Spring 2022
Ronald L. Guyton Jr., 11th Grade
Pond Fish
A small pond carries a pond fish, small but loud.
It swims freely with freedom and forgets the ticking time.
Long ago, it was a koi, having gold fins, proud.
Now as a pond fish, it heard a soft chime.
It knew who it was, it swam to the top.
And low and behold, the young master finally returned home.
The pond fish blew bubbles, helping itself to love; sweet.
Smiling at the fish, he reached out a lone finger.
Gently rubbing the fish's head, tail swaying right and left.
Under the cherry blossoms blooming, the fish turned magically bright.
No longer a fish, it was human, adept in shapeshifting.
Thought half-human, the fish only showed itself at night.
So appearing now, he must be in a good mood.
Under the warm sun, they shared a lovely, smooth afternoon.
Katherina San, 9th Grade
Christmas
I’d sat in confusion and a hint of disappointment at my not-so-exciting gifts.
A suitcase, carry-on, and a wrapped up envelope.
I began unwrapping and opening the last gift left for my brother and I,
and as my eyes moved slowly down the handwritten note
they grew wide and the disappointment was swept up and thrown out with Santa’s stale cookies.
I was going on a Disney Cruise.
Where I would have the time of my life and eat ice cream galore.
I still enjoy a pint when I can.
L'Nya Miles, 9th Grade
The Lonely Apple Tree
There was once some land but now a tree. Lonely at that, but we couldn’t see. The girl was the same, all happy and free but once grew up just like the tree. Once it was grown and apples had sprouted, the people of the land could not stay from around it. They looked, stared, judged, and pouted but they didn’t understand that she was still sprouting. It grew up differently and messed with the land. They didn’t know that it would expand. It became too dangerous and people stopped coming. Now look at the tree all rotten and lonely.
Danaysia Hentz, 11th Grade
Year of the Tiger
Sophia Seyer, 10th grade
Dear ode, How I admire your unabashed spiritYour zealYour zestMore zest than a grapefruit-sized lemon.You brighten the darkest heartsAnd liversAnd kidneys.Basically then entire chest cavityIs illuminated with your verse.I applaudYour unflinching desireTo find the smallest shred of cheese In the pile of dry hay that is life.Everyone loves cheeseBut only farm animals love dry hay. And everyone should love youAs much as they love cheese.Dear odeThe pinnacle of poetic positivity.
Mr. Abel, Guidance
Ode to School Nursing
O', to the art and science of caring:
My clinic doors open to a constant flow
Of students who desire to skip a class...or four.
"Can I have a pass?" They ask.
"Nice try," I laugh.
The clinic's doors close,
Shouting expletives at me like "kiss my..."
Weird how the door knows
So many four letter words.
O', School Nursing:
Band aids, ice packs, and heating pads galore.
But Wait! There's more!
"Security to the Nurse," we hear!
To the rescue we come, wheelchair in tow!
What's this now?
Student passed out on the floor?
Ah - edibles again. Say no more.
O' this calling of mine:
Months of COVID, contact tracing, and quarantines..
At least I was just the messenger right?
Oops, just kidding. Now the parents want to fight.
(Quick. Hide.)
O' to my first year as your School Nurse, Hawk Fam:
No worries! I got this!
As long as I have coffee on the daily, I promise to be kind.
Summer break is on the horizon.
We can do this! Yes. We can do this.
I think?
Couldn't hurt to have a drink.
Of Coffee. Obviously.
Nurse Dillard, Clinic
Let me introduce to youSomething that I love to no endIt’s more than just a shoeIt’s my best friend.
Black, trendy, open toed wedgesSparkly rhinestone embellished leather strapsHigh density foam with no sharp edgesYou will hear flip, flop but no taps.
For everyday, versatile styleCan be worn casual or to elevate any outfitMay not be for walking a mileBut cute and convenient for a bit.
With 1.5 inch heelsWhile looking dashing in jeans, shorts, and even a bikiniThey are great for checking the mail, shopping, or going for mealsFeeling like a queenie!
Mrs. Callaway, SSD/Math
Book Spine Poetry
Ms. Camarota, Science
Behind closed doors
when the lights go out,
all the beautiful lies
tear me apart.
Bad things happen.
All is not forgotten.
Lie to me
before I go to sleep.
Big little lies,
he said/she said.
Sweet little lies
end in tears.
No one knows
the lies we told.
Here and gone,
watch me disappear.
Mrs. Wilimzig, English
Remembering Dav'yon Horton
c/o 2021
Dav'yon was an amazing performer who participated in Poetry Out Loud. He was also a talented writer and submitted original poems to the HCHS poetry contests:
"My Sunder"
I don't say birds fly.
I say the define gravity!
And while many say the moon
controls the ocean
I say they balance each other out.
I cant hear what was said
from over yonder
And if false already told you the fact
then why even bother?
It bothers
to say that I'm such of an imposter
that posture is said to make the
man of the skin that I sit in
let em speak, and everybody
fails to believe that the other cued
up my sleeve is another sail
just like me.
And that kills me.
Try to understand the story of
those who go down sloppy.
You say it broke you.
I say it built
only way for a solution is finding
out what's the problem.
Let me be the one to say
You're not alone.
"Fish to Kings, Dirt to Queens"
Good gods 2020
We really muscled up
Came from riding in trains and steam engines
to riding muscle trucks
to riding faster trains
to riding faster planes
to riding helicopters
in Biology, you learn of evolution. But what's the
environmental adaptations
of this revolution?
Fires seem to burn those koalas
put em out
soldiers going to war now
stand for that flag
you disrespectful son of a
Queen, lead by example
Dropping everything you dream of like it's shampoo.
The day 2020 learns to do them
You will learn to do you
let that be the adaptation
so owes new creation
can continue
a new revolution
cause we will survive!
It's in our nature.