Famous Last Words

Well, fair readers, it comes to the time of the year where we need to say goodbye for the summer.  In all honesty, we had planned to post on the seventh, eighth and ninth of June, but it never quite happened, so instead we are here at the last possible hour crafting slightly clever farewells.  We wish you all the best and will see you in September!

From Mr. V. -- These may be my last words, but while most of our editors will be moving on to East, I will still be here next year, running the magazine.  So this isn't goodbye -- it's just "sayonara."

From Ashley -- I have learned a lot about great literature from my time in this group.  If you are looking for forms of self-expression and creativity, participate in sevenatenine.  Now is your big chance!

From Max -- Everything boils down to your true personality.  Stop pretending and start growing up.

From Rachel -- Today we close a book, but the pages keep turning -- we have merely reached the end of the beginning . . .

From Zoe -- "Change is the basis of all history." -- Jenny Holzer: The only way to proceed is to alter where you are. Sevenatenine has been a lovely experience, and it will continue to be so even after we depart (well, not in a death sense of course).

From Carter -- If you are looking for a way to share your views on the world, join Sevenatenine. 

From Gina -- "How long is forever? Sometimes just one second." -- Lewis Carrol: It's been longer than a second, but it felt like forever. Everyone can find his or her forever.  Maybe it's closer than you think!

artwork by Nathan Morgan, grade 8

Shakespearean Sonneteers

Each year, after studying Shakespeare, Miss Levin's students try to craft that most beautiful and challenging type of poem: the sonnet.

In just fourteen formally rhymed lines, they aim to capture some profound observation about life to share. Here are two of the top sonnets from the current freshman class. 

Flare

I can feel a coming conflagration
That will destroy everything in its way.
Burning with righteous determination.
Coming sans delay.
To divine justice it’s obedient.
To evil it’s an awful scurge.
It will soon sweep in upon the deviant and have many others caught in the purge.
Its mercy is nothing to be feared
It is a spark for enlightening.
Many will soon find it endeared,
Not some wicked spell that is frightening.
We will not be stuck in evil’s mire!
Heaven will cleanse us with this great fire!

by Jack H., Grade 9




Yesterday


Yesterday I was staring at the stars,
Thinking and wondering of the future.
I thought of how I have come oh so far.
My parents strive to take care and nurture.
Just today I was watching the sun set,
I was looking back and thought of my past.
I realized I have so much to learn yet.
My mom always said I was growing fast.
Tomorrow I will think of what I own
And remember all that I once possessed.
Every morning I miss the bubbles blown.
I think of the day I cut my own lawn,
and know some day all I have will be gone

by Amanda K., Grade 9

Nature Poetry

Spring is in the air, but this poem was too good to miss.  We found it lost in a folder of submissions, and we thought, "The time for the world to see this poem has arrived!"  We hope you agree!

artwork by Alyssa Gibson
Grade 8

My Tree


When I pull on my old brown
boots
As I pile the thick laces into
messy double knots

Before I slide into my worn,
thin jacket,

While I breathe in the
lavender smell of my house

I relish in the warmth of the crackling fire before
stepping outside into the bitter cold and the icy wind.



As I walk into the woods,

Before I even enter them,

While me shoes crunch over dead leaves,

Though the cold wind sears into my skin, a biting
blanket of a nearing winter

I allow the thick darkness of the forest to close
around me as I push deeper into thick trees
and thorny brush


When I reach my tree,
My beautiful tree,
As I lay my eyes upon it,

My heart stops.


While hundreds of leaves fly around me,
obscuring my vision,

Though the forest is dark

I can see my tree

Fallen

Laying on its side

Gone

Heart shattered like jagged glass,
I sit down next to my tree

And grieve for my fallen friend


by M. K. Maclean, Grade 8

Injustice and Pelicans

In this poem, the writer uses a frame of sentence structure created by another poet to craft an original poem about injustice and silence.  This copy-change technique allows writers to capture big ideas in captivating rhythms modeled after the masters of the craft.

And in other news, we have a delightful painting of a pelican :)  Enjoy the spring!


First they banned books, and I
could not speak out --
Because I could no longer know what to say.

Then they banned communication, and I
could not speak out --
Because I no longer heard other voices.

Then they banned writing, and I
could not speak out --
Because I did not have a voice.

Then they banned opinions -- and
there was nothing more my voice could speak for. 

by Michael S., Grade 7

artwork by Adam G., Grade 7

Inside, Outside, Upside Down

OK, so maybe the fact that we stole this month's title from a Dr. Seuss book is proof that we are still getting over our school's production of Seussical, but we are thrilled to share a poem today with a special design. 

This poem is actually two poems in one.  It can be read top-to-bottom, in the traditional manner, or bottom-to-top.  Each way, the poem creates a different meaning, but it still works.  Congrats to the ninth-grade PEN students who worked in small groups to craft one of these "palindrome poems." 

It’s time to grow up

And I cannot accept that

It’s okay to imagine

Hidden treasure and undersea castles

You need to keep your

Distance from fairy tales

Don’t

Let your imagination fly

You need to

Accept the truth because

Dreams don’t.

Life Changes

Accept the reality

Of leaving behind your childhood

Get rid of thoughts

Of faraway lands and distant dynasties

Hold onto your reality

Please

Throw away your fantasies of flight

Don’t

Keep your dreams.

by Deepti T., Emily H., Rachel W.

infographic designed by Jake N.
Grade 9

Forest Fire

artwork by Anastasia E.
Grade 8

Forest Fire

As the grey columns of smoke consume the barren sky,

After the smoldering ruin clears,

While the frigid breath of night dissipates,

Before the last of the light dims,

I watch the resplendent flame dance gracefully along the thicket.

  

As the sweet embrace of the flame intensifies,

While the conflagration extends its reach toward the stars,

Before the essence of all life is consumed in the crimson inferno,

The fear passes and all that remains is gratitude.

I gaze into the torrid blaze, felling even the most formidable tree.

by Jeffrey S.

Grade 8

artwork by Julia D.
Grade 8

Another 9/11

In this piece, a seventh-grade student imagines a nightmarish repeat of the events of September 11, 2001.  This is our first piece published in 2015 that is set in the future.

Another 9/11

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Its 3:30 P.M. and the bell rings.

"Congratulations to the special winner of my red, white, and blue Luncheon," says Mrs. Claremont. "Tomorrow, you and three friends get to have lunch with me in the teachers lounge."

             I turn to my best friend Jess, who sits across the room, and roll my eyes. What student would want to have a special luncheon with Mrs. Claremont?

"Haven Daniels! Do not roll your eyes! This lucky winner won this luncheon because they looked the most patriotic."

I guess she saw me. Oops.

Mrs. Claremont continues, "They looked the most patriotic by wearing red, white, and blue in honor of September 11^th! " Mrs. Claremont exclaims. "Class dismissed."

10 MINUTES LATER

Jess and I meet in the run down parking lot of our high school, Los Angeles Smith Mount High. We get into her old, junky Volvo. Gross. It smells like In 'n Out Burger.

"What do you want to do now?" Jess asks me, "We finished all of our homework in study hall. There's nothing left for us to do."

I think about what we should do.  I loved the last time we went downtown. Maybe we should go again? I answer her as soon I as I finish my thought.

"Lets go downtown!" I shout excitedly, "We can grab something to eat and update our closets in the process, so it all works out."

              Jess answers me. "Sure," she says, "buckle up!"

35 MINUTES LATER

"Wake up," Jess says, "We have arrived at our destination."

She giggles at her own joke. I guess I was so tired I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and untangle myself from the torn up seatbelt. Jess is parked in front of the Smith Mount Shopping Center. I suggest that we should limit our locations to these: Aeropostale, American Eagle, Converse Factory Outlet, and Starbucks.

"I don’t think we should go to all of the stores," Jess remarks.

Why does she always have to be such a bore? She opens and closes her mouth a couple times like she wants to say something. She finally does.

"You know what, let's do it!" Jess shouts.

2 HOURS LATER

Just as we are about to step out of Starbucks, we feel a deep, violent rumble. Then I hear a big explosion and screams.

            "What was that?" I ask Jess inquisitively.

"Probably just some technical difficulty at the construction site across the street," she replies, "Probably scared some people."

That didn't really sound like technical difficulties. Right then, a man comes bolting past Jess as fast as a gazelle, bumping into her and making her spill her Starbucks drink. I realize he had a frightened look on his face. Maybe something really is going on.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Jess shouts after the man.

I try to get Jess to keep walking but she refuses.

"Aww man, look what he did," Jess whines, "He made me spill my drink my new sweater!"

I don’t really see the big deal. She can just wash it when she gets home. All of a sudden I hear a low whine that gets louder and louder by the second. Then, something strikes the side of the building with a boom. There is another great explosion and a big blast of scalding heat. It is so hot; it singes all the hair off my arms. I search through screaming crowd for Jess.It sends me and my bags of clothing flying backwards. I hit my head on the hard marble with a smack. I struggle to stand myself up so I can run to Jess. All I can hear are screams drowning out more and more screams.

I see Jess get hit in the stomach with a sharp piece of debris. "Jess!" I scream. I sprint in her direction. As I am running I hear a crack coming from above my head. I stop running and look up just in time to see a small piece of debris falling from the roof. I am hit in the back of my head from the debris and I fall to the ground. Then everything goes black.

 1 HOUR LATER

I wake up, and I am in the back of an ambulance. What's going on? I can't see at the moment; everything is so blurry. All I can hear are the sounds of sirens. I suddenly remember everything so quickly; it makes my head hurt. Wait! Where's Jess?!

"Jess!" I exclaim out loud.

"Who's Jess?" the EMT  questions.

"My best friend! She was in there with me!"

            He replies in a worried tone, "What does she look like?"

            Where is Jess? I could never live my life without her.

"She is 5'6", has straight dark brown hair, and has brown eyes."

             The EMT nods and starts talking into his radio asking if anyone had seen her.

I quickly add, "She was wearing a white sweater from American Eagle."

             He nods again and repeats what I said into his radio. I can't hear what the response is, but I know by the EMT's expression it must not be good. My stomach drops. He tells me what he heard.

"We found her before you, and she was in critical condition."

           I start to feel tears. Please, oh, please make the rest of this good news.

"She had a shard of glass stuck deep in her stomach. She was already bleeding a lot and we knew that if we took it out she would die of blood loss."

            Please let her be all right. The EMT continues.

"We took at chance at removing it, but we lost her. I'm so sorry."

I just lie there. I don’t move. I don't accept his apology. I don’t even blink. I feel like my lungs have run out of air, but I'm still breathing. I just start to cry. So many tears pour out of my eyes; it is like a flood. I cry and cry; I cry so hard that everything goes black again.

THE NEXT DAY

I wake up the next day with the bright sun shining in my face. I try to move my arms to fix my bed head, but excruciating pain shoots through my whole body.  I have an ice pack on the table next to me. Hurray! The ice pack has saved the day! I reach to grab it. The pain to get the ice is worth the relief. My heart is heavy from the loss of my best friend, but I will survive. She would want me to live my life with or without her.

I turn my head to the television to notice that the news is covering last nights events. I reach over to grab the remote.  I grimace as the pain shoots up my shoulder and to my fingertips. The news reporter gets louder as I turn up the volume.

"Many highly populated areas were fired upon last night," the reporter states, "Smith Mount Shopping Center was struck the hardest and had the most injuries and fatalities."

            Who is doing this? As the news reporter continues she answers my question.

"The terrorist group ISIS were the ones committing these acts of terror. Many people thought that they would attack years ago, but they have selected the anniversary of the last September 11th to do so."

I guess I was always prepared for the idea of hearing of another terrorist attack. I just never thought that I would be the one experiencing it. There should be no terrorist attacks though. This is America in 2020! We should feel safe and secure. Surely they can stop this group before another 9/11.

 by Trinity E.

Grade 7



artwork by Christian R.
Grade 7