Vanguard Literary Magazine

The VanguardA Literary Magazine

April 2013

By Zack Lee, Pocono

By Alyssa Faia

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Table of ContentsFront Cover Art (Pocono) by Zack Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front CoverInside Front Cover Art by Alyssa Faia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front CoverTable of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Message from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Message from the Club Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Voices all around . by Ericka Keel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Julian by Alyssa Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Life! by Ericka Keel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3My Storm by Desiree J. Langston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Artwork by Michelle Sheppard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Heartache of the Storm by Ja’vonte R. Thornton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Artwork by Sarah Jenkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Ethereal by Lisanne Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Separated Room by Stephanie Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5REGRET by Diane Fanelli Brown and Jason Wingerter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Loves rage between one another by Jerald Rochin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Artwork by Alyssa Faia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6My Eyes by Hayden Shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Imagination Versus Adaptations by Jeremy Reese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Untitled by Clifford Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Artwork by Mike Rutcosky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Facts of Life by Kari Elizabeth Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Sunset by Danielle Bosch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8What Do You Want To Do With Your Life? by Genevieve (Genna) Melanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Barbados by Goring Tiphanie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Sinister Heart by Clara Alonzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Artwork by Mario Nastasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Artwork by Anthony Corradetti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Florida Sky by Nicole Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Artwork by Nick Consalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Artwork by Rachel Cefaratti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Artwork by Mario Nastasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Stormy Weather by Genevieve (Genna) Melanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Hesitation, procrastination, and satisfaction . by Jerald Rochin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Dance by Dream by Genevieve (Genna) Melanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Rose in Time by Kelly Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Untitled by Bill Coleman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Skyler-Easter by Nicole Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Cardboard Sculpture by Taylor Mogar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Another Chance at Fate by Mike Marcucci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Hands and Flowers by Vittoria Acevedo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Inside Back Cover Art by Anthony Corradetti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back CoverBack Cover Art (Floodgates) by Taylor Mogar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

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Message from the PresidentThe Vanguard Fine Arts Club is a wonderful club with many dedicated and ambitious members . I am proud to have been president of a club like this . Each and every one of you has inspired and motivated me to do my very best . Thank you for all your help and for always keeping me on my toes . I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and I am glad to have been a part of a club with so many people who have been such a joy to work with . You will all be missed dearly . I hope that next semester the officers all have a great experience with fundraisers, events, and working on the magazine with the members . The best part this club was everyone being able to express themselves and getting involved in what they love .

Taysha Beecham President, Vanguard Fine Arts Club

Message from the Club AdvisorWelcome to the newest issue of The Vanguard magazine .

This was my first year as faculty advisor of the Vanguard Fine Arts Club and the experience has been as enjoyable to me as my classes . It was also a very special year for the club, for reasons having nothing to do with me . For the first time in several years, everything in the magazine was contributed by GCC students and chosen and edited by the student members of the club . Every poem, essay, photo and drawing was contributed by a student at Gloucester County College and selected for inclusion by the student editorial board of the Vanguard Fine Arts Club, with only the mildest oversight by me .

Vanguard is very much a club in transition; it is a work in progress . Originally founded exclusively as a literary group where student writers could meet to read their works and have them critiqued, the club has expanded in recent years to embrace all the fine arts and now includes among its members photographers, artists, musicians and even dancers .

But the core of the Club continues to be the Vanguard magazine . As you read the works included this year, you’ll discover they share many themes with great literature: finding oneself, dealing with unrequited love, contemplating the future, and facing life’s vicissitudes, among others .

For me, it has been a pleasure and a reward to work with so many talented students . I’d like to thank them all for so generously letting me share their world . A huge thank-you is due to Susan Weiss, Publications Administrator, for her skillful and creative guidance of this magazine from a mere statistic on a budget sheet to a printed reality . And thanks to Laura Spencer, student worker in Publications, for assisting in the creation of this volume and its stunning visual design .

To submit your work for consideration in the next issue of The Vanguard magazine, please send your work via an attached Microsoft Word document or jpeg file for photos or artwork to: Vanguard@gccnj .edu

David Schleicher

Instructor I, English Faculty Advisor, Vanguard Fine Arts Club

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Life! By Ericka Keel

Life: What is it?

What does it mean? Is it to have life with the one you love

Life: Hearts pounding as one combined .

Both hearts flying to galaxies and back . Life:

Without you my heart slows to a single beat . what will happen when my heart fails .

Life: In the end life draws me more and more to you Mister .

Julian By Alyssa Jackson

Just another word at heart Unworthy to the melody that echoes in my ears

Love and warmth closing in on meI open my arms to an untouched look on the world

A lovely and handsome presence that revealed my eyes to a New universe of caring

Voices all around. By Ericka Keel

Voices are all around in the air scrambling and shaking in my head . There is only one that calms my entire body all at once .

One that makes my heart pound every time it says “Hello .” Every word makes me feel so warm and fuzzy .

Suddenly! Suddenly!!Why does it feel?

To be:The one voice such as yours that could make

me fall on my knees so hard in love . Just in hearing your voice .

My Storm By Desiree J. Langston

My hour had come when my storm begunMy storm has come so suddenly and fast

My storm has come I hoped it wouldn’t lastOh, how I wished for my storm to pass

It happened so fastI hoped that it wouldn’t last

My storm shook and took all in its pathWhy me, why we, why did it not pass

By Michelle Sheppard

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Heartache of the Storm By Ja’vonte R. Thornton

Raining, Raining, RainingIt never went away

Water hitting the roofI wish we had never stayed .

What do I do?

Just sit here wonderingListening to the people cry

The water is risingI’m getting hotter

The food is getting lowI’m slowly dying

It’s been three daysI’m not even sleepyAs the days go by

My feeling about life are getting deeperIt’s the fourth day

The rain has stopped, the water 7ft deep

I go outsideThe smell of dead bodies as they float

The sound of helicopters passing me byI think to myself is this how I’m going to die?

Buses 7, 8, 9 busesEverybody get on

Moms hold on to your kidsSome getting separated from their kids and family

11 hours from New Orleans to HoustonHouston a new city, new school

Different people, I never seen so many culturesScared and angry ready to fight

First day in a Houston school still sadKids in Houston school making fun, now I am getting mad

What do I do?

Do I fight or walk awayI already skipped death

So what can I say?Fight! Fight!

Expelled from schoolSecond school in Houston

Same thing too!What do I do?

School number threeTired of getting in trouble

Had to adjust, had no choiceIt’s been 4 years and still didn’t move back

What do I do?Just what I’m doing .

By Sarah Jenkins

By Lisanne Waters, Ethereal

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The Separated Road

By Stephanie Miller

The separated road is the road that they take The day they said, “I Do” wasn’t really that true

After many years of togetherness Everything was falling apart and she was left all alone

Trying to figure out what went wrong Her life is crumbling beneath her

She knows that somehow she has to pick up the pieces and move on The separated road is the road that they take

With us four kids and on her own she works night and day Many months were tight with money but she always knew we would be fine

Always wondering how to make it by month by month She always said, “As long as I have my kids I’ll be fine”

When they first met they knew it was meant to be But not knowing that over time his feelings have changed

After thirteen years of togetherness he was realizing this wasn’t for him The separated road is the road that they take

It was all happening so quickly We were all so young and didn’t know what was happening to our parents

We went back and forth from house to house The separated road is the road that they take

Over time things changed We went from not seeing him on weekends to not seeing him for months

Court hearing by court hearing, we knew our parents were getting a divorce The separated road is the road that they take

The late nights spent in her room crying thinking no one could hear her But really we could and in a way we felt her pain

Our mother was the only thing we had But with the help of our family she soon realized everything was going to be ok

Year by year things were looking up Everything was falling back into place again

And that separated road that they once took was just a rough patch in her life that she soon overcame .

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REGRET Lyrics by Diane Fanelli Brown & music by Jason Wingerter

Well I tried to say I’m sorry, but you would not let me inI tried to say I love you, but you wouldn’t forgive my sin

Left a million messages, but you wouldn’t return my callsNever meant to hurt you, and I know it’s all my fault

As time goes by I wonder, had I done things differentlyIf I could have just one more chance, to have you here with me

CHORUSAll alone, left with my regrets, and that’s all…All alone, left with my regrets, and that’s all…

In retrospect the consequence, of the choices that I’ve madeLeft me sitting here alone, angry and afraid

No one to blame but myself, I’ve searched my soul insideThe one regret I have in life, that you’re not here by my side

CHORUSAll alone, left with my regrets, and that’s all…All alone, left with my regrets, and that’s all…

By Alyssa Faia

Loves rage between one anotherBy Jerald Rochin

My heart begins race my soul begins to burn . Your are the one that makes my life worth living for . Me and you are flames that grew because of our love that we share between me and you . I will not rest and will never give up . I have become love struck just from seeing you . I will never leave in your time of need I will not rest until I have repaid my debt . For what you have done for me and for what I have done for you . We now share a bond that will keep us through and through . Who says there’s no such thing as true love . Only the ones that don’t believe it are just plain dumb . Love can be a mess it can also be a dramatic clash . Even though we fight . We still love each other day and night

By Hayden Shepherd, My Eyes

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Imagination Versus Adaptations By Jeremy Reese

“I was really disappointed by the movie I saw last night; The book was so much better,” as said by one film viewer, while a different person might says “The movie I saw last night was amazing; the actors were great . It was definitely better than the book .” The fact is, we all have our opinions, and when it comes to film adaptations of books there is a plethora of comparisons and contrasts between the novel and the films that depict them . There are several reasons a person would want to read a novel, but one main reason is to use their imagination and become part of the story . While reading a book, it is easy for one to become emotional and feel somewhat connected to the character due to the descriptive writing of the author and the deep storyline that entails . An issue for most people who read books and then see the film adaptations is that they feel that the movie did not give off the same feeling as when they read the book they loved so much . while both the film and the novel tell the same story, the novel makes a person use their imagination while the film adaptation of the novel provides everything for the viewer . In an article in The Washington Post entitled “Books vs Movies” the author asked the chief movie critic at The Washington Post, Ann Hornaday, about the topic and Hornaday said, “When you’re reading a book, it’s in your imagination . You give the character his voice . In a movie, the pictures and sound are done for you . . .” Although novels and their film adaptation tell the same story, due to having different writers, the content will usually be quite different . Another reason the content is different is due to the length of time it takes a person to read as opposed to watching film . “Novels are meant to be absorbed over a period of many hours, even days . The reader can digest numbers of characters and complexities of theme that she can’t in a movie,” says author Steven Pressfield . One more reason the content is different between the film and the novel is because the writer of the film is allowed to create changes to the film that he or she thinks will have a benefit to the production they are working on . Despite the differences between novels and their film adaptations, they have their similarities . The goal of a novel or a film is to tell a story and create a particular emotion in the viewer or reader . Although there are the obvious changes in content between novels and film adaptations, for the most part the same story is being told and the same emotions are trying to be captured by the author and the director . Mike Smith, the writer of an online source says that, “The comparison of the two tellings of the same story shed light on . . . what was the essence of each version, of each telling .” From the first novel and its film adaptation to the last, people will be looking for the parts of the content in which they approve and disapprove . As a viewer or a reader, one can see the similarities and differences between novels and their film adaptations in the story, the length, and the emotional goal of the writer . The fact is, we all have our opinions, and when it comes to film adaptations of books there is a plethora of comparisons and contrasts between the novel and the films that depict them .

Untitled By Clifford Oliver

Do you know what you’ve done?And do you realize the confusion it creates?Do I fill this void, or do I break down the gates?Why must I look everywhere?How can I find a fake?You’re the one who should be there for me, yet you’re always late?

By Mike Rutcosky

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Facts of Life By Kari Elizabeth Brown

You can’t judge a book by its coverBeauty is only skin deep Do as I say not as I do How can one do that when everyone around them is doing exactly what they said not to do?Fighting temptation is the key…

Temptation can be a tricky thing to handleIt can be a good or bad thing depending on how a person approaches the situation and how it is presented to them…

Try something new!!! But is it good for you???…yes and then no!!! Sometimes… trying something new can lead into a ball of confusion

“If I have something to say to you I will say it to your face”…That is the biggest lie the majority of the people will say to you throughout life Smiling faces can deceive you in so many ways you never knew was possibleFake is Fake… You can’t change a person if they don’t want to change for themselves .

Love…Love is patient Love is kind That’s the way it is supposed to be but…But love hurts when you love the wrong person

Love is blind…it can and will take over your mind As much as you love a person, They won’t love you…unless you love yourself FIRST

Sometimes you have to let the one you love go…And if they come back it was meant to be .

The past…You can’t change what happened Forgive and Forget…That’s easier said than done Just move on and try not to look back…That’s the best way to move forward

The future…What does the future hold???Happiness, Love, Success or WealthTomorrow is not promisedLive for todayHour by hour…Day by Day…But one thing for sure…LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE IT’S YOUR LAST!!!

By Danielle Bosch, Sunset

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What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?By Genevieve (Genna) Melanson

What do you want to do with your life?What are you going to do today?

Are you going to drown in your sorrows and pain?Living in the past those hardships that just blew you away .Are you going to extend and reach for a stranger’s hand?

At night are you going to get down on your knees?Find time to pray!

Close your eyes, take in a deep breath .Try to live in the moment .

Look around you take in picture that will never fade .What do you want to do with your life?

What are you going to do today?Are going to live in the moment?

Are you going throw that living part away?Or are you going to find it in your heart to stay .

Maybe in your past you made plenty of mistakes .Another day done and over, who knows maybe that’s all you can take .

Making up reasons to tell yourself that it’s all going to be okay .What do you want to do with your life?

You reach a relation in May, which is why you yourself are writing these words down today .A chance to say what has been on your mind for a very very long time .

I am so sorry that it took me such a long time to reach the end of this climb .To hold onto these regrets, which I have bound you to .

However I believe it’s time, I begin to see the light .I might begin to see why these feelings are so deep down inside of me .

Or why you mean so much to me .You and I we haven’t been acting like a team .

You have become so distant, selfish and mean .Sometimes, I wonder why this is even happening to me?

This is just some crazy dream!Who is this mister mean?

What is he going to do with his life?He just can’t expect me to stay .

To watch him down in his sorrows and pain . I just can’t find myself to see him this way .

I drop to my knees and pray .I ask God for why should I stay?

What should I do, so I don’t make any more mistakes?Should I leave him, should I go my own way?

What should I do today?This day, this hour, this minute

So he can stop using me as his ticket .I am at the end of my rope; he’s tested all my limits .

I am running out of pittances .My big question is still unanswered, so it’s still up in quotations .

What do you want to do with your life?

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BarbadosBy Goring Tiphanie

The warm breeze blowing off the hot black jagged rocksHeated by the sweltering sun high above the islandThe grainy white sand burning our feet making us run even fasterThe clear blue water licking the hot sand inviting us closerThe cool but warm embrace of the ocean quenching our scorched skinThe clear-green fish darting away from our quick jerky movementsThe soft wet sand giving way beneath usThe coral and sea glass in millions of tints and distorted shapesPushed toward the beach from depths and oceans miles awayThe thick green trees casting jade shade under the sun The squeals of laughter from the boats spraying waterWhite foam dissipating as quickly as it is made by the speeding motorsThe caves cut out of the rock walls of the island by years of tideTrillions of shades of flowers speckling the treesLittle white sand crabs running quickly away scaring us just as much as we scared themLeaves covering the searing sand making a layer of protection across the coarse concrete bridgeSmooth rocks under clear water dotted with seaweedReflecting the orange glow of the sun making its way below the horizonPurple, pink, orange, and dark blue clouds outlined by the fading sunVivid, glittering, yellow light skipping over the black wavesBright white stars look so close you want to reach up and touch themSparkling in the blinding black nightThe moon the most illuminated thing out, guiding our way through the sand and back homeThe laughs floating into the night air through the house that can be heard before their sources are seenHaving a gravitational pull on our tired worn out bodies who want to be with themAt last the steps ground into the sand seem to sparkle from the moon’s bright lightBeckoning us to the grass above themThe icy water rinsing the sand off our dry grainy bodies and clothesThe warm dry towels drinking the cold dripping water offThe freezing marble floor tickling our feet as we move from the warm night and into the air conditioned houseOur eyes quickly adjusting to the bright lights of the huge roomOur feet slapping lazily against the hard stone stairsThe chilly, soaking wet cloth dragging against our bodies and the feel of cozy dry fabric taking its placeThe cold air rushing to follow us once more out into the warm dark nightThe cold smooth feel of the metal under our hands as we lean over the balcony to wish loved ones good nightThe silky floor seeming to melt under our exhausted feet as we drag ourselves to bedThe rough vinyl fabric rubbing against our bare arms, calves, and feet as we settle into the balcony chairsThe warm soft breeze kissing our faces goodnight as we close our eyes and drift off into sleep

11

Sinister Heart By Ciara Alonzo

She closes her eyesShe shuts them so tight

Another arm bruised black and blue Another scar in her heart to add to

She cries in the night Somehow it’s got to be alright

This pain has got to stop!It happened too much, it happened a lot

She can’t take it anymoreAs she falls to the floor

Her hands reach out to pray“Please God just take me away,

Take me away from hereTake away the fear

Give me strength to stand up to him And win

Finally just one last timeAnd I will be fine

Just thenHe pulls her by the hair

And tells her “You’re not going anywhere . . .

Not while I’m aroundYou’ll never escape out of this town!

You will be lucky if you escape by the skin of your teethYou’ll never defeat me!”

Every day he beat her Bruises and all

Every day she lingered to crawlShe couldn’t escape there was just no way

Night after night this goes on . . .Every day she wonders if God heard her prayer . . .

Till one night an angel appeared and said,“Pack your things and go!

Leave quietly and hurry so no one knows!”She thought I must leave now

She thanked the angel for showing her howShe had to change her fate

Before it was too lateShe couldn’t help but trip and fall

The noise was so sudden it woke himAll she could hear were his footsteps

There were the steps of deathThe steps of torment The steps of almost

But not quite there yetHe was getting closer

He was near Just as she had always feared

Just as he was about to drag her back with his handHe heard a door slamBefore he could react

Before he could even move . . .There in the light stood . . .

In the lightHer mama

She had knocked him out alrightShe kissed her daughter and held her tight

Told her she was sorry for all the timesHer daughter’s husband threatened her life

“She told her I don’t care if I have to Kill him with my own hands

I will never let him hurt us ever again!”That night her mama

Buried him in the backyardAlong with his cold, sinister heart! By Mario Nastasi

12

By Mario Nastasi

By Nick Consalo

By Anthony Corradetti By Nicole Hall, Florida Sky

By Rachel Cefaratti

13

Stormy WeatherBy Genevieve (Genna) Melanson

You hear nothing, everything is just fine .Day in and day out time seems to fly by .

People are in a rush, busy-like to tend to their own lives .However unaware life can suddenly hit you that you can’t believe your own eyes!

The calm before the storm .Waiting for the lights to switch back on .

It’s dark, wet and cold .Devastation has hit your home!Now you find yourself all alone!

My world has come to a dramatic stop!The sky is so gray .

Winds are blowing down the streets .The ground you walk on is now unsettled beneath your feet!

The sun rises and sets, however the day never ends .That constant reminder that plays back and rewinds in your head .

You had a family that was real and loving .Nowadays you find them rather annoying

As the days pass and you start to rejoin the living, You start to pick up the pieces, but you find out something is missing .

Circles can lead you to odd places, the winds they can always change direction on you with you not even knowing . One day the sun is shining, everything is in its place .

Then suddenlyBoom!

A earthquake comes and you’re back to reality .However after the shock of everything you have been through .

Whether the situation was a lighting bolt death or a light drizzle of lost dreams,There is always a hidden rainbow that can show us that life isn’t always what it seems .

A cloud with a sliver line that can point us towards better days .True that it may be that today is done, yesterday a year has passed, however hope still remains .

Images of the people and the ideas that you once had might be different to you in the storms/sunshine ahead .For what lies ahead for one season could be different from another .

Like a new baby’s birth whose sole purpose is to show their sunshine to the parents/to the world .Whereas to another, mainly you, probably thought once that the world revolves around you!

As that is no longer the case and you can see yourself better throughout this haze .That whatever comes it will come .

No matter what stormy weather or sunshine comes to you .

14

Hesitation, procrastination, and satisfaction.By Jerald Rochin

I’ve sat and and waited for the right time to make my move . I sit there and wait as I look across the room at a woman who seems to look so alone . My fingers tap like a tap dancer during their shows . She sits there and waits for her date but it looks like he isn’t going to show . I watch her over there her smile turns to a frown every guy who walks into the room . She’s so beautiful sometimes my heart forgets to even move . I finally go up to her and say to her, “Why are you here alone?” She replies with a sigh, “There was someone I was supposed to meet but I guess he left me to be alone .”I stand there and look at her about to cry . So I say to her, “Can I join you if you do not mind?” She nods her head with a yes then I begin to be in her presence . A candle glistens on the table . I sat down at look up and I see her face . Her eyes so beautiful a light shade of gray like a crystal with a light on it in a dark cave . Her hair dark as night . Her lips perfectly shaped and her cheeks a blush of red . We sat there and talked . And we laughed . Then we began to speak of our relationships that had past . It was getting real late we must have lost track of time . This woman had just blown my mind . We left the building and I walked her home . Then I began to think there’s nothing that could go wrong . We walked up to a building tall and a bit wide . “Well this house is mine,” she smirked . I smiled back and nodded my head yes walked her up to the door and said, “Would you give me a kiss .” She began to blush and put her finger on my lips and let out a shhh . Before I knew it she put her lips on mine . I opened my eyes wide and my heart about to subside . She let go and gave me a smile . “I’ll see you again soon .” My whole body numb not able to feel my face . I gave my head a shake as if I was saying okay . I began to walk away and began to think maybe this is her . The one I dreamt of each night . The one who would heal me and fill that one big black hole that resides within my heart .

Dance My Dreams By Genevieve (Genna) Melanson

Spinning, twirling, flying away . Memories guide me from yesterday .

Time will reveal my destiny . So why should I fight? What’s right for me?I’ll live, I’ll breathe .

I’ll dance my dreams .Hold me, kiss me .

Look through my eyes . Know me, feel me . No more disguise .

So why should I fight? What’s planned for me?

Take my hand . Dance in my world . As I live, I breathe . I dance my dreams .

Tomorrow will be mine . Today is ours .

I will never let go . Until time unwinds .

Today I have just arrived .By Kelly Grant, Rose in Time

15

UntitledBy Bill Coleman

As i walk down the hallAll grown and tallI think to myselfI am now reaching for another high shelfHigh school is around the cornerNo more middle school any longerAll the friends, all the fightsThe great times & insane nightsAll the memories i will forever holdLike a big book i will never fold& here i am closing my locker for the last time Saying all of my goodbyesI feel like i just might cryFarewell nehaunsey middleAnd hello highschool which is the next levelFour more yearsSerious yearsNew friends, old friendsNew teachers & new trends& especially new memoriesThese upcoming years will be the most interestingI will expierience a feelingOverwhelming, breathtaking & satisfyingLet’s hope these four years don’t move too fastAnd be over quicker than a heart beat,Just like nehaunsey when the years passedCollege is nextOh how i wonder, what to expect .

By Taylor Mogar, Cardboard Sculpture

By Nicole Hall, Skyler-Easter

16

Another Chance at FateBy Mike Marcucci

I guess I’ll just write them down,All these thoughts that are running through my head .

It’s better than to speak,Or let you know that I am weak .And sometimes I catch a glimpse

Of the tear running down your cheekAnd I know I can’t give you all the things

That your heart may seek .I’ll try to be the man that you need me to be .

All that you will get is the very best of me .And I count how many times

I try to wipe that tear from your eyeAnd say baby it’s alright now please don’t you cry .

I try to be strong and hold my head up highEven though I’m all but breaking down inside,

And when it gets too heavyWe need to run and hide .

I’ll always be there to wipe that Welling tear from your eye .

Oh yes, it’s timeTo learn who we are

Though it may be scary we’ll be alright,As long as we’re together to hold each other in the night .

Oh yes, it’s timeTo learn from our mistakes

From counting up our ugly scarsAnd wishing on those shooting stars

For another chance at fate .

By Vittoria Acevedo, Hands and Flowers

By Anthony Corradetti

By Taylor Mogar, Floodgates

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