I heard there was going to be a rave

tonight in the column to celebrate Independence Day and I NEED to look my best. As the

Venezuelans would say, Chao mi pana!

Nitra Genero

July 10, 2013

Ughh... I thought I was never going to write in here again! It has been 5 days since I have last

written and boy do I have a tale to tell. After the rave, the column and petals were pretty

damaged and I guess since too many other nitrogen atoms came over, the orchid started

yellowing. I knew that too many of us would put the plant in danger, but nobody wanted to

listen to me. Back in the good ole’ days when I still lived in Mount. Vesuvius, I had heard about

plants “burning” because of an abundance of nitrogen. Supposedly, this causes the plant to

shrivel up and die, which is exactly what happened to my orchid. Yup, I am now with all the

dead plants and animals because of one stupid rave.

I hope that I get out of here soon because all of these decomposing animals are disgusting!

There are all these maggots and even other predators eating the carcasses of the animals. It

seriously smells horrible with all the gases being released...especially in this heat! Before I go,

I need to make an oath to keep consistent entries:

I, Nitra Genero from Los Angeles, California, solemnly swear that I will try my best to

consistently write new entries in this journal and if I do not adhere to this oath, the rest of my

life will remain a pandemonium.

I doubt this will ensure I continue writing but it is worth a try.

Nitra Genero

July 12, 2013

Well, well, well, I guess I was right. The oath really did not work. I have once again skipped

days for journal entries, but nothing horrible has happened to me yet. Actually, things took a

turn for the BEST! After days in disgusting goop and decaying carcasses, I was decomposed

and converted into an inorganic form by mineralization. I met lots of new friends along the

way and we were all absorbed onto clay in the soil and altered by bacteria into nitrate. During

this process, some of the other nitrogen I met were veterans and knew that we could easily be

dissolved in water and drained from the soil system as nitrate.

Just like the veterans had predicted, I have dissolved into the ocean. Think about it, this great

big giant body of water where I can just float around freely and not worry about bumping into

anyone else. Jeez, what are the odds that I would bump into Genny again? The more I try to

embrace her, the more my mind tells me, “RUN! RUN! GET AWAY FROM THAT MONSTER!” I

don’t know if I should be afraid or not. Even though she is scary, I would rather have her

accompany me out here than me being out here all alone. The ocean seems nice and cozy but

there is always something lurking in these deep dark waters. I am just going to cross my

fingers and hope that I will be safe and hopefully find some other reservoir to stop in.

Nitra Genero

July 15, 2013

Ahhh.... the sweet DR. Surfing the waves in the Caribbean Sea all the way to República

Dominicana! Another place where I can put my Spanish to work. I washed ashore around

midnight and it was dark all around but then I heard a faint noise coming from behind the

trees. It sounded like some thumping and cheering as I traveled further into the depth of the

forest. Then, I discovered something magical... ANOTHER PARTY!!

I would have expected the party to be in a different place, considering the fact that I am in a

totally different country but it was in ANOTHER orchid. What is this?! My life should be filled

with new exciting adventures, not old repeating experiences! Of course, I had no choice but to

go with the orchid because without a plant, I would not be able to live. In addition, all plants

need nitrogen in order to produce protein in the form of enzymes and nucleic acids, so we

have a mutual relationship. Plants absorb nitrogen like me from the soil or water around

them in the form of inorganic nitrate. Without us, those tall stalks in the ground would not be

able to grow and make the lawns throughout a neighborhood bright green. That is all for now.

I hope I spend the rest of my days here because I have no more energy to continue on such a

gruesome journey!

Nitra Genero

July 16, 2013

It has only been a day and you would not believe what has already happened! We spent the

rest of yesterday talking and bonding with each other when there was a loud crunch. Nobody

expected such a loud noise, but we just shrugged it off and assumed it was thunder

foreshadowing a rainstorm. Suddenly, a crunch sounded from the right. I glanced up and a

large, moist opening with a stench that I could smell from miles away was closing in on us.

Sharp, yellow daggers were snapping shut around the stem of the orchid, swallowing us

whole. Before I could process what was happening, a slimy and viscid fluid washed over me,

causing me to slide down a tube into what I assume was the stomach.

Trailing the other nitrogen down the small intestine in complete darkness, I began grasping

for anything and everything I could reach. All I knew was that crushed particles of the orchid

were floating in space before me. Rushing down, I tried to calm down but being tossed around

did not make my stomach feel any better. Then, we stopped moving and I finally regained my

composure. Looking around, I could only assume that we were eaten by an Andean Bear.

Back in Venezuela, there were tons of these bears and they absolutely loved eating orchids. I

do not know if it is just bad luck or not, but one of my buddies had been eaten by an Andean

Bear numerous times. Every time he tells me about his travels, he always includes a new

detail about his journey through the bear. Now that I think about it, what he used to describe

sounds exactly like what I experienced. Well, I guess life likes to repeat itself... ALOT.

I got to go now. Apparently, there are some new developments in our status. I think we are

moving closer to the rectum and we are going to be excreted in no time!

Nitra Genero

July 17, 2013

Hello! I am back again. This time, covered in waste. JUst as I predicted, the bear has excreted

and I have come out along with all the other bits of food it has eaten. Overnight, we traveled

from the intestine to the rectum and through the anus. Because all the waste digested by the

bear has been dried and compressed together, I have been stuck to a slimy gunk of grass all

morning. All the other nitrogen are also in chunks of waste scattered across the meadow. As

it turns out, the bear did not travel far at all. Actually, it only traveled to the opposite end of

the meadow, closer to the Yaque Del Norte River.

All day, I have had nothing to do. I yearn nothing more than to travel through the seas again.

The bear had consumed the orchid as a way to retrieve its intake of nitrogen because the

flower had contained organic molecules composed partially of nitrogen. Since nitrate is the

form commonly used by plants, it was in the orchid. As I have said before, nitrate is easily

dissolved in water. Obviously, the cycle persists because I have once again been dissolved.

The only thing different this time is the fact that I have dissolved into surface water, not the

ocean. I guess I will write another entry once something interesting happens in my life- like

that will take any time at all.

Nitra Genero

July 19, 2013

Who would have ever thought that traveling through rivers and streams could be so amusing?

After I dissolved into the surface water of the river, I continued traveling towards the Atlantic

Ocean. It was like riding a raft through the rough waters. Being tossed around by the

churning waters actually seemed to comfort me. Unlike my last experience in water, I did not

seem to be scared. The back and forth rocking motion really helped me settle down and keep

my cool. All I did was imagine I was on a roller coaster at the amusement park.

Once again, I am in the ocean. Young, wild, and free in the ocean should be an amazing

experience for me but it still is not. I rather enjoy floating my way down the river instead of

surfing the waves of the ocean because there are not any sharks or octopi to attack me in the

rivers. I swear, if I ever end up in the ocean again, I will murder myself!! Life is not as fun as it

may seem when you are isolated in the ocean without any family or friends to keep you

company. There better be some improvement soon or else I will die of boredom. Next time I

write in here, there will be a new adventure.

Nitra Genero

July 20, 2013

BREAKING NEWS: REPORTING LIVE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, NITRA GENERO. Haha, just

joking around, but something exciting did happen! I was resting when I suddenly felt light

and airy, as if I was being lifted into the air to float away. At first, I had thought that I was

getting sea sick, but then of all the times I have been in water before, why only get sick now?

Turns out that bacteria in the ocean had transformed me into some sort of nitrogen gas and I

had only traveled to the atmosphere.

Did you know that the majority of us are in the atmosphere? Apparently, approximately 80%

of the molecules in Earth’s atmosphere are made of two nitrogen atoms bonded together. I

hope this is the place I meet the love of my life... where we will become best friends and spend

the rest of our lives together. Bonding with someone is not really a thing I am normally

comfortable with, but if I meet someone who is truly worth it, I would not mind at all.

You know, it has been pretty cloudy these days. A lot of water has been condensing into the

clouds lately. I have always wondered what it is like to be packed in so closely with other

atoms and molecules inside a cloud. Just to be adventurous and amuse myself, I think I might

try to get into the cloud... Well then, I will just have to see how it goes.

Nitra Genero

July 22, 2013

Guess what?! Tomorrow is my birthday!!! I cannot believe it. In 24 hours, I will be turn one

year older. To celebrate my birthday, I plan to travel somewhere amazing... somewhere I have

never been in my life. I want to travel far, far away. Even if the places I want to go are

hundreds of miles apart, I still wish that I could go. Places like Los Angeles, Miami, Paris,

Florence, Budapest, Vienna, and Rome are on the top of my Bucket List.

Last night, I managed to get into the water in the clouds. Just as I was settling in, all the other

nitrogen molecules began shivering. I had no idea what was happening. Completely out of the

blue, lightning and thunder struck in the sky. Of course, none of us wanted to be separated

from each other, so we huddled closer together. If we were to be struck by lightning during

the storm, we would have been broken apart and become usable nitrogen for the living

organisms. Luckily, we were not struck by lightning, just rained into the ocean. Next time I

write, I will be celebrating my birthday in the ocean... it better be a fun birthday.

Nitra Genero

July 23, 2013

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! HOORAY! I guess spending more time in the seas will make me

closer to Poseidon. Haha, as if I believed in Greek mythology. Of course, my birthday wish did

not come true. Every year, I wish for the same thing. I always wish that I will travel to a

wonderful place where everything I could ever dream of having there. I am a fool to think that

such a place could exist on Earth. Being in the ocean again does not make me comfortable.

Maybe this time I will actually meet someone to converse with.

Now that I think about it, spending my birthday alone, doing nothing is not much fun. Just for

the heck of it, I might as well write a song. Here goes nothing:

In the time I most needed you,

Thoughts and feelings were tossed aside.

You shot me with a bullet full of rue,

I told you I was sorry that I tried.

Spending our years together,

Seems to mean nothing to you

We stuck through all the bad weather,

But I’m turning blue.

Promises were made,

Leaving us in a tangled web of lies

There’s nothing that I can’t do,

Baby, all I need is you.

A thousand words won’t bring you back,

I know because I’ve tried.

Neither will a million tears,

I know because I’ve cried.

It’s not right,

But it’s okay.

I’m gonna make it anyway,

Leaving you won’t be easy,

Making a new untouched road

Walking down the trail like “crazy,”

There isn’t a single world.

People like you,

Make my day a living hell.

I guess now it’s time for me to give up,

I feel it’s time.

I sound depressing even when I am on my creative edge. That is as far as my mind will go.

Nitra Genero

The Adventures into the Unknown

Elettra Preosti

Despite Alfred’s miniscule appearance, even for a nitrogen atom, he was strong and

determined. On a sunny Friday afternoon, he had gotten the idea in his head that he must

find a way to escape the little city of Lakeville. He may have enjoyed lounging in the water

leisurely and soaking in the heat of the sun, but soon it got boring. Everyday was the same

ordeal. He wanted to do something different, anything would do. So he decided to begin his

adventures to the unknown. Well, at least what was unknown to him.

That afternoon, he dragged his friends Rufus and Ronald, deep into the lake they

resided upon. He wanted to explore, and if he was lucky he would find a way to escape his

prison. As if by miracle, Alfred did eventually find a way to escape. Through his journey to

the bottom of the lake, Alfred spotted many strange creatures he had never seen before.

Although huge, they were beautiful with shiny silver scales and long delicate tails.

Surrounding him were billowing green algae leaves upon which the fish nibbled. He was

startled back to reality when he felt someone give a light shove on his shoulder. “Hey

Alfred,” Rufus called, “it’s useless to keep looking, there is nothing here.”

“You don’t know that!” Alfred sighed with exasperation, “C’mon there might be

something. We’ve only been here for a few minutes.”

“Look all you want,” Ronald replied irritably, “Rufus and I are going back up.”

Alfred shrugged, and continued to descend to the darker parts of the lake. However,

he soon began to feel lonely and in need of a companion to travel with. All of a sudden, he

heard faint laughter coming from around the corner. He dashed towards the sound,

desperate to find the source. As he arrived, he peered around the green algae leaves in order

to determine whether it was safe to go. Right in front of him were two water molecules, each

at least three times his size. He cautiously stepped out and approached them, “Hi! I’m

Alfred, a nitrogen atom.”

“Well hello there,” one of them called, “ I am Flora and this is my twin sister Fauna.

How can we help you?”

“I am trying to find a way out of this dull lake.” Alfred complained.

“My, how insulting to this lake,” Fauna called, “I’d like you to apologize

immediately.”

“Don’t mind Fauna,” Flora laughed “Just follow us, we were on our way out.”

The second they turned around, Alfred did a little happy dance, before rushing to

catch up with them. After a few minutes, the two sisters stopped. “Well, here we are?”

Fauna smiled.

“Where? There is nothing here,” Alfred questioned with a confused look on his face.

“Why, yes there is,” Flora called indignantly, “You see those little pores. You go

through those to get out.”

“Anyways, now we must part and say goodbye Alfred, the nitrogen atom” Fauna

and Flora sobbed.

Alfred waved goodbye before squeezing into a hole and squirming his way out to the

other side. The process was long and difficult, but finally he made it through. When Alfred

landed onto another body of water with a soft plop, he looked around and observed his

surroundings. Around him were walls of soil fitted with small stones and insects crawling

around. There were worms creeping around and there was a roly poly unraveling itself.

They were like giants, and fear coursed through Alfred’s body.

“Hey,” a fellow nitrogen atom shouted before prancing into the room, “Welcome to

the city of Groundington. We reside deep underground in what humans call groundwater.”

“Umm...hi, I’m new here,” Alfred stuttered.

“Oh shucks, I didn’t realize. That’s why I’m telling you where you are,” the

nitrogen atom responded sarcastically, “By the way I’m Burt.”

“I’m Alfred.”

They sat in silence for a while, observing the peace and silence surrounding them.

Out of the blue, Burt began ranting about the fall of Groundington. He started claiming

that Groundington would soon collapse and he believed that everybody should evacuate.

However, when he spoke to the authorities, nobody would listen. As Burt continued raving,

Alfred silently listened while taking in everything that was being said. He felt exhilarated to

be part of something so exciting, yet at the same time he was nervous. But as he started

thinking more, he realized that nothing was going to happen. This was just some crazy, old

nitrogen atom predicting the doom of a city which was probably hundreds of years old.

Strangely the day did come, when Groundington was destroyed by unknown causes.

According to most, the water upon which the city rested upon dissolved. Unfortunately for

Alfred, this meant he was back in surface water. It didn’t matter to him whether it was

Lakeville, he was in surface water and he had to get out. Thus, he gathered his newfound

friend Burt, who miraculously happened to arrive in the same place as him, and began

traveling. Usually, traveling would be thrilling, and for the most part his trip was. It would

have been even better if Burt stopped talking constantly about dark subjects such as death

and illness.

At long last, Alfred and Burt were able to complete their trek across the surface

water until they reached the ocean. There were not enough words to express the beauty of

the ocean. It stretched as far as the eye could see, and the clear, blue water sparkled and

shimmered in the sun. Alfred smiled full of joy. He was finally free of surface water, and

hopefully this time forever. He ran into the ocean and pranced around as he played and

giggled. Only after a couple of hours did he realize that he had lost Burt. He felt mournful,

but soon forgot for the joy of being in the ocean overwhelmed him.

Alfred started swimming deeper in the ocean to explore and look for more nitrogen

atoms. In no time, he found a group of six, traveling as a pack, laughing. They introduced

themselves as Bartholomew, Thomas, Harold, Melissa, Lisa, and Sue. While spending one

night with the six nitrogen atoms, he was told the legend of bacteria. The bacteria were a

cruel and evil species which infected many nitrogen atoms. Those who encountered them

were never seen again. Rumor had it they were viciously killed and slaughtered.

The next morning, Alfred snuck away before anybody could wake up to question

him. He could already picture nitrogen atoms telling the story of Alfred, the great hero, who

destroyed bacteria and saved the nitrogen atoms of the ocean. Eventually, he did find

bacteria, but he did not see what he expected. First of all, like everything else in the ocean,

bacteria were much bigger than him. Secondly, there were a myriad of them, surrounding

him and cackling like hyenas. He realized he would not be Alfred the Hero, but Alfred the

fool who was killed by bacteria. He closed his eyes, and it only took a few brief moments

before everything turned black.

When Alfred woke up, he realized that he was surrounded by fluffy white clouds

and pale blue skies. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was in

some sort of nitrogen heaven. His body felt light and airy, and he had the strange sensation

of being able to float and fly. It was a strange feeling, but he loved it nonetheless. The

atmosphere was cool and at times almost frigid. Sometimes, Alfred would feel himself be hit

by pellets of snow and rain from the clouds above him. He dreaded these moments and

intensely disliked them.

One day, while somehow managing to play hide and seek by himself, he got caught

in a cloud. By the time, he discovered how he could escape, it was too late. He was stuck in a

raindrop and plummeting downwards. The muddy ground became closer and closer. Alfred

squeezed his eyes tight as he did not want to look at his surroundings. His nucleus was

pumping faster and faster. When he finally landed on the ground with a soft thud, Alfred

felt nothing but relief. He was overjoyed by the prospect of not being hurt, but even more

jubilant about the fact that he never died. How else could he be back on Earth?

Alfred glanced around, and realized there wasn’t that much space to move. He felt

squished by the surrounding brown mush, which he once heard was called soil. It was

similar to groundwater, but there was no water. He felt suffocated, and surprisingly would

rather be in surface water than trapped in soil. He almost missed traipsing through the

waters and swimming around. Luckily, he would not have to remain here long for the

plants had decided that he was perfect. He was just the sort of nitrogen a plant needed to

live.

Shortly afterwards, Alfred found himself being sucked into the stem of a petunia.

Her name, unoriginally, was Petunia, but shockingly she had a little sister named Lily. Even

more surprisingly, Petunia had a husband named Vernon and a child Dudley. She hated her

sister Lily and her nephew Harry. This was just like the Harry Potter books he had read a

long time ago. Being inside a plant was actually quite intriguing and fascinating. He loved

exploring all the different nooks and crannies inside the crevices of the plants. He found

many interesting particles inside the plant called cells. They were rectangular shaped and

had a hard wall around them that was hard to pass.

According to Alfred, there were not enough words to describe how excruciatingly

repulsive it is to be chomped on by an elephant. Its abnormally large and sharp teeth were

covered by a thick, slimy coat of yellow mush which Alfred believed is called plaque or

tartar. He clung to his life as he desperately tried to dodge its teeth and the continuous

ruptures of saliva spewing from the pit of its throat. However it was unavoidable and now

Alfred was busy trying to find a bathing spot. Being covered in mucus and saliva was not at

all pleasant. In the meantime, Alfred was stuck in a muddle of the remainder of what were

once luscious green tree leaves. He was desperately trying to avoid the grinding coming

from the elephant's stomach and desperately clung on tightly so he not sucked into the

Earthworms like structures. He thought they were called small intestines. On the bright

side, it was very spacious in an elephant’s stomach and he was sure he could settle down

and make a nice home.

Alfred began to smell a putrid stench originating from the elephant he was

currently occupying. It smelt of dead, decomposing bodies and feces. He wondered where it

came from and what was happening. In fact, if he started to think about he hadn’t heard

the steady thumping of the elephant's heart or the grinding sounds coming from the

elephant’s stomach. As he continued thinking about it, he realized that the last batch of food

had not come in a while. He wondered what was wrong and what was happening. Suddenly

it hit him like a rock falling to Earth through Mars; the elephant he was in was dead. He

panicked, how he was ever going to leave.

As if the lord of nitrogen had heard his prayer, there was a massive fire outside of

the decaying body of the elephant. Normally, a fire isn’t really something to wish for, but it

could potentially release Alfred from the dead elephant. Fortunately, Alfred was released

from the elephant’s body and back to the atmosphere. As he looked down upon the Earth,

Alfred sighed. The signs of his aging were becoming clearer now, and he wanted to stay and

rest. Of course, he couldn’t control what would happen and he might end up into another

strange place. However, for now he would settle down and begin writing the tales of his

adventures. The story began, “Despite Alfred’s miniscule appearance, even for a nitrogen

atom...”

A Perfect Spring Day

Running in the fields

As my curly blond hair

Bounces like spring off my shoulders.

Fresh air blows in my face

My smile grows bigger and bigger as I run.

My orange, yellow, and red dress swishes and swirls

Side to side and up and down

I just keep running on and on for as long as I want.

I don’t know where I am going,

What is going on,

What I am seeing.

Beautiful flowers bloom wide

Their colors shining in the sunlight bouncing off their pedals

I run barefoot on the ground

My feet tingling at every stop

The wind brushes against my face

Making me feel free

I lay down on a thick layer of cool grass

It feel like floating in a pool as the waves

Push me to other places, but without getting wet.

The soothing air of the spring day,

Make it feel perfect

I feel like I can and will never stop smiling

I watch the clouds move very slowly

I try to make figures out of them.

Sunflowers, dandelions, and lilacs

Surround me as I lay down

The sun shines brightly

I close my eyes enjoying the warmth.

Emma Selleck

IF…

If I had a sister

I would tell her all my deep dark secrets.

I would braid her hair.

I would spend my free time with her.

I would make her smile and laugh everyday.

I would build memories with her.

I would tell her something I never told anyone before.

I would help her through thick and thin.

I would go shopping with her all day long.

It would be AMAZING to have a sister.

Arielle Bridget Wang

I always like summer

Best

You can swim whenever

You want

You can

Have fun all

Day

You can hear

The birds tweet all day

Feel the water on

Your body to

Cool you off

From the hot

Summer day

Taste the best

Ice cream

Go to Sea World

And see the best whale

Smell

The salt water

That splashed on you

And feel the paradise

That is summer

Jamison Snyder

SUMMER

I always like summer

Best

You can plant fresh fruits

And watermelon

And raspberries

And apples

And strawberries

You can feel the warm soil

Also listen to the summertime music

And feel the fresh cool water

From swimming in the pool

You can hear the laughs you share

And run barefoot in the backyard

Also you can get a nice tan

It would be sunny and warm everyday

Outside

Family

Memories

Drink fresh drinks

And lemonade

And Kool-Aid

And smoothies

Arielle Wang

I always like summer

Best

You can go to the pool.

And go to the park.

At the fair,

You can smell cotton candy.

Warm and hot

All the time

You can hear clown’s horns

At the circus you can taste the

Chocolate dipped bananas.

You can go to Disney World,

But don’t go into the beach water

Stay in the hotel

And sleep.

Liam Devlin

IMAGINATION

A symbol of romance and darkness

The touch of delicate beauty

An understated taste of power and excellence

A redolence that intoxicates

With love and compassion

One day you will fawn over it

Another day you will cry

But on the outside

It is just a simple thing.

Amalia Heinert

A comforting sway

Cool and crisp; refreshing.

A quiet and gentle breeze

Anywhere anytime

Though changes, violent and loud

Invisible fury

Surging rage in the air

Transitions

Hot, a nuisance

Flowing on a summer day

Whistling in the trees

Graceful

Faith D’Anna

MUSIC

Different voices

Different subjects

Feelings and connections

Happiness, Sadness, Dizziness, and Rest

Soothing harmonies

Multiple beats

Every culture, different style

Multiple languages

Absorb and remake

A sound of your own

Sabrina Y.

BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION

ALMA’S POEM

Tethered to feelings, to colors, to sounds,

An orchestra of whispers, so deafeningly secret

The swelling of volume, encumbered with rage,

An anthem of ages, of rekindling perception,

A shout into the empty, the vacant, the bare

The twisting, the hissing, the clicking of tongues

A jumble of tones, so undividedly clear, A simple vibration, the resonance of meaning,

Triggers landslide of understanding

Extracts truth from the unrelenting clutches of deception

Hidden behind simple phrases and terms,

Lie flickering shadows of wisdom

It is through the strong sentries of well-composed words,

That people are united and minds are opened,

That justice is achieved

Alma EricksSon

HOPE

After the sun rises in the sky

The song of birds commence,

And the comforting warmth encompasses all,

We come into the harsh rays of its light and shield our eyes

From its sinister power

Alone with earth and its elements,

The peace that comes from within,

The silent howling of the wind,

We long for an unexpected surprise

and in this broken state await any joy that follows

Where ideas thrive and flourish,

Where clouds float like sails on the water,

And opportunity arises potential overbearing

There we were

In the place where hope was born

Grace Gargiulo

IN RESONSE TO JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

Bleeding, gashed, and crawling to his death

A shot solider of the 7th company

He lays on the muddy ground no one to help him

And no one dares to offer him a gurney.

He served for many years on end

He was the first to volunteer

The solider would raise his gun in the air

And change the battlefield, a brigadier.

. He would be first to defend his country and brothers,

His freedom, his honor, his pride,

And heeded not of the danger as he dashed past

The fallen and fought to the last breath he sighed

Shot by the enemy, he looked around

For fellow troops to come to his aid as he did

But they rushed past, avoiding the soldiers’ plead

Where he had helped, they would say God forbid

This solider of the stoic 7th company

Looked to the heavens awaiting death to meet his kin

He had lost all hope

All because of the color of his skin

Noah Chun

Ballad of the Holocaust

Elettra Preosti & Sydney Keller

Rain seeped in through cracks in the wall

Wind blew past the windows The cold night air surrounded me

As I hid in shadows

My fingertips were frozen blue My hair a tangled mess

The putrid scent of rotten fish Just added to my stress

My sister moaned and shivered

As she slept caked in mud

My brother huddled by the door From his gash seeped bright red blood

My father read in the corner Glasses perched on his nose

My mother lay sick and dying Like a withering rose

Silently, I prayed to my God.

Wishing I could be free Wanting to save all that mattered

Please end this tyranny

There came a sudden knock downstairs

Light seeped under the crack Tall and shiny black boots approached

and we quickly jumped back

Pale azure eyes leered down at us

Lips turned into a sneer Hands pressed against our frightened bodies

I felt my pink dress tear

They stuffed us into a small train

strangers pushed against us It was stuffy and very warm

My sister made a fuss

Soon I felt us come to a halt A soldier came inside

We were pushed and shoved off the train

When I broke down and cried

They shaved my head and took my clothes

I worked like I'm a slave

The smell of death makes my head ache My stomach will soon cave

The cruel men walk with large weapons

they told some they could wash upon the awaited shower

twas known that it was tosh

My family has been long gone. I feel so abandoned

As I am left so defenseless With strangers left in Poland

Soon rumors spread throughout the camp great freedom came at last,

but misfortune also came too fast when I learned I would be gassed.

Rounding us up like animals The cruel men led the way

My time was running much too short No way for me to stray

I walked into the gas chamber

Into the stench of death Ghosts and spirits floated past me

As I took my last breath

PALINDROMES

Change perspective by reading up then down!

HUMANS

The world is not dying

It is impossible to believe that

We cannot solve our problems

I am happy and content

It is foolish to presume that

The world is in a bad state

It is obvious that

The environment is healthy

It is impossible that

My world’s end will come

I put all my faith in the fact that

Perfection will come to the people

I do not believe

The human race is evil

The human race is deceitful and

The human race is not needed

I can easily state that

We do not cause any suffering around us

I disagree with the declaration that

Humans are destructive

Noah Chun & Sophia Kim-Brookes

PALINDROMES

Change perspective by reading up then down!

You made me feel something again

The coolness in your voice

The smirk that should have sent me running

I fell in love

All of the signs were there

The hardness that hid behind your eyes

You were as much mine as I was yours

And I refused to believe

That you would destroy me

I knew deep down

That I would be the one to change you

It was impossible

To go a moment without being reminded that

We were made for each other

Sometimes I would delude myself saying

I wasn’t in love

But that wasn’t true

I was falling for you

Every word and every step

Was a catalyst

My heart

Held in your hand

Sophia Spiegel & Isabella Edgarian