Grade: 12

Bio: Ella dedicates pretty much all of her free time to art and theatre! She plans to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre after she graduates :)

What motivated you to write this piece?

I had this image in my mind of an old woman kneeling by a tree that resides in a space that was once a battlefield. I have always been intrigued by how nature can be affected by war. I imagine that this woman was a part of the battle and lost many people she loved. She craves an understanding that only this tree can give her because it is the only other living thing that has seen what she has seen. They are the only survivors left and they both have grown old in the wake of death. However, the tree remains peaceful and she is left broken.

Do you write sporadically or regularly?

I definitely write sporadically! Sometimes I will be up all night writing an entire screenplay for a week straight, and other times I won't write for weeks. Sometimes it takes something really special to inspire me, but then I become obsessed with the process once I start.

What was the most difficult part of your writing process for this work?

The format was definitely a new challenge! I had never written a sonnet before, so working with iambic pentameter was a little tricky, but super fun!! The ability to give the reader information about the work by embedding details in the rhyme scheme is what gives Shakespeare so much depth (especially when acting!), so I was super stoked to try that out myself!!