Response In Our TimeThis theme of this edition of Words of a Feather is meant to address the various challenges, concerns, opportunities, pain, and hope that the past year has presented to our world. While the theme was inspired by the name of a Brown University multimedia project responding to the political climate this year, the SJP community expanded upon this focus area. In addition to political division, our students also considered the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing struggle for racial justice, the alarming results of climate change, the sudden switch to a virtual world, as well as other societal and personal challenges and triumphs that we faced in 2020. The Creative Writing Club and the wider student body have demonstrated the power of giving artistic and creative voice to the individual or shared experiences and emotions of the past year and have shown, amidst the brokenness, a source of strength. Please enjoy this publication, and our hope is that it will continue the community and nationwide conversation and consideration of our current moment in history, how we arrived here, and how we can continue to make forward progress.
Silenced The body swells; double the shirt size Lips sewn; shotgun silenced Father gone; figure lost A daughter cries in a lonely house A kitten frightened; blasts like the Fourth of July A hat left behind, a bed for the kitten Distant smell of hair, distant from him Blood-stained carpet, blood-stained paws Fighting spirit; lost cause Open casket; eyes are closed Soaked tissues; dry throat Feeling lost, but seeking hope Someone’s out there; not here unknown reason; well-known fear Stolen, taken; forgive and forget? A fading memory; a beating chest -Tory Pepi The Root of Our Downfall: Ourselves So much destruction is going on, we can thank ourselves for all of it, the racism, pollution, climate change, and deforestation, all traces back to us. Because whether we use our voice or not, our actions are what matter and cause violence. We are told to use our voices, whether it’s a loud, determined speech, or a glance of comfort to someone in distress, or a careless action with a great impact, or even a touch trying to repair something that’s broken, because they all matter. But the second we have a different opinion, we are told that we are vile. Respect would go a long way, from left to right, from differences to seeing eye to eye, in order to really be one country united. -Angela Moreno Frida she looks toward yesterday, gazing at static; windless leaves, and what could have been. she inhales a city life, clouds tainted gray, and becomes one with smoke-- free-flowing like her spirit. -Tory Pepi (Based on a photo of Frida Kahlo titled ‘Frida in a White Dress’ where she is outside of her home holding a cigarette.) Reflections on 2020The Fear of 2020 This year has been filled with the fear of the unknown. A worldwide pandemic. The election that separated families. The unjust deaths of African Americans. The uncertainty of it all has changed human lives. This drastic change in lifestyle makes me think it will be like this forever: the state of the country, the separation, the ignorance, the death. Will we really let fear overcome us? -Saidah DaSilva 2020 Poem In the year 2032, they’ll say 12 years ago seemed like a real life doomsday. I'm hoping that the future is bright and peaceful, Contrary to a time filled with so much evil. Covid-19, political unrest, wildfires, and numerous humanitarian crises, Everyone wishing they could go back to the nineties. Looking back at what we can’t change, It is helpful to know we have turned to a new page. I’m positive for a future that will be bright, That is sure to excite. Take this past year as a lesson not a curse, The only way is up, it can’t get any worse! -Ciara O'Connor Fear Fear is like a box a box we can only lock ourselves in where you can watch the waves approach you, but do nothing to escape them some nights the water will creep in making it hard to breathe but the fear of being seen will keep you begging desperate pleas no one can see you in this box for you can’t unlock the door you may tell yourself you can never leave the box but as the water gets higher and higher you’ll realize you need to escape the box isn’t very big, or very strong yet you still cannot escape it the box is guarded by a monster named pride you know to escape the box you need to let go of of what’s inside but the fear of having nothing left keeps you a hostage to your own mind the waves are getting bigger now and fear is on the front line the water trickles into your mouth and your throat is starting to feel dry you can’t give your life to the box inside your mind as the water pools around your knees and your heart starts to speed you finally remind yourself you’re the one with the key. -Charlotte Healy
Inspired by Richard Levine's poem "Believe This"
Believe All morning, making sense out of paper, Turning whispers of cold uttered from the creaks of our house To fuzzy cotton and coffee beans, I heard the silence of the snowfall from the frosted view of my window; A gentle dance of flutters sounding like, Can you believe… -Tory Pepi
Herself Her body flickers like fire, lucid like water, free-flowing like a river and never-ending like a dream, a passion unmatched by valentine hearts for She is the essence of it. She dances for the people, but most importantly, for Herself. -Tory Pepi 2020
I woke up and saw Friends marching on the street, but What if it was me? Over squeaky doors I felt mist covered the streets; The sky is crying. When rainbows show up, Colors are different, yet They shine together. -Hank Yang
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AuthorsOur authors and artists include a combination of CWC members, as well as other contributing students in the SJP community. Archives
June 2023
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