In A Grove 2008

In A Grove

A Journal of Poetry and Art Lakefield College School

Featuring the winners of LCS Writes!

Sponsored by The Grove Society

In a Grove 2008

Grades 11/121st Vernon Neo, “Where I Am From”2nd Katie Richardson, “Changes Hurt”3rd Donald Folkard, “I can hear gun shots fired”

Grades 9/101st Michael Casson, “Segregations”2nd Angela Lee, “A girl with a thousand faces”3rd Maddy Hackstetter, “Dear Enemy, Dear Friend”

Grades 7/81st Nikki Gosselin, “All I Will Ever Be”2nd Christopher Chan, “The Four Elements”3rd Natalie Jennings, “Deep Inside”

Grades 11/121st J.J. Maxwell, “Debunking a Surprisingly Convenient Truth” 2nd Sushil Chanana, “A World of Innuendo”3rd Patricia Gabilondo, “Reflections”

Grades 9/101st Beatrice Chan, “The Last Eight Minutes”2nd Meggy Chan, “Old Mail”3rd Hak Hyun Lee, “Mr. Harris”

Grades 7/81st Sophia Walter, “Apologize”2nd Christopher Chan, “The Marvelous Pitcher”

Prose selections not published due to space restrictions.Please see page 36 for artists’ names.

Poetry Section

Prose Section

LCS Writes! Winners

1

By Vernon Neo

I am from grey buildingsAnd polluted summer skiesPenetrated by tall, scraping figuresI am from changing sceneriesOf new pets and old suede couchesSigned with the mark of lethargy.

I’m from simplicity and monotonyCreated with spontaneity and colourI’m from liars and confidersFrom push forward and stay backI’m from rationality and reasonWith childish hope and inner soul.

I’m from the Outer Limits and the SimpsonsFried rice and banana pancakesFrom the Lamborghini I promised my DadTo the 1000 dollars I stole from him.

Above my desk are shelves of picturesA collage of notesA binder of photosTo stories of lucid dreaming.

I am from these momentsGrowing by the hourTo stand tall like my family tree.

1st place, Grades 11/12 poetry

Where I Am From: A Reprise of George Ella Lyon's Poem

2

By Katie Richardson

We were friends at the beginning, When everything was fine. We would laugh and sing, While playing all the time.

I called her my close friend, And thought she was the best. But she said nothing at all, As if I didn’t pass the test.

She began to put me off, And ignored me when I’d ask, If anything was wrong, Or what was hiding under her mask.

I was alone at breakfast, And even when I walked to class, We would see each other in the halls, But would only pass.

I feel like it’s my entire fault, And that I ruined what we had. Because she is never around, And always seems so mad.

Changes Hurt

3

The day she came to my room, And explained how she felt, I couldn’t believe what I heard, And I started to melt.

It hurts to hear what she said, And how things have really changed. Everything’s a mess, And already arranged.

I don’t know why she couldn’t tell me, And left it until now? She left me confused and wondering how.

How does a great friendship, End up in a ditch? As if in a dark room, Where we couldn’t find the switch.

All I can say, Is that I don’t understand. I guess we have to separate, And learn to expand.

She’s showed me who my friends are, And who really cares. She’s taught me the hard way, Which wasn’t really fair.

4

I don’t know how she’s so happy, And can forget me so fast?Like she can’t even remember, What happened in the past?

It just goes to show that, She’s not a true friend. And everything we did, Was only pretend.

A true friend will always miss you, Whether you’re away for a month or a day. And will always seem to love you, No matter how much you weigh.

Now this story that I’ve told you, Is indeed very true. One of my friends is gone, Who I thought I really knew.

2nd place, Grades 11/12 poetry

5

6

By Donald Folkard

I can hear gun shots firedI can hear screams of the weak and tiredI can feel the bitter coldI can feel my bones growing old

Straight out of high schoolI didn’t know what to doI wanted to explore the worldReinvent myself do something newI couldn’t afford to do more schoolBut Uncle Sam said we would be able to pay for youAnd you would be out by the age of twenty-twoLittle did I know I signed my life awayInstead of trying to better the life I know and madeI began to learn new regiments and new moralsHanded down to me by the high and nobleLittle did I know I was a pawn in something global

It took me a year to learn some disciplineI was told to never speak, only listen inBut I was sick of always listeningSo I punched my superior officer and he said, “We’re shipping him”

Two months later I was on a planeTo who knows where, I was on a planeWe flew for eight hours, it was driving me insaneI tried to talk to the man next to me but he stared and strainedI could hear a whimper and some snifflesThe soldiers straightened their backs and their boots shuffledI can’t believe I am off to warWhy do I have to fight for something I didn’t vote for?

I can hear gun shots fired

7

Machine gun fire shot over headJust barely missing us but there, someone is deadA target, someone had bledBut I must travel with my shadows but just walk, we tread

The man called out“Bring the fire Mr. Militia Man”I yelled back“I’ll do what I can”I pulled the triggerHopped over the hill and ranDespite what the man said I had a planI brought down sixBut as I stared in the eyes of a dying manI heard him cry out terrible words“I love you my wife, I love you Diane”

Diane was my mother’s nameIt hit me deep, it struck a veinBut it did, it did strike a veinI put my hand to my back and felt my life drainI couldn’t feel anything, I was numb, I had no pain

Sent home in a wheelchairIt’s okay, I did it for the glory… now it will pay for school

3rd place, Grades 11/12 poetry

8

By Michael Casson

The world, It’s a simple worldNothing complex,But absurd.

I look around at people these days,Trying desperately to figure out why,Why the world is falling to pieces,The answer is as obvious as if it was written in the sky.

As anyone looks around they are forgetting,Forgetting that it is our world, and that there is no me,Every day our society flies away from itself,As there becomes more me, myself and I, but no we.

This world breaks itself down for easier access,The world to continents to regions,To states to cities to areas to families,Until we are left with Legions.

Legions of confused,Legions of the sad,Legions of the lost,And all that is good becomes bad.

It is this separation,This simple segregation,That tears apart,Countries and nations.

Segregations

9

But oh how tragic,That no one from their islands can see,Exactly what it is that causes,Our society to be.

Corrupt and selfish,Blind and crumbling,With each person,In the darkness stumbling.

The answer does exist,But it must be found,Not by one, by all,And each person around.

For only together,Can we truly stand,As one and all,With our world in our hand.

This time though is far away,For still separated are our nations,And our people still divided,Due to these miserable segregations.


10

By Angela Lee

She wears a mask every day to schoolNobody sees the girl’s inner faceShe hides away from the sunlightand the crowdOn rainy days, her mask seems more thick

A glass mask--so fragileYet it’s holding its placeOn her face hiding all her tears

It seems clear yet so hardto reach into her handsA glass mask--it never seems to break

She walks back homeas the mask starts to crackWhen you can slightly startto see her faceShe fogs it up andruns away

The sunlight shinesAnd you see the girlNow she is wearing…A different mask


A girl with a thousand faces

11

12

13

By Maddy Hackstetter

it was almost as though the little seed i planted in the ground refused to grow.as if my constant nurturing wasn't enough.as if it hadn't any interest in becoming any more than a seed.all i wanted was for the seed to bloom and grow, to become something i could look upon and be proud of, possibly even amazed by its beauty.but of course, just like many things in my life, the seed simply washed awayleaving nothing but dirt and water.it was the only thing i felt attached to, the only thing i felt would neverbe disappointing to me. i loved that seed.the same way i loved you.but now, like the seed, you've washed away leaving behind a tainted heart and teardrops on my pillow. no longer do i nurture you,treat you as if you were in the delicate process of germinating and setting roots in the ground around me.my garden is now lifelessonce the frost has slipped away, i shall place a seed on the sill,and let it be my garden will blossom, and fill with life once more.


Dear Enemy, Dear Friend

14

By Nikki Gosselin

I am comfortable but not always confidentIn my skin.I am forward in my opinion,Though it is not always right.I love laughing,But not my laugh.I know and use my rights,To the point where it is egotistical.Criticism makes me defensive,My friends know what I mean.Pride fills half of my soul,While the other is empathy, love, and kindness.Some days I’ll be screaming with frustration,But most I’ll be screaming with cheer.Yes, I talk really loud,But why wouldn’t everyone want to hear?I have to be at the centre of attention,If I’m not, I will try.I love my friends for tolerating me,Because it’s not easy, even for me.If I could do anything I wanted,I would fly like a bird, following my dreams.I have so many ambitions,Too many it would seem.I believe in being myself,And even though it’s hard, I try.I believe that success is not always winning,Rather that winning is really the journey.I believe the glass is really only half full,And that the other half is waiting to be filledI believe that when in doubt,To always wear a smile.

All I Will Ever Be

15

I believe that asking for help is a virtue,Not a weakness.And helping someone,Shows that you are selfless.Now before you say ‘Practice what you preach,’I want you to know I try.I believe that when a moment is gone,It’s gone forever.And every opportunity missed, Is a life that’s thrown away.So try to live for the moment,Live for a single day.Just relax and be yourself,Is what I really mean to say.And if you do,Everyone will envy youSo just live for this single day.

Now I’m not bad, nor am I good,But rather a mixture thrown together,Random colours of grey, shadow my every step.This is all anybody really is.So don’t judge people,When you are really the same.

That is I,This is me.Even if I’m not who you want me to be.And if I scare you, turn away,But you are missing something great in me.A friend.Because I am me,And this is all I ever will be.


16

The Four ElementsBy Christopher Chan

Fury of natureIncinerates all in its pathRecycles the dyingEnergizes new growth

Wild whirlpoolsAll over the worldTwisting and turningEroding theRocky cliffs

Whipping up dirtIncreasing in speedNursing its strengthDaring feeble humans to stop it

Essence of all lifeAlways neededRepository of mineralsTreasure trove for allHome to billions of creatures


17

18

19

By Natalie Jennings

Excited to go back but didn’t know what to expect,She wanted to see, but didn’t know what was ahead.The year before was fresh and new,But slowly descended into a pit of doom.Everything around her was blurring together,Then the break came and was light as a feather,She had her space and all the time she needed,She got back in gear and felt she succeeded,Everything was fine and then everything died.Everything went downhill and upside down,If her emotions were thrown into a river she knew they would drown.She couldn’t think straight any longer,And felt that she needed to get stronger,But she wanted her old life back filled with fun and laughter,Anything to get rid of the cold, misery and slaughter.She talked and talked and felt nobody cared,She felt like a loner and was a little bit scared.Nobody shouted or physically hit,She still felt the piercing of knives and felt her head split.Nothing got better and she felt annoyed,The littlest things she wished would be destroyed.She felt her energy had been sucked out of her soul,She felt like a furnace without any coal.People wanted to help but she knew they couldn’t,She did need help but knew that they wouldn’t.She had been reluctant and her year had been hard,And if she got through it she knew she’d be scarred.


Deep Inside

20

By Patricia Gabilondo

Walking towards our day,we see her. She is tired; it’s been a long way. Breathing slowly,

beating fast, her heart knows her time has arrived. Like a Phoenix, shewill die, and resurge from her ashes. Some think it’s the end, some think

it’s the beginning. But the only truth in this novel is that she will always be there. A slight wind is the sign. The sun getting farther with each step. Her hair will

become her feet. And her body will gain a ring. And once again she will take care of us while we grow up in the Grove. One day we won’t see her again, But

in the deep of our heartwe will know

she isstill here,With herred hairand hercurioussmile,

Telling us that Autumn is arrived.

The Grove's Tree in Autumn

21

22

23

By Alexandra Massie Postel

This is a never-ending tunnel, which holds neither your past nor future; only the present.

You stumble your way through, hoping to reach the end soon. You are alone, in complete darkness, yet you feel the presence of someone looking down on you. Afraid, you start to walk faster, that walk turns into a jog, that jog into a run. Running fast, you have stopped breathing; you fall. You lie immobilized on the floor, wondering what you have done wrong; why no one is coming to help you. You start to cry, and you start to shake. You feel cold, then, nothing at all. You are frozen all over; no emotions, just blackness. You’ve blocked out reality from your brain. You get up and start walking. You don’t need to know where you’re going or why; all you need is a direction.

Something pierces your heart, but you don’t feel anything. Lifeless tears are streaming down your face without reason. Days pass, weeks, months and you are still standing. Despite everything, something is keeping you from slowing down, or stopping. You are bleeding, dehydrated, and haven’t eaten for days; you will not allow yourself to quit. Self-pressure has become your best friend, as help from the ‘outside’ has become your enemy. You can’t help but wonder when this is all going to end.

One morning I awoke to find you lying motionless on the ground. You had numbed the pain and anger you bottled up inside; numbed yourself so deep, that it began to eat at you.

You begin to die slowly. The day finally comes when your body gives up. Minutes before death ‘swoops’ you off your feet, you see all the people around you that had been there all along trying to help.

If only you had given them the chance.

Unknown

24

By Yasin Sridhar

Elegant, yet loathed to a level of near damnation.The burning was by God, yet AIDS was by them.To all faults and woes, from them you stem and recede.The night and the crevasse which threatens to swallow the sunDeserves no life, solely strife even though they aren’t to blame.The conquerors of our past, the destruction and fires which burnTo this day feed upon the hatred towards them.Them, those blacks.

Horrific, yet they reign at a level of near divination.They march in the name of God, offering AIDS.No faults, no woes, from them you wax and wane.The light and the moon which praises the sunDeserved of all life, husband and wife even though they are to blame.The placidity of our future, the philanthropy and rain which fallsTo this day feast upon the love towards them.Them, the whites.

A Little Bit of Race Relations

25

26

By Katie Richardson

You wait for me to make up my mind,But when I try to decide, I put you behind.

You grip so tight, but can never hold on,Because my mind can’t decide until you’re already gone.

You walk by me as a stranger,Like we’ve never met before.But I know deep down,You feel something more.

I’ve hurt you once and regret every day,I know I said yes and turned you away.

You think my heart is cold and that I meant everything,And in your eyes, the birds will never sing.

We gave it another try and it ended so fast,I wish I could change what happened in the past.

My feelings for you will never change, I’ve tried to forget what I have already arranged.

I Can't Decide

27

To be friends is ok, And I know it seems slow. But I’m telling you now what I think you should know.

I care for you more than you’ll ever think, When I see your face I can hardly blink.

When I’m trying to decide whether to be with your or not, Everyone says yes but my heart’s in a knot.

Until I know for sure, Things will always be the same. I know you feel like all of this is a game.

But when you leave I can promise you this, That all of our troubles will be sealed with a kiss.

28

A Song By Michael Racioppo

I know being here, has had us thinking a lot moreAbout the way we used to beAnd I think it’s pretty obviousThat a lot of things have changedMainly, between myself and me

I’m SorryI don’t want to be this wayI want to hold your hands forever And give you kisses in the rain.I’m SorryI don’t know where we went wrongBut things just keep falling apartI just need to you to hold on.

I’ll hold you closeBy my sideTonightDon’t worry no moreMy heart will be yoursForever

I’ve had a lot of time here aloneMore alone than you thinkTo try and figure out What’s been wrong with me?But I think I’ve forgotten mostOf the important things you see (especially you)It’s turned me into something I don’t want to be

I'm Better At Saying Sorry

29

I’m SorryI don’t want to be this wayI want to be with you forever And give you kisses in the rain.I’m SorryI don’t know where we went wrongBut things just keep falling apartI just need to you to hold on

No I won’t goNo I won’t changeTonightYou might think I don’t careAbout you at allBut I do!

Cause I surely don’tWant to be in this placeWithout you hereI’ve lost my paceWhen I can’t see your smileAnd I can’t feel your heartEverything seems to just fall apart

I’m SorryI don’t want to be this wayI’m going to hold onto you forever And give you kisses in the rain.I’m SorryI don’t know where we went wrong apartI just need to you to hold onBut things just keep falling

30

31

By Adrienne Miller

Students walk gaily along the paths.The autumn breeze blows their hairLifting it to the sunny heavens.

Lingering with their shining halos,Golden paper rain caressingStudents that walk below.

Sway with dark cold North windMy bounty has plummetedAshen bones crackedHeavily shodWinter

From Autumn to Winter

32

33

By Anonymous

Every year, it rolls around.Only one month, you’ll know the sound.Oh March 10th comes there’s no mistake,And every time, I feel and flake.The worst day will hit, and I’ll feel the pain,I will cry and cry, and it will rain.‘Cause nothing goes well, on March the 10th.

Now there’s a story, behind it allOne with misery, fail, and fall.I came home that day, and something felt wrong,My world turned into, a sad-sad song.They took me in, and sat me down;They stared and stared, and showed a frown.They expressed their anger, sharp like a dagger.They opened a cut that will never close,They stabbed and stabbed, I felt the woes.

It was the one true moment I felt alone, It was the one true moment I felt disowned,But what does it matter,In fact my life changed for the betterI climbed the ladder, and got through the spring,I saw the birds, and heard them sing.If joy will re-enter my heart, it is uncertainBut I’ll always remember the pain, March will bring.

Every year it rolls around,Only one month, you’ll know the sound…

Black Day

34

By Michael Casson

My mind is an ever-flowing river,One that may break apart quickly, and fall,Over sheer cliffs into the abyss unknown,It separates for longer than forever,But only for a miniscule time in life,It is here that time becomes meaningless,And on this odd river I find myself,Strangely without a paddle and compass,Not knowing which turn to take, what is nextOr if I am alone in these feelings,But as the long river bends so do I,I am it and it guides me only onward,This same river is in every person,And without everything you can ever see, For everything is one and unlike,Nothing is anything else forever,But is inside every other thing forever,This river like ties binds and separates,You to I, I to you, and us to all,And without it we are all lost, not unfound,Only unbound, separated forever,Our mind is an ever-flowing river.

The Mind a River

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Front Cover:

Inside Cover:

Opposite “LCS Writes! Winners”

Opposite “Where I Am From"

p2:

p5:

p11:

p12:

p17:

p18:

p21:

p22:

p25:

p30:

p32:

p35:

Inside Back Cover (L-R):

Back Cover:

Photography by Derek Shin

Artwork

4391 County Rd 29, Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0

www.lcs.on.ca

Documents

In A Grove 2008