winners visual arts from kennedy studentsc.ymcdn.com/sites/ poem this girl lonesome. ... banned and...

JFK PRESENTS:A COLLECTION OF POETRY, PROSE, AND

VISUAL ARTS FROM KENNEDY STUDENTS

VOL. 43

THE OSCAR 2011

Table of Contents:WINNERSChelsea RounsleyMario PishottiKathryn SafreedRocco Mitolo

VISUAL ARTPrideCarouselCommitmentDoes This Look Like a Beaver to You?Eye of the PeacockSnow DayObamaRivers of WoodCalvin #23-D Wonderland

PROSEUntitledCome backTo Be a Hero

PoetryNox2011I WonderMean What You SayDreamWitho_t Yo_To My Mom Who Passed Away on September 19, 2009With LoveThe Man Who Wasn’t ThereThankful ChildBlack FeatherGreat CityStayThe Game QuestionThe WayA ShameA Movie ItselfThe PriceDarkness HiddenSunset PoemThis GirlLOnesome

When you can only hear your breathAnd no one else’s, it gets scary.I doubt I’ll !nd my companion

Live happily ever after and marry.You get used to being alone,

And you, no one cares for;Anyone who shows an interest

My feelings I pour.You take the chance of being hurtBecause it’s happened in the past;You know the pain will be severe

But for long it won’t last.The feat of being alone

Overshadows the chance of pain,When you’re trying to !nd a real person

There’s much to lose and gain.So I’m throwing myself out there

In an ocean full of sharks;I just want to !nd my “Noah”

So he can save me with his ark.I want to be held,

By someone’s love who’s legit.Your heart can break numerously

But only one human can !x it.I’m tired of this feeling

And being lonely so many years.Since I’m such a strong woman

I’ll stop and face this fear.

Lonesome

RaiShein Gaston ‘12

CarouselAllie Vugrincic ‘13

Pride Chandler Samargia‘14

CommitmentDominic Barrett ‘14

Does This Look Like a Beaver to You?

Allie Vugrincic ‘13

Eye of the Peacock


Snow DayAllie Vugrincic ‘13

ObamaNick Bush ‘14

Rivers of WoodAllie Vugrincic ‘13

Calvin #2Rocco Mitolo ‘11

3-D Wonderland

Mike Fenneken ‘13

Calvin #1WINNERRocco Mitolo ‘11

The girl lay back on the dune, her heart remaining cold despite the warm afternoon sun. Piano music-his composition-played endlessly in her broken heart; reminding her of her true purpose here. Her own numb fingers skated over the dog tags, reading them as if she were blind. In and out, in and out, the sea lamented her sha!ered spirit. It wasn’t so far away, just a couple steps. How hard could it be to walk into it, and just keep walking? Swim until she could swim no more? Easy. So easy to join him in the waves; swim with him forever as they had every sum-mer here. The water washed over her footprints in the burning sand, the only memory the world would have of her.

Untitled

Chandler Shoaf ‘13

With a country that could not fortify its defenses, other nations easily came and conquered. For almost four years, countries battled each other for this fallen union. Finally, one country came out victorious against them all. America then became known to all as the New Russian States or NRS. What followed in the next several months was so erratic; people were often caught attempting to "ee the very place once re-ferred to as home. The new rulers were not kind to the people. The jails had become so full that those with lesser crimes were being set free. The aliens. That was the name that the people gave them. Everything about them was foreign and unwelcome. After seven years of turmoil, the people had learned to withstand almost anything. They now had an un"inching attitude and demean-or. Nothing was left unchanged. The old English language had been banned and replaced with the illegible symbols of their rulers. When the years of their rulers reign reached twenty, however, things began to change. The ever present rebels met in secret and taught the young the old ways of America. The traditions and memories were not lost. Only buried in fear. More and more began to revolt. Another civil war had broken out. This time not between the people, but between the people and government. The former people called the Americans had returned victorious. They hadn’t appreciated their freedom before. Now, they had a new found pride for the land they loved.

Come Back

Ashley Turney ‘14

To Be a Hero

It was a normal day in a small town just outside of San Francisco. The air was warm, but the wind was a little chilly due to the ocean being so close by. The birds were chirping and spring was well underway. The students at United Memorial High School came to school that day without a second thought. Sure, one or two tried to fake sick like they did every day. There might have been two who really were sick and didn’t come. The only thing that made the students not want to go to school was Mrs. Smith’s English test and Mr. McBride’s suicide History test that were on the same day. Plus, there was all the drama and social stu# that surrounded every school. Still, there was nothing that would make the day seem out of the ordinary. So, the students came to school with little care. Now, this school was very culturally diverse. Students from all over the world attend-ed, probably because the cultural center that was San Francisco was so close by. In a single Geometry class, on the top "oor—room 227—you could !nd an American, a Brit, a German and his brother, two Italians, a Chinese boy, a French boy, an Austrian, a Russian, a Hungar-ian, a Swiss, a girl from Lichtenstein, a girl from Belgium, and many more. The !rst two—the American and the Brit—were very close. Now, Alice, the English girl, would deny it, but Colton, the American, would totally agree with anyone who said they were best friends. Truly, they were, though they fought like a married couple. Some even said they were dating, but they would deny it. They were like black and white, night and day, oil and water. And yet, they were still the best of friends. On this particular day, a math test was supposed to be underway, but the teacher was late... Again. So the students (especially the males) were taking full advantage of the situa-tion. In short: they were loud. “I hope she never shows up,” Colton declared. “You just don’t want to take the test because you didn’t study, right?” Alice asked, roll-ing her bright green eyes. “No. No I didn’t, Ally,” Colton smirked back with con!dence that really shouldn’t have been there. “Well, that’s your own fault!” the girl glared, “And my name is Alice, you jerk! Not ‘Ally!’ Now, belt up and fail this test like a man!” Colton rolled his eyes, the smirk still present. “Whatever... Ally.” His smirk deepened and Alice audibly growled. Finally, the teacher bustled into the room, looking frantic. She immediately started passing out the papers, not bothering to take a breath. “Shoot! I left my calculator in my locker!” Alice sighed, “May I go get it?” The teacher nodded and told her to hurry. Colton stared blankly at the test in front of him. Nothing. He knew nothing. It looked like just a bunch of letters and numbers mushed together in some unexplainable soup. He had no clue how to solve anything—not even the problems from the !rst part of the chap-ter. Just as he was about to give up and !ll in random answers, a shrill, piercing sound !lled the air.

“A !re drill?” Gilbert, one of the German boys scowled as everyone stood up. “We had one two weeks ago! And I don’t have my sweatshirt. So not awesome!” The teacher then reminded everyone to be quiet as they !led out the door. Colton looked around, glancing down the hallways. He didn’t see Alice anywhere. The Brit had probably gone with another class closer to where her locker was. Suddenly, there was a yell and the smell of smoke !lled the American’s nose. Smoke? N-No! There wasn’t supposed to be any smoke, right? This was a !re drill. Just a simple, silly !re drill that would get them out of a test... Right? I mean, !res don’t really happen, do they? This had to just be a !re drill. But it wasn’t. It was real. The cool air bit at them and made the students shiver. The wind was blowing the cold ocean air over the school. Few had sweatshirts on as they had left them in their lockers. Col-ton shivered and tried to keep close to his Geometry class. “Guys! Fire!” Lizzy, the Hungarian girl shouted. Everyone turned and looked where she was pointing. Sure enough, there was smoke coming from the building. A small "ame was burning out a few of the windows in di#erent areas. This really wasn’t a drill... This was com-pletely real. “Well... Now we don’t have to take that math test,” Colton laughed weakly. The kids nodded reluctantly in some-what of an agreement, but the teacher sent him a glare. “My iPod is in my locker!” Roderick, an Austrian exchange student shouted. “Oh darn,” Lizzy sighed, rolling her eyes sarcastically. “All that classical junk down the drain.” Roderick glared at her. Really, Lizzy was just trying to get a rise out of him. She wouldn’t deny that she sometimes listened to him play “classical junk” on the piano in the music room after school. “The !re department will probably be here soon,” a Japanese boy named Akira said quietly. “Hopefully...” Colton breathed. He looked around at all the other classes. Then he no-ticed the absence of a snarky, but lovable, Brit. Alice probably would have said something by now, especially at the comment Colton made about not taking the math test. “Hey,” Colton started in a calm voice, though a sense of dread was rising. “Where’s Al-ice?” A few people just ignored him or didn’t hear, but Colton’s friends turned to him. “She left at the beginning of class,” Lizzy recalled. “So, is she with another class?” Akira asked. They started to look around, but didn’t see Alice in the crowd. Just as Colton was about to really freak out, the teacher came over to them looking confused. While she usually looked confused, the students couldn’t help but notice what was obviously worry and fear in her eyes. “Have any of you seen Alice Turner?” she asked, looking at her clipboard with the names. “We were just wondering the same thing,” Akira replied. “None of the other teachers have her...” the teacher continued, her eyes widening. Now, Colton wasn’t one for well thought out decisions. He was known for rash, im-pulsive, stupid choices that could get him killed. Everyone looked at him, knowing what his next words would be. “I’ll be right back,” Colton shouted, bolting for the burning school. “Colton!” Akira cried, grabbing his arm. Colton shook him o# and continued to run. As Colton ran back into the burning building, he heard people shouting after him. Some told him to get back, others called him idiot. There were only a few that he could pick out who were actually cheering him on.seeing much smoke yet.

Bursting through the doors, he was instantly greeted by a wave of heat. His chest clenched at the sudden warmth, but he pressed on. It was hot, very hot. He ran through the halls, not seeing much smoke yet. “Alice! Ally! Do you hear me?” he cried, approaching the hall where the British girl’s locker was. Colton gasped. The whole hall was engulfed in "ames. “Alice!” Colton cried more franti-cally. He stopped and shifted on his feet, glancing through the !re and smoke. He didn’t see anything, but he had a lingering feeling that someone was down this hall. He didn’t have time, though. If there was no one there, he had to check the whole school. There was no tell-ing how long the building would last. The !re was already starting to lick at the supports. He was about to go to another hall when he heard a small cough. It was soft and, had the !re snapped a moment sooner, he would have missed it, “Hello?” Colton called timidly, turning back around and facing the burning hall. There was a pause. Then. “... C-Colt?” “Ally?” Colton cried. “Where are you?” “T-The bathroom,” she called, choking and coughing violently. Colton looked down the hall and noticed that the bathroom was engulfed with smoke, but no "ame. “I’m coming!” Colton shouted, running through the smoke and burst into the bath-room. Alice was against the wall, her hand covering her mouth as she coughed. Colton ran to her and instantly scooped her up. “Wha-What are you doing, you idiot! You’ll get bloody killed!” Alice glared, but curled into Colton’s broad chest and coughed. “I’m saving you!” Colton responded as he ran out the door. “What happened? Why were you in the bathroom?” “In the excitement, I got pushed in and hit my head against the blasted wall. When I came to a few moments later, the smoke was already in and I felt !re on the other side of the door.” Colton nodded as he ran through the school. Alice’s breathing was heavy and laced with pained coughs. “You breathed in a lot of smoke,” Colton commented, “Just hang on.” Alice simply nodded as she felt her eyes grow heavy. Colton looked down at him for a moment. “Ally! Don’t fall asleep on me,” he pleaded, “You’ve got to stay awake!” He didn’t dare say it out loud, but he was afraid that if Alice fell asleep, she wouldn’t wake up again. Alice nodded again and tried to stay awake, but her eyes slipped closed and she passed out. Colton grunted in determination and worry as he quickened his pace. He raced down the hallway, praying that Alice would be all right. He hadn’t realized how much smoke had been in the building until he was greeted by the fresh air. He took in a grateful and greedy breath of air and ran towards the paramedics as people surged towards them. In a whirlwind of shouts and people, Alice was placed on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. Colton jumped in with her at the request of a nurse who saw that they were friends and also wanted to check on Colton’s own injuries if there were any. Colton swore to himself that he would have found a way in anyway. As the door closed, he heard the murmurs and whispers, even some shouts from the people outside. Some called him crazy, others called him stupid. Most called him a hero. Alice awoke, feeling pressure on her upper lip. A rush of cool air !lled her lungs and she realized that she was breathing. Without even opening her eyes, she could tell that she was lying in a bed. As the events of the day rushed back to her, she was able to put two and two together and !gured that she was in a hospital.

“Ally...? You awake?” a worried voice asked. Alice slowly opened her eyes and looked up. After blinking the blurriness away, she saw two bright blue eyes !lled with worry looking down at her. “C-Colt-?” Alice started to ask, but she quickly started to cough before she could !nish the name. Colton helped her sit up and patted her back. “Don’t try to talk if it’ll push you, dude,” Colton told her as the coughs quieted down. Alice nodded and looked up at the American. For a moment, she found herself think-ing about how handsome the blonde looked. He had a bandage on his upper left cheek, probably covering a burn or scratch. Other than that, he was unharmed. Alice shook her head, but that caused a wave of dizziness to come over her and she found herself slumped against Colton’s arm. She blushed but didn’t move. She probably couldn’t have if she wanted to. “Where’s my mum?” Alice was able to choke out. “Work,” Colton said softly, “She was here all night, but had to go to work, so I came and stayed with ya. And Peter is downstairs in the cafeteria.” Alice’s mom was a single mother of two after her husband died. She had to go to work no matter what everyday to support them. Alice nodded and settled back. There were a few minutes of silence aside from the whooshing of the breathing machine, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was nice; almost peaceful. “You saved my life,” Alice said quietly, breaking the silence. She blushed and looked away so she didn’t have to look at her best friend. The other thought for a moment before smiling. “Yeah!” he said. “I guess I did!” Alice sighed. “I never thought I’d be in debt to someone like you,” the Brit mumbled. Colton laughed and held Alice closer. Alice’s cheeks turned as red as humanly possible. “You don’t owe me anything, dude,” Colton laughed. “A hero is a hero for free!” Alice rolled her eyes. Colton paused for a moment before smirking a little. “But you know... There is something you could pay me back with...” “And that is...?” Alice dared to ask with a groan. Colton’s smirk deepened. “A kiss,” he sang. Alice glared and Colton got a pillow to the face so hard it left a mark. But when the pillow left his face, it was replaced by a soft kiss to the lips. Colton’s eyes widened, realizing that Alice was kissing him. He then closed them gen-tly and wrapped his arms around the Brit. No, it wasn’t the best kiss in the world. The breath-ing tubes forced Alice away from the American a bit and it took a few moments for their lips to !nd the right position. When they did, though, Colton swore he saw !reworks. Alice was blushing like mad, but neither wanted the kiss to end. Finally, Alice had to break away to prevent coughing again. She took in a deep breath of oxygen and looked up at Colton. “Happy, ‘hero?’” she asked, a small smirk dancing on her lips. Colton smiled back and pulled Alice into a huge, but gentle, hug. “Yes. Yes I am.”

Kathryn Safreed ‘13Winner

P O E T R Y

!ese four walls cannot contain me;For, in my mind, they do not sustain me.

I’d rather run with pirates and steal lots of things,Or ballroom dance around Saturn’s rings.

I want to "y o# to Never Never LandOr fall down a rabbit hole to $nd a world that is grand.

I want to save the world or become a rock star;I want to build the $rst "ying car;

I can do all of this plus plenty more;I can teleport from London to a calm seashore,But it all comes to a close when I open my eyes.

I awaken yet it is no surprise!at, throughout the day, my mind is aching

And yearning for the next night’s trip I will be taking.

Nox

Chelsea Rounsley ‘11

And thus, another year has gone by.And with it, a hearty, happy sigh.Last year, both trying and grim,Has floated away on the slightest whim.

Time to focus more on what lies ahead.

Tomorrow is a promise, not a thing to dread.So lift your glass high and listen quite well.

This whole new year has a story to tell.

A story of changes, adventures, a whole new

age.Before you lies a clean, empty page.

Fill it with hopes and dreams and fears,

With laughter, confusion, and maybe even

tears.But, most importantly, listen to what I am

stating:Look on readily; tomorrow is waiting.

2011

Chelsea Rounsley ‘11Winner

I WonderSometimes I wonder if you knowExactly how I feel.Our love is not romanticBut still is very real.

We’ve held each other and cried out loudAnd shared a kiss or two,But every time you walked awayI lose respect for you.

You come to me when you feel badAnd everything goes wrongAlways expecting happinessAnd to hear a cheery song.

I sympathize and pull you closeAnd try to ease your pains.When the sun comes back, you are gone‘Til the next time that it rains.

I’ll always be here when you hurt;I know you know I’ll stay,But I’m not sure you’d miss me If I ever went away.

Friends indeed are a very rare !ndNot too many stick it outThrough the good times and badGiving no cause to doubt.

So don’t take that friend for granted;Tomorrow you may be aloneWith no one around to help you And pain like you’ve never known.

Mario Pishotti ‘16Winner

Mean What You Say

Three words, eight letters, one meaning.

When I say it I mean it,

It’s not something to be taken lightly.


It causes heartbreak, it causes tears.

It may be the worst thing you ever hear.


To say it, you need to feel it.

Don’t say it just because.


I felt it, I said it, I meant it.

My heart belongs to you.


I love you.

Megan Gisewhite ‘11

Sometimes I think I’m living a dreamWondering how can life be so mean.

From politics to people, everyone’s gone mad.Peace and love was just a fad.

In my dream everyone’s the same;There are no crimes no one to blame.

These memories I have are with my friendsKnowing someday I’ll never have them again.

My dream is big, dark, and cold; I have to stay strong and very bold.

Sometimes I get scared but have to pull throughThinking what’s going to happen to a kid like you.

These things I say only God can tell;My dream is heaven but as cruel as hell.

So when you sleep, remember your dreamsBecause the world might not always be what it seems.

Dream...

Dan Hudak ‘12

Witho_t Yo_

As if we were a p_zzle,Individ_ally di#erent and lost,B_t together as one. We need each other, To be complete.B_t now,Theres nothing more,Nothing keeping o_rselves completed.Altho_gh we’re on diverged roads, I’m still missing yo_

Mora Lucero ‘14

That one plate used to sit up top,I used to wait for it to drop.

It looked so fragile and divine,I knew all along it was mine;I always knew it had to fall,

That’s why I stared up at that wall.I saw the cracks and knicks forming,The thought of it was not warming.

I noticed it was on the edge,To help that plate I did not pledge.

I regret what I didn’t do,I know now I could’ve saved you.

The mighty wind came bursting in,I’m sorry God for all his sins.

I hope my tears don’t make me drown,As I see the plate on the ground.

To My Mom Who Passed Away on September 19, 2007

Taylor Baryak ‘12

A beauty of its own class, set apart from the restIntended for the one deserves honors of the best.“He loves me, he loves me not…he loves me”She repeats so that she may seeThe very deepest secrets of what may be.Its opening holds a promise of what is yet to comeFor there is the birth and growth of love that will touch a lucky some.Velvet scarlet petal lips brush her tingling skin As the true thoughts come out from deep withinThe wind whispers “I love you” as the delicate petals danceAnd her heart abounds with joy, for she knows by some small chance,That this red passion of a rose is the best felt yetAnd could only be topped by feelings met.A prick unleashed that leaves a wound, and makes the dream now realBut time will tell and new can grow that will let the damage healThe harsh thorns dull and begin to gently fall awayFor there is no pain that shall keep this love at bay. Do not let the beauty fool you, for the rose falls strong, And if you listen closely, it may sing for you,Its most timeless love song.

With Love

I met a man who I saw right throughHe wasn’t startled; He didn’t shout “boo!”

He went about his business and hadn’t a careI meant to say “hello”, but he wasn’t there

The Man Who Wasn’t There

Alyssa Zimmer ‘11


Slow progressionPut into a deep hole

Looking up I see her hand to hold!e only one helping me

Her graceful face I can seeIn my time of doubt

She’ll never shoutJust si"ing there helping me out

From worse to bad It’s really you who I had

Forge"ing you but not the timeA long twenty years slowly gone by

Laying in my grassWatching the clouds slowly pass

Remembering who you wereAs the past is not the future

!e best person I know Is my grandma, that’s for sure.

Josh Strohsack ‘15

Thankful Child

It was in the summerNot long before I knew!e best days of my life.

!ere they #u"ered through!e memories I hold dear.Happiness I can’t explain;

Times that passed too quickly,!e simplicity of the insane

It was by the black featherMy friends and I would stand;

!ere we came together!ough we never planned.

I wonder if they ever knewHow much it meant to me

To stand by the black feather,But I hope they would agree.

I $nd myself that summerStill sometimes today

When I walk by the black featherAnd everything’s okay.


Black Feather

Sun,Has everything you want

The brightness of the day,It goes away.

Your world is dark.Time,

Has everything of mine Everything you need

I find it hard to believeThat with light

And all your mightYou still can’t see.One day you’ll find

That you’re not as blindAs you may seem.

Hope,Now you can cope

You’ve found peaceThose happy days Not so far away

Are in your reach.Truth,

You always knewThat it’d be rightThrough the fightYou made your way.

The Way

The Mirror cracks. The music box stops playing.

You listen just fine,But you don’t know what I’m saying.

We were close as could be, but it soon expired.Now the coldness in your heart could blister

hellfire.You locked yourself away, sit alone on a shelf.

You built up a wall and run into yourself.I thought that I’d miss you, but I held on

strong.For you haven’t been you in oh so long. We were so alike, now we’re so far apart.

But now I just smile, you won’t break my heart.For, unlike you, I know who I am.

I’ll always be me, but you’re just a shame.

A Shame



Movies can be seen as a vacation.When you are there you escape from the Earth;It’s another way of meditation;It is like you experience rebirth.

Maybe you are reborn as a hero;Hurry up! Go save the endangered town;Go ahead and make the crime rate zero;Look at that civilian about to drown!

Or are you reborn as a mean villain?Breaking the loud security systems,Robbing a bank and stealing a million,Ready to attack the harmless victims.

So what movie are you going to see?Movie theaters are a great place to be.

One more time;One more thorn.

I never knew I could take the scorn

For all I have The price is pain.

For all I’ve learned,It’s all the same.

I never knewI could handle this;

I never thoughtIt’d be something I’d miss.

For what it’s worth,I’d never change

All the things,All so strange.

You’ve showed me life;You’ve taught me well,And many other things.

I can never tellIf I’ve helped you

As you’ve helped me.Then someday soon

We’ll all be free.

The PriceA Movie Itself

Corey Soukenik ‘14


Chicago is like a "ower at night.Thankfully more people come every dayMaking it look so amazingly brightWishing to go to Chicago in May.

Blinding light even brighter than the sun, Always making the skyline so pretty. Wishing I could eat their amazing buns,Hoping to go back to the great city.

The great city will always have a view;Nor shall the city come in such a fade,Nor shall the great city have such a few,It will always have a tree line of shade.

So long from the great city of brightness; When left, you will see the light in the distance.

Great City

Tyler Cole ‘14

StaySpeak softly while you have the chance;

Move slowly, join me in this dance.I can’t promise there will be a tomorrow,

But I know that there’s a today.My wish will grant me one to follow;

Please stay with me forever, stay.


It’s game time! Friday night lightWith the cheerleaders making the spirit bright.

With the crowd yelling sounding like a riotThen, for a split second it gets real quiet.

Then, the band starts tapping, the fans start clapping, whoa baby it’s time to go,

So many questions but there’s really only one though.The question that whispers in your ear that nobody can hear.

The question that some see the most while others disappear like ghosts.What are you going to do?

While you stand the ball hits your hand.Blood racing, heart pounding like you committed a crime

Then you snap out of it in just the nick of time.You shake one, you shake two, and you lower your shoulder praying that

you get through.Then he hits you and you hit back while you’re struggling for that last

yard you get a "ashback.To the same question that you now know the answer to

And you smile at the guy and he doesn’t have a clue.Then, one step becomes two, two steps become three, !nally falling on

the ground just to look up and see.Your team celebrating the touchdown, and hearing everyone yell,If it wasn’t for your team taking you o# you probably would’ve fell.

Half time comes, half time goes,Screaming loud because now everyone knows.

How you answered that question that only some could hear,And doing it proud without any fear.

Everyone can hear this question but there’s only a few, so I’ll ask you what would you do?

The Game Question

Andre Jethroe ‘12

DarknessWhen darkness reaches out for me,

I see my dark past.My eyesight starts to fade

As my long breaths turn to gasp.My mind’s !lled with questions,

What’s my purpose here on earth?People don’t understand

Because they’re not feeling my hurt.My emotions take over,

Tears stain my face.My life is win or lose,

But this is a hard race.I’ve been deceivedAnd heartbroken;Where it feels as if

My mentality’s been choken.In tragic situations I’ve lost people;

Others in my life disappear,Death doesn’t scare me;

It’s darkness I fear!Where the light diminishes

And noise is at its least,Where all hell is risen

And nowhere you !nd peace.When darkness reaches out for me

I try to hide and "ee.Until I see the scariest thing,

Which is ME!

HiddenI step into that place

Filled with loud screams,The smiling faces

Aren’t always what they seem.I can hear them crying;

Feel their pain;They try to clean their hearts,But there’s a permanent stain.

Heads held highBut your feelings “sag.”

Depression’s on your back,Like a kid and their book bag.

The tissues are moist,Face is wet,Asking God

Why’s my life a big test?Day to day you progressInto this hidden shadow,

Your voice is !ghting your mindWho will win the battle?

The sun is shiningAnd the clouds diminish,

But yet and stillYour problems aren’t !nished!

The moon comes backAnd the stars appear.

It’s not a dream;My mind is clear.

I’m hard to !gure outAnd not easy to control.

But don’t judge meUntil you see my soul.



The residue of the !ght spatters over me,Drenching me in red-gold-silver blood,Staining my skin.The violence makes me shade my eyes to the burning of the terror.One !ghts with crimson daggers,Piercing the black tide of the other.The in!ltrator fends o# the radiant attacks with black shields,Pushing through the defense, swarming and overwhelming.The tow-headed man,Wearing his shimmering gold mail, !ghts like an eagle,Biting and slashing his bitterest enemy,And greatest love.The black-haired damsel,Donning her coldest silver plates and gloves,Casts o# magic traces.Swipes as the panther swats down its prey,Leveling a path for her black maidens.For one brief moment,The powers coexist, kissing, unable to break away,Captured by the phosphorescence of their beautiful battle.With each passing moment,The damsel "ows over her gleaming partner,Her tears at his absence hang suspended amongst the black robes she drapes across her skyWith each passing moment, the scene becomes more serene,As the day falls into night.

This GirlWho can love this girlLost in the street?She’s walking through the broken glassWith no shoes on her feet.Her heart is not her home;There she’s all alone,The boys come and goBut soon emerge into the shadows.Their last kisses seal the silenceOf the pain meant to be behind us.Their touches leave bruises; pain that never leaves.L.O.V.E !nding me, I don’t believe.Who can love this girlWho’s covered in emotional scars?Trapped in her body, and her soul’s the bars.The tears no longer fall because they’re uselessAnd my mind is sometimes clueless.Who can love this girlWho has to be nurtured back to peace?Who has two sides, like in Beauty and the Beast!A girl whose love is running thinAnd struggles with her trust in men.Whose eyes are closing, they won’t stay open,And is !ghting the girl inside the woman.



Sunset Poem

The OscarThe Oscar is a tribute to Mr. Oscar L. Crawford, the first Chairman of the English Department of John F.

Kennedy High School.Mr. Crawford inspired and directed the first collec-

tion of student work published in this format.This year’s collection of student writing, art, and

photography reflects his passion for teaching and for people.

We are proud to offer it for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Compiled By:

Jenna AhladisAdrian AshdownBryceton BakerKelsey CaseSarah DicksonEmily EspositoRaesha GastonMegan GisewhiteMark Groner

Mackenzie HoganJeffrey JanusRocky Mitolo

Audrey ProkopClaudia RiccottiCaitlyn RodomskyLauren RodomskyChelsea RossAnthony Rossi

Chelsea RounsleyJacob SchaeferMary SylvesterGabbi Weitzel

Elizabeth WilliamsBethany Woodley

Alyssa Zimmer

Designed and Edited by Kathryn Safreed using InDesign CS3 ©

winners visual arts from kennedy studentsc.ymcdn.com/sites/ poem this girl lonesome. ... banned and...

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