Category: Junior Literary

Hey everyone, hope you guys are keeping safe during the coronavirus. I know it can be a hard time and all. Well, today I would like to share some of my favorite poems that I wrote this year. It’s been a big time of growth for me, and I am so thankful for that. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

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The Colors of Our Soul

 

Grey spills into our throats.

We gargle, spitting it out,

but the taste prolongs.

It’s plain salt, moldy bread,

to our creaking bones.

 

Liquid orange is what we dream.

It’s what we want trickling 

down the vines of our veins.

It’s what we want to engulf.

 

Yellow mornings spill into our

guts, only occasionally

conversing sloppily with grey. 

Making yellow decay in our lungs.

 

Our heart is filled with pink

azaleas smelling of sweets. 

The pink sparkling brightly, 

and making sunsets with orange.

 

Still, grey washes out the colors,

it introduces black absence

who shakes our bodies into a pool

of nothingness.

 

We want yellow, we want orange, but

we have been given black and grey.

And so, we will sit, our breaths

coming out in small coughs of death.

Waiting for the brightness to spill

back into our breadbasket.

Natural Remedies

 

Maple syrup and tea spill

down into my esophagus.

I give a swallow, but recoil

in the disgust of it all.

 

It makes me think of the brittle

bark on the beauty outside of here.

Perhaps, this was her stripped into

a syrupy piece of nothingness.

 

She’s been laid out for all to see

ooey, gooey, taken advantage of. 

No one asking if she would be okay

after being left completely empty.

 

I float to the depths of her trunk, 

thanking her for the gifts she has

bestowed upon humans like us, 

who just take and take and take.

 

She smiles down upon me,

placing warmth into my body.

Wiping away my sorrowful tears,

with the unfilled roots of her maple.

 

I nuzzle up to her wooden bosom,

feeling the greatest sense of comfort,

but salty water clouds my sight once again,

for I know my love will be taken advantage of

over and over again.

Bipolar Disorder: more than a stigma

 

Grey liquid seeps from my soul.

Pupils dilating to see what’s behind.

Never getting any answers, but 

seeing the damage that has been done.

Grasping at the black void of my mind.

Searching for answers no one can find.

 

My body clenching under the weight,

getting so tense that I feel nothing but,

an endless fiery abyss of rage building.

Not being able to build the dam fast enough,

Screaming, cursing, ruining relationships.

Thinking that this is all I am now. 

 

Trapped between the highs and lows that

never let up for me to finally breathe.

Choking on the fumes of long gone dopamine.

Wondering who I am underneath all of

the waves that I am forced to ride out.

Being a prisoner in the body that is me.

 

Finding out that the negative assumptions

the majority have about my ‘annoying habits’

are not what defines who I am as a person.

Taking the steps to find who I am underneath

the trauma, the imbalances, and internal hate.

Finally finding joy in the beauty that is me.

 

-Maple 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by. (:

My name is Callie Matthews, and I am a literary from the class of 2021. If you are reading this, I hope you are an incoming MSA junior. If not, I appreciate you for visiting my blog, as I love readers.

Although everyone has a different experience at MSA, I wanted to provide a bit of support based upon what I know. Being a student at a such a school demands a significant adjustment, and even though I attended the summer camp one summer, I definitely had a lot to learn. In fact, I always have more to learn at MSA…It is an amazing environment to cultivate growth within yourself. Anyway, I have looked forward to this post since the fall, so I hope it amounts to something. Thank you all for reading, and I hope that perhaps a few juniors will find this helpful. (:

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First of all, pat yourselves on the back! You are going to an advanced place of learning, and you are all talented and special.

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First of All…Enjoy Your Summer

I (almost) completely wasted my summer before junior year. I spent the entirety of June daydreaming about MSA and my dorm. Newsflash: my year went completely different than expected, and my dorm compared nothing to my thoughts (I constantly use the excuse that I am a minimalist…if you understand what I mean).

Yes, daydream about MSA, please. Spend an hour or so planning your dorm room’s decor. Talk to other MSA students and make cards for your roommate. But do not waste your summer wandering in the uncertainty of the future. Use this abundance of time to tackle awaited projects. And please, please, organize yourself and prepare…I can not stress that enough. Once the school year starts, you will be strapped into a seat on a roller coaster going more than 20 mph.

Personally, I recommend starting a journal. Set goals for yourself. Capture your thoughts. State expectations, and look back to see your growth. And if a journal is not your cup of tea, maybe create to-do lists, a page of reminders, etc.

You will be excited, but trust me…You will immediately wish you would have lived in the present during the summer.

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Do Not be Afraid (:

It is all in the title…Please do not be afraid! I had so much fear within me while I anticipated the year. I was going alone. I did not know my roommate. I was terrified of the seniors…which is kind of ironic (the seniors are the best…remember that). I remember overthinking everything, wow.

Going to MSA is definitely an overwhelming experience. Some people already have their roommates selected and ten thousand seniors on speed dial. Others only know the names and faces of a few people…or none. Whoever you are, you definitely deserve to be afraid. You will live in a building with strangers for days on end. But keep in mind that even the seniors are clueless, and the other juniors are definitely one hundred percent as disoriented as you. Do not be afraid to ask questions. The seniors do not hate you or perceive you as stupid, and neither do the staff.

I had a million questions. I wanted to know the locations of my classes, I wanted to know the details of various procedures (even checking out), and I had no idea how to talk to my roommate. I could have asked someone, but I did not. And I felt an unnecessary amount of fear.

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“What the Heck Do I Bring?”

This was one of my biggest questions. Since I had no contact with my roommate, I was confused about cleaning supplies. Plus, I had never lived in a dorm before. You have to learn what you need; everyone is different.

I recommend bringing (besides obvious stuff)…

• a trash can
  • +Walmart bags
• paper towels
• toilet paper
• Clorox wipes ****
• Kleenexes
• cleaning supplies
  • a broom
  • something close to a mop if not one
  • something to clean the shower with
  • toilet brush + cleaning supplies
  • something to clean the mirror
  • etc.
• anything for school
  • I would wait to buy tons of binders (see what teachers need first), but please bring paper, notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, whatever. And bring a backpack! I mean, everyone is different, but backpacks are lovely.
• a (taco) shower curtain
• a bath mat

If you are a person who is extremely particular, I would recommend buying ninety percent of this (nowhere comprehensive) list. But I also recommend talking to roommates and suitemates and taking turns buying cleaning supplies and items such as shower curtains, bath mats, etc. You should probably wait to buy some of these…For instance, some people may not want to shower behind a curtain with tacos on it.

I also recommend bringing…

• blankets
• an umbrella (please)
• records & a record player
• a diffuser
• at least one plant (:
• a gallon of water
  • save plastic by filling up a gallon of water instead of going through individual bottles…I keep a jug in my room for my coffee maker, etc.
• and snacks ****
  • Brings snacks, please…they will save your life. I can not tell you how many times chips and salsa provided me comfort during ten p.m. essay struggles.

Obviously, bring a lot more than this. This list is missing a lot. But keep in mind that, at MSA, you are not stranded. You have opportunities to buy necessities, and you are surrounded by people. Dorms are learning experiences, so see whatever works for you over time. For instance, I needed an extra desk lamp because I use every inch of my desk, and I like a lot of light. I also always have a good amount of plants to add life. And I had a taco piñata just for the heck of it.

Also, do not forget your phone (or your hair brush). I left my phone and hair brush at home once…It sucked (I was away from both for almost a week). In the beginning, it helps to have a list of items to pack for MSA and for home. But soon you will be a professional packer. (:

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Move-In Day

Oh, move-in day…brings back so many memories. That day was intense. I had no idea how to handle the influx of information, new people, and change. However, I spent so much time worrying for no reason. The day definitely presented a myriad of emotion, but I had the easiest transition to a new school than ever before. I expected the seniors to see me as a clueless idiot, but I hardly saw them; they mainly gave advice, anyway. And a few days of orientation existed between then and the first day of school, so I felt a million times more relaxed when I had to navigate my schedule. All in all, although I had to meet my roommate, eat in an unfamiliar cafeteria, and leave everything I knew for many days, I never once felt extremely uncomfortable or lost.

Be strategic when packing but not too strategic. Find a way to contact your roommate in advance, but do not panic if you can not (I met my roommate on move-in day). Try not to feel too embarrassed or anxious; no one thinks you are weird or stupid, believe me (I have done so many stupid things…). Do not be afraid to ask questions or walk around. Missing your family will get easier, also. And do not feel discouraged if you do not make friends the first day…I made my first friend outside of my discipline in September. You will have a hundred questions, but know that you are not alone in your worries. Ask for help (if I am there, ask me for help, heck), and have hope! You are starting a two-year journey. Believe me when I say that you can not predict your journey.

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Seniors:

Like I have said a million times, do not be afraid of the seniors. They have only been at MSA for one year, and most of them do not care how many bags you bring on move-in day, etc. I wanted to stay as far away from the seniors as possible because I thought they would treat us like reject freshmen. But, in actuality, I learned a lot from my seniors. They added a lot of life, and I will miss laughing at them. They also gave me hope during the first weeks; I felt discouraged, like I would never have any friends, but I saw how close they all were (especially the literaries). All in all, the seniors were one of my favorite aspects of my junior year. I actually ended up interacting with them more than expected, and I became friends with a few of them. In fact, my closest friend was a senior.

Please talk to the seniors. Yes, they will leave and make you sad, but your conversations with them will be worth it, without a doubt. Not only that, but they are great resources. If I did not talk to any seniors, I would have stupidly believed that walking outside was off-limits, and I would have been blind to the awesomeness of occasional ice cream.

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Roommates & Suitemates…

If you know your roommate, awesome…same with suitemates. I knew neither…I am still alive, so have hope if you do not.

I had kind of a rare experience with roommates and suitemates. I had no suitemates for the first few weeks (rare), but then two people moved in from elsewhere. I knew one from the MSA summer camp, so I was happy about that. Then my roommate left, and then the other suitemate left. I ended up having my room all to myself and sharing a bathroom with only my summer camp friend. Needless to say…I had the best time ever.

You will most likely experience something entirely different.

Do not be afraid of your dorm people, though. I was terrified of them first, but living around so many people is manageable (even if you are an introvert). Do not hesitate to set boundaries; you will need them. And please make adjustments to accommodate each other. Do not be rude and turn all of the lights off at six p.m., please, if your roommate is studying. And do not invite people to your dorm when your roommate is sleeping. Be considerate (although not too amiable). All in all, do not be afraid of roommates or the people who share a bathroom with you. I promise everything will be okay, really (says the person who only had a roommate for two months…but seriously).

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Confidence

MSA helped me break out of my shell (but not too much…I am still the same person) and gain more confidence. I actually had ask questions and talk to people. I was plagued with stress at first, but it helped me in the end.

Have hope. It will get easier; the campus will no longer feel so large and mysterious, and the people will no longer seem like strangers. Also, realize that you are not alone. I learned that it is okay to ask for help (thank you, everyone who walked with me to get something signed).

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The First Few Weeks

I was afraid to speak in class, and I struggled to talk to my discipline. I wondered how I would ever share any of my writing with them (I had never done so with anyone before). I sat by myself for awhile and read. I never went anywhere. I went straight to my room after dinner and sat at my desk for hours, stressing over everything.

You may find yourself alone at first. You may wonder how you will ever make friends or share your art with your discipline. You may feel discouraged and stressed and overwhelmed.

But know this: Your discipline will become almost like a family. I am so grateful for my discipline, and I never thought that I would have seven friends given to me. Granted, we have our own friend groups, but there is no other group that I would rather share my work with. They are supportive and accepting, and they help you better your work (and your day).

Also know that this will all change! My year changed drastically after the first month. I went from reading a book during meals to having memorable conversations. The friend groups at MSA are not rigid, and you will not end up alone your entire year unless you choose to be.

Open your mind to possibilities. Resist being discouraged. And treat your beginning like any other but know that you are in a welcoming place.

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Dorms

Living in a dorm is an experience like any other. I loved my dorm. At first, I had hardly any decorations, but I slowly made it my own. Next Wednesday, I have to move out all of my belongings, so I feel a little nostalgic. 

I recommend bringing at least one small plant. Plants add life and color to the room, and they helped me when I was adjusting to the atmosphere of MSA. I also recommend taco piñatas…they add a nice flavor of decor.

Keep your room neat, please, it will save you. Sweep it regularly, and I also recommend that you wipe down desks, knobs, and light switches every week to prevent the spread of germs.

MSA is a residential school, so you are surrounded by people more than usual. Your dorm should be a relaxing place where you feel comfortable, so I recommend you dedicate some focus to maintaining your dorm and keeping it a peaceful place.

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Clubs

Yes, MSA has clubs. You can sign up for many, but make sure you will actually attend meetings (but once you join a club, do not worry—you can leave). You never know how your schedule will look for the rest of the year. But I will say that, for me, I felt stressed and mega booked at the beginning of the year; I almost did not join any clubs. Please do not join every club you see, but I highly recommend that you consider ones that interest you.

I signed up for a club that attended a animal shelter, and it helped me gain a few community service hours (plus, I was surrounded by kittens). I also signed up for an ensemble club and Artoberfest. Artoberfest is basically a haunted house put together by MSA. I am so glad that I joined because I had a lot of fun despite the work (and I earned a ton of hours). And my favorite club I joined was the second ensemble club, in which MSA kids with instruments can play music together. This club kept my interest in music alive (I am a previous school band member…flute and mallet player…and soon to be synthesizer artist, hah), and this club also gave me a lot of laughs and happiness. I have no idea if this means anything, but as far as I know, I will be co-captain of MSA’s third ensemble (2021-2022) which is awesome.

I almost joined zero clubs, but the ones I joined brought me a lot of fun and helped me find great friends, especially in the beginning when I barely left my dorm room.

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Balance

When I started my junior year at MSA, I struggled with balance (despite being used to having busy schedules booked with practices, etc.). I felt like I had so much homework and would never have free time. But I ended up gaining some awesome time management skills. I learned how to study better and balance work with leisure.

Do not stress. You will learn balance. But until you do, I recommend prioritizing assignments. I promise that you will have time to talk to friends, especially on the weekend.

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Go Outside

For some reason, I was unsure if going outside was allowed. Newsflash…it is. Please go outside. I did not during the first month, and I felt constricted. I love to eat meals outside, and it is so much more peaceful than the cafeteria. Going on walks are nice too, and so is ice cream beneath the sky. I did not stay many weekends, but whenever I did, I drank my morning coffee somewhere outside on campus. Play frisbee or your guitar, or have a picnic (and make flower bouquets). Take a phone call outside, pick flowers, cloud-watch, or stomp on leaves. I spent a lot of time outside during my junior year, and I always had a blast.

In conclusion, yes, go outside. It will help restore your sanity, and it is nice when you want to be alone or have (mostly) uninterrupted conversations. Occasionally I would write or work on assignments outside, and I also would spend some breaks eating oranges on a random bench.

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Stay Organized

The title speaks for itself. This is so important. Try your best to keep your room clean, and make sure your schedule is balanced. Try to prepare yourself during the summer, weekends, and breaks. Go to bed early, try to wake up on time, and be on time to class. Keep your work organized and your plans, too (and brain).

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Growth & Goals

Go into your year with an open mind, but have a discernible desire to grow. You never know what will happen, all of the time. You may randomly decide to play ukulele and start a knitting club. You may make friends for life and shave your eyebrows. Whatever happens, you will grow. It is your choice in what way and to what length. Seek to overcome every obstacle. Learn greater resiliency. Become more understanding. Strive to be a person not half-empty. Care about your work and the art you create. It is up to you.

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Final Words

Dear incoming MSA juniors,

Believe in yourselves. Be humbled but also aware of your talents and ability. MSA is unquestionably a journey to remember, and you will grow so much. Do not be afraid, no matter what. Do not be afraid to go home on the weekends, but stay at least once; you will not regret it. Be open to possibilities, and accept some offers to hang out with people. The work may seem stressful at times, but you actually have more time than you think. Try to resist irritation and negative energies, and learn that this is a place where you do not have to wear a mask. Do not be afraid to tell people good morning and smile. And do not be afraid to tell people that you want to be alone. Never stop growing and believing in yourself.

MSA, by far, has been the best school that I have ever attended. I have had so many laughs, and, despite some moments, I have felt a lot of yellow emotions. I have met so many amazing people that I may or may not see again, and I have met people that I would gladly procrastinate essays for. MSA is the kind of place that makes you grow as a person and an artist, also; it has already helped me believe in my art so much more, and I now I have a greater passion for writing. Plus, Mrs. Sibley is an amazing teacher. I have learned so much from her, and I am gladly awaiting more. I began my first year at MSA confused and aimless, thinking of writing as a hopeless dream or a dramaticized hobby. Now that person feels so different.

How will you grow? What will you do? How will you react to adversity, and how will you encounter peace?

It is up to you now. This is your moment. And never, ever, forget where you came from.

Welcome. (:

I wrote this flash fiction piece for an assignment. The prompt was to write a 500 word flash fiction piece about a flower and a food. I chose Sunflowers and Strawberries. Here’s how it turned out:

     I have always had a strange obsession with sunflowers. The way they face the sun when the light is shining on them and the ground is warming up their roots. I found a strange sense of comfort in the bright colors bouncing off of their petals and stems. I love the happiness that they represent.

     I have always felt this way about strawberries as well. There is nothing better than sitting in a field of sunflowers with a basket of strawberries. Sometimes I will bring a book, but on this special day, I brought a canvas and watercolor paints. That’s how I met you. I was painting the sunset with strawberry juices dripping down my arms and sunflowers surrounding me. You were always such a curious woman. You told me that you also came out here to watch the sunset. You were sitting under a tree, a glass of sweet tea in hand, when you looked over and saw me. I hadn’t even noticed you until you were standing above me, watching me paint. But I’m glad you saw me. So, so glad.

     That’s where it all began. In a field of sunflowers. All my life, I have been reading books about finding love in a cafe. But I think our love story is so much better. My dress fluttering in the wind with your voice dancing through my hair. You were so beautiful. I can still hear your thick country accent and your melodious laugh. God, you were so beautiful. Every sunset in the world could never compare to your brown eyes and your freckles and your smile. I’ve never met someone as kind and caring as you. 

     Do you remember the first thing you ever said to me? I do. You asked me if I was okay. I thought that was so strange of you to ask. You were the one wandering around barefoot in a field with flowers in your hair and a jar full of watered down tea. But you were concerned for me. That never changed. Our love story was short but it was beautiful. I’ve never fallen in love with someone as fast as I fell in love with you. We moved in together that winter. It was nearly twenty degrees out but you still had flowers in your hair and an iced sweet tea. You brought me strawberries and sunflowers every Wednesday night because you thought that the weekend romance was cliche. You were so interesting in everything you did. 

     I wish you would’ve told me you were sick sooner. I wish I would’ve held you tighter and kissed you longer. I wish I had spent more time memorizing every crook and crevice of you. Everyone told me that this would be the hardest day yet. But they’re wrong. Every day is going to be the hardest day. I promise to never forget you. I’m really not sure I’ll be able to move on from an epic love like yours. The hardest thing I will ever have to do is wake up everyday knowing that your hair is not tangled with mine. I will have to roll over in my bed and know that you won’t be there to grab my hand and place it over you. I will never stop loving you. I had gotten so used to our routine and your company that I forgot that it would one day end. I never thought it would be this soon, though. I just wish I could have one more Wednesday night filled with your smile, sunflowers, and strawberries.  Rest in peace, my love. 

I just know you all are looking at the title and going, “whhhhaaaatttt?!?!?! Morgan didn’t say that!!!” Well, yes you are correct, I didn’t say that… but the man in the film did.

Ahhhh another short film. Who are we? Beginning of junior year Morgan? I don’t know but I am excited to share with you all the short film for today’s blog! This short film is actually in line with the last review I did. *Go read the review if you haven’t!* This film is set in the same time period and town of that of the last film. I actually think it may be a series, but I would have to check under the director’s name on YouTube. Nonetheless, this film was just as great as the last. This particular film was focused on toys.

In the beginning of the film, a TV commentator can be heard talking about toys. While doing his spill on imagination, the words, “It’s a dangerous thing…imagination…but an amazing thing.” This line stuck with me the entire film. I’ve never heard anybody describe imagination this way. Dangerous isn’t a word associated to imagination. It isn’t even close! This just confirmed that the society in the film is very unlike the society I live in. Imagination is encouraged, not discouraged. For this, I am thankful.

The film is a cool 8/10 for me. I enjoyed the aesthetic the most. Like the other film, it featured a 50’s black and white theme and gave off really creepy, dystopian vibes—which, I think, was the entire purpose of it all. The music fit well with the film. It helped elevate the level of creepiness in the film a lot. Again, I think I mentioned it in the last review, but the masks that the parents have to wear is top tier creepiness. Masks with smiley faces on them are just so…scary.

While searching through the comments, I read that the only color in the world of the film is the red of blood. This made me rewatch the entire film just to see for myself. When the robot had the blood on its…whatever body part that was…it was the only color out the entire film, other than the black and white atleast. I thought this detail was pretty interesting. There are other small, recurring details in the film that I also noticed in the last one. I think the director has a thing for throwing in small details like that.

Overall, this was a pretty good film. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the monologue at the beginning on imagination. Was there some truth behind it? Do you agree? Do you disagree? let me know! I feel as if this film and the last one are good discussion starters because there is just so much to unpack from these films.

 

 

I don’t know what I would do without technology at a time like this. These days, all I’m doing to watching TV. I’ve watched and rewatched shows across Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. So with the extra time I have to watch things, and having already blogged about older Nickelodeon shows (Drake and Josh and Victorious), I decided that now would be a great time watch some of the most well-known Disney Channel shows that I never watched growing up.

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The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered on Disney Channel in early 2005 and ended in 2007. I was only around the ages 2-4, so I never watched it while it was on TV. In fact, I don’t think I even started watching Disney Channel until about halfway through The Suite Life on Deck (2008-2011), which I actually did watch occasionally.

Season 2, Episode 13 – Bowling

I know the basic premise of these show. It’s about twins living in a hotel. Other than that, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I’m more familiar with the Sprouse twins as they are now as opposed to them during their Disney days, but I can safely say that young Cole and Dylan were great child actors. The cold open for the episode is just the twins arguing with each other, and then Zack pushes Cody out into the hallway wearing nothing but a towel and locks him out of their room. It’s great! Honestly, the best points in the episode were when the twins were interacting with each other. And the theme song was pretty good too!

I also enjoyed their mother, Carey. She was one of the only other characters in the show that didn’t seem to be overexaggerated just for the sake of comedy. I might just be being overly critical (it is a show for kids, after all), but it really wasn’t that funny. A lot of the jokes don’t exactly make sense and a lot of the show’s comedy comes from it’s overly exaggerated characters, such as London and Esteban. London is supposed to be extremely dumb and Esteban is supposed to be extremely Peruvian, I think. And they’re supposed to be funny, according to the show’s laugh track. But I found them more annoying than anything.

Mr. Moseby and Ashely Tisdale’s characters were just okay. I could have sworn, before this episode,  that Arwin was Zack and Cody’s dad. Turns out that he just has a weird thing for their mom, but everyone in the show seems to be okay with that once Arwin wins a bowling tournament for them.

The episode revolves around a bowling tournament between the rival hotels. For some reason, the rival hotel team is aggressively German. I don’t know exactly what it was supposed to add, but it was kind of funny at times. Zack is the hotel team’s star player until his mother grounds him for locking his brother in the hallway while he is naked. Zack then recruits Arwin to take his place, as Arwin is a champion bowler. He leads the team to victory.

Overally, it wasn’t bad. I can definitely see the appeal and understand why it was so popular.

3/5

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That’s So Raven

I barely had any idea what this show was about. It was on Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007, which is way before I even started watching Disney Channel, so I never saw any of it. It wasn’t until sometime in the past year or two that somebody told me that Raven could see the future. I had no idea!

Season 3, Episode 5 – Five Finger Discount

Okay… so it was really good. It was genuinely funny with fun characters and a great message. I’m a little surprised with how much I liked it.

In the episode, Raven’s younger brother, Cory, is pressured into shoplifting. After facing the intense guilt of his actions, Cory decides to return what he stole and stands up the kids who peer pressured him. I don’t know if all of the episodes of this series carry important messages, but from what I’ve seen and heard on social media, That’s So Raven has dabbled in the topics of body positivity and racism. Maybe its just the particular episodes I’ve watched, but I have seen much along these lines in any other kids show that came out around the same time. It’s a nice change of pace.

The comedy was genuinely really good. Raven and Cory’s interactions were amazing. I laughed out loud at several points. Raven is a really fun main character. I love the sweet and supportive relationships in her family. Cory is adorable. Her friends, Eddie and Chelsea, were barely in the episode, but they were still okay. I didn’t like the kids that pressured Cory into stealing. I know I wasn’t supposed to like them, but their lines and dialogue in general was just genuinely annoying. I also didn’t like the theme song as much as I thought I might.

Overall, I really liked it. It’s a fun premise and I definitely would watch more of it.

5/5

What is Blackout Poetry?

According to writersdigest.com, “A blackout poem is when a poet takes a marker (usually a black marker) to already established text— like in a newspaper— and starts redacting words until a poem is formed.”

Can Only Poets Create Blackout Poetry?

Before reading the article, I already knew what blackout poetry was, but when I read the definition, I was surprised by the part that said blackout poetry is created by poets. I mean, I always thought that anyone, poet or not, could create blackout poetry.

However, when I Googled the definition of a poet, the Oxford dictionary said that a poet is “a person who writes poems”. Well, blackout poetry is a form of writing poems, so the people who create them would be considered poets, which also means that anyone can be a poet.

So, therefore, you don’t have to be Maya Angelou or Edgar Alan Poe to be a poet or to write great poems. You just simply have to do it— but passion helps too.

What Makes Blackout Poetry Special?

The fact that basically anyone can create blackout poetry is one reason why it’s so special. I mean, it’s quite beautiful to be able to create written art without having to have any type of writing experience or devotion.

Blackout poetry is also special because it allows room for creativity. For instance, blackout poetry doesn’t just have to be black. There can be colors, shapes, swirls, drawings, etc.— just like in the photos below.

Blackout poetry is also special in that it allows for creative thinking. When writing blackout poetry, words are limited, so you have to be very meticulous in choosing them in a way that they flow and create something beautiful.

The Art of Blackout Poetry

Blackout poetry is essentially poetry that is found. Since all the words that are compiled to create this unique art form have already been written, by sorting through them and creating blackout poetry, you are “finding” your poem.

There are many ways to create blackout poetry: all black, patterns, 1 word or 5; the possibilities are endless— just as long as it makes you happy.

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In honor of this blog, I decided to create some blackout poetry of my own. It’s nothing fancy, but I like it.

I hope this inspires you to create some blackout poetry of your own.

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Thanks for reading 🙂

Happy National Poetry Month!

“No,
I am still surviving,
but I hope
someday, someday soon,
I will again
begin to live”

-Edward Lee

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I’m not gonna lie to you, I’ve been writing and rewriting a lot lately. These are two of my favorite pieces that I’ve written thus far, so please enjoy these poems. Thank you. Have a nice day.

“Unsent Letter”
This is piece was inspired by “If By Chance” by Ruth B. and The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo.

Hello, Old Friend. Do you remember me? 
You seem to have captured my thoughts recently.
Do you ever think of me?
Do you ever think of the nights spent dreaming and
Planning for a tomorrow?
Do you remember the songs we sang as the rain broke 
Through the window pane and kissed our cheeks?
I do.

You know, some nights I dream about you.
It’s nothing too crazy or wild, but I’ll dream of you.
We’ll be somewhere that I don’t remember but
Can’t forget and we’ll be doing something minute,
But there would be this free wind, this whisper of
The past, blowing through your hair. Your eyes would
Have that look in them that conveyed so much but
Said practically nothing. And you’d emit such a laugh
That could bring the world to a knee. 

But then I’d wake up. Those are the saddest, I think. 
The nights when everything you wanted visits
You with a resounding disappointment. 
We were so young and dumb and willing to forget
Our futures for something so fleeting.
If you could go back in time, would you?
Would you come with me to a time where our
Only concern was each other?

This might sound a bit selfish, but I see you every once
In a while. You’ll be with your wife and your daughter and
You’ll look so genuinely happy. And my heart shatters
With the thought that I, once upon a time, was the only
Person that knew how beautiful your smile truly was.
Now, she knows our secret. She knows the innermost
Parts of your soul that only revealed themselves after
Nights spent on rooftops and in quiet retreats into the night.
Now, she knows our secrets.

I’m sorry. I’ve bombarded you with overanalyzed
emotional secrets. How is your life going, Old Friend?
Are you happy? With her? Are you satisfied with the
Life that has chosen you? 

I hope you are.

And the last one is just a poem about birds on a power line.

“Finches”

Pretty little birdie
how beautiful it
must feel to have
the wind rush through
you and have the 
shivering chill  reach 
through to your bones
The freedom you
must face every 
single day
How beautiful it
must be

Pretty little birdie
how sweet it must be
to be one with the sky
and to sing her to sleep
 and awaken her with
your sweet melodies
How so very sweet

I wish I could be like you
I wish I could fly
into the morning sky
and chirp my thanks 
to her in every intonation
possible

How lovely it should be
to fall in love with the 
world below you
How lovely it certainly
must be

How absolutely beautiful
it must be to be a 
pretty little birdie

Again, have an amazing day, and hopefully I’ll see you soon.

At the beginning of April 2020, Mississippians were given a surprise. The first-year governor of the state of Mississippi, Tate Reeves, signed a proclamation that declared April the month of Confederate Heritage.

However, Reeves is not the first governor to sign the proclamation. Former governors of Mississippi such as Phil Bryant signed their versions of the proclamation in past years. One thing the proclamations have in common (besides declaring the month of April for the reminder of confederate history) is that they were all signed discreetly. For instance, Tate Reeves declared his proclamation during the COVID-19 pandemic and along with issuing the statewide shelter-in-place executive order.

As can be expected, when the public heard of this action they took to social media to voice their opinions. The majority disagreed with the proclamation and decided that the Confederate Heritage Month has racial prejudice propositions. I wanted to hear more of Mississippians’ opinions, so I composed a survey on April 9-10, with the hopes of learning. The survey collected in a total of 183 responses from citizens of Mississippi from those who reside in over 40 counties.

A question on the survey asked, “Do you believe that the Confederate flag represents racism and the enslavement of African-Americans? Or do you believe that it serves to honor the Confederate dead?”  

The research showed that 80% of Mississippians believed that the Confederate flag represents racism and/or the enslavement of African-Americans. On the other hand, 10% of Mississippians believed that the Confederate flag serves to honor and remember those who lost their lives in the Civil War. One anonymous respondent expressed their opinion further by saying: 

“I do believe that the Confederate flag represents slavery and racism because the Confederate States and Union state got into a civil war. The main purpose of the Civil War was fought to keep African-American people as slaves and to keep slavery legal. I do understand that some people’s family members have died in that war and they have a right to honor them but that doesn’t mean that everyone else has to as well. We have to acknowledge that some people’s family members during that time were slaves and that they were just as affected by this as you are. Some people will have to come to the sad reality that their grandfather fought to keep other people’s grandfathers as their slaves. I would also say that it is mostly understood that the Confederation was NOT a good thing. Yes, it is history and is not pretty but it is not good either. We don’t have a KKK appreciation day or a Lynching celebration week, because it is understood that those things were not right and we’re wrong. So, to have a Confederate Heritage month based around how some people’s past relatives fought to keep slavery would be massively inappropriate. It is much more effective to have people honor their past by themselves because once it comes into the limelight, other people’s past has to be included too.”

Another question in the survey asked, “Do you believe that it was necessary to name April the Confederate Heritage Month?”

 Research showed that 94.2% of people believe that it was not necessary to name April as the Confederate Heritage Month. An underwhelming 5.8% believes that it was necessary.

The following question asked the respondents, “As a state do you feel like this proclamation prevails or fails Mississippi?”

 77% of Mississippians feel like Confederate Heritage Month fails Mississippi and that it will refrain us from becoming a better state. 6.6% of Mississippians feel as if this prevails Mississippi and that it will better us for the future. Furthermore, 16.4% of Mississippians simply have no opinion on the matter. Another respondent voices their opinion further by stating: 

“I believe to learn from the past, you must study all aspects of the past without bias. This is hard to do if you are predisposed to think in one way or the other. When you see the past as preordained events, you can view the world as it is. This is my method, and it allows me to view life as created by God who ordains all things and all things work together for His glory. He allows bad things to happen for His glory and praise. To understand this, you must seek God, be convicted of your sin by the Holy Spirit, and seek His forgiveness and a right relationship with Him. Until this happens, we will continue to feud and fight over what we think is right. God’s way is the only right way. Studying God’s word allows us to see each other the way God sees us—as sinners who needed a savior, as humans created the same way. It saddens me to know this society will continue to bicker because we all want to go our way without God, and some those who profess Christ won’t study God’s word to find peace with fellow humans or their Creator.” 

The last question on the survey asked the respondents, “If you had the ability to eradicate the Confederate Heritage month, would you?”

89.2% of Mississippians chose yes, they would eradicate the Confederate Heritage Month. Diversely, 10.8 % of Mississippians chose no, they would keep the Confederate Heritage Month.

When I evaluated the responses from the survey I found myself surprised by some of the answers received. An interesting trend in the responses was, 50% of the people who believe that the confederate flag serves to honor the dead are under the age of 18. It’s not only the older generations that believe in these prejudiced traditions, it’s also youth in the state. That is concerning because when the youth believes such things, it’s only going to continue the pattern of hate and racism in Mississippi.

As a generation and a community, we need to do better when it comes to our knowledge of politics. We shouldn’t use the excuse of “I’m young, it doesn’t concern me”, because it does. When it’s our generation’s time to hold those political positions, the actions of those in office now ultimately falls on us. However, I don’t solely blame the Mississippi youth for having these abstracted mindsets. Part of the blame should be placed on our parents and our educators. I know personally, from growing up in the Mississippi Education system, the way slavery and the Civil War is taught in classes does not exceed the levels of mediocre. How could the Mississippi youth know about the detriment conditions of slavery, and the true reasons why the Civil War was fought; when it’s not taught to them properly? When individuals know better, they do better.

Also, I believe when everyone is better educated we, as Mississippians, will unite, and stand against racist, futile proclamations that shouldn’t exist in 2020 (and that only exists to please Caucasian, confederate organizations a.k.a. The Sons of Confederate Soldiers) such as the Confederate Heritage Month.