elementia issue 9
Writing
Quoteworthy
By Eric GunnarsonLet us lift that burden off our shoulders
And stand straight and tall.
We are and always will be
perfectly imperfect.
Quoteworthy
By Catherine StrayhallAren’t all heroes simply the sort of people we live with everyday?
Quoteworthy
By Catherine StrayhallBefore she even rested, it’s time to face the world again.
Some days she wonders: How many others fabricate their grins?
She takes a deep breath of air, and heads out to see what awaits.
After all, curiosity is always one of a hero’s best traits.
Story of the Stone
By Blaire GinsburgMinor fissures,
Just hairline cracks,
Spread slowly
At first,
Fine lines on a
Smooth surface;
Creeping across a
Marble plain,
Barely making
A sound, but
Marking - scarring
The Parasite Lives and Grows
By Rachel FranklinOnce upon a time Goliath fell.
They built buildings on his body
and David walked away without looking back
didn’t know his victory
until he moved
opened the door
to have his pebble drop at his feet
Ode to the Oddball
By Eric GunnarsonThere’s a simple liberating joy
In being different,
Being obtuse,
Having that little bit of self outside of normality,
Askew
People will either embrace it,
Or reject it.
Some will revel and thrive in their unlikeness,
Silhouettes in a Crowd
By Catherine StrayhallAs I walk through these crowds day after day,
I see people’s silhouettes;
The stuff they’re made of deep inside,
The good or bad they try to hide,
And their joy or sorrow with every breath.
Wicked Discretion
By Hannah JenkinsIt’s not about what you told me,
but what I chose to believe.
Nothing feels worse than living
an imaginary dream.
And they occur so often and freely
whenever Satan creeps in.
By the time I breathe, and count to ten
Relics of the Past
By Michelle ChanThe peace the nations had promised
Some days that were gold
Now all fade into stardust
Disappearing with the old
Song of Ice and Fire
By Lauren McGrathStare into these eyes of flame
Warm embrace of blazing love
Wild animal you cannot tame
Feral beauty of gentle dove
Gaze into these eyes of fire
Scorching heat of kindled lust
Burning secret of past desire
The Difference Between Simile and Self
By Rachel FranklinI have problems
and I’ll swap mine with you like trading cards.
Long lovely disorders go over the lips like chocolate
but honey, we’ve been writing about these pits of darkness
long before shrinks slapped name tags on them.
Hero of My Life
By Katherine ChinUncle Felix grew up in a small town called Shinzhu, located on the north side of Taiwan. His family was not able to afford extra clothing or toys or even to pay for his education. Uncle Felix learned to take what life gave him, and to always look on the bright side of things.
Sister
By JDC ResidentUsed and abused
Still standing strong
You are the one I lean on
Who knows how to turn it around
With me through thick and thin
No matter what, where, or when
The pain of being without you
Excruciating
There for Me
By JDC ResidentThere for me, my dad
“No matter what,” he promised
By my side
Refusing to ever give up on me - no matter what I did
If everyone else gave up
My Dad would stand by me
Telling me he believes in me
Knows I am strong
Unseen Hero
By JDC Residentjust
when
she
thought
no one
was
listening,
she hid
her face
behind
a mask
that she
hoped
would last.
Once
there
was a
time
Fighting Blind
By Leah PayneI scream
But no one hears.
The danger
Looming, perpetual nears...
The footsteps echo
In my ears
Closer,
Closer
Danger leers.
A dark silhouette
And merciless eyes
Somewhere in Between
By Briana HooperSomehow you have found, where I was in the ground. I am there, I am also here. You have something new to fear. I’m not alive, but not quite dead . Though this is not what you have read. While light can be quite fun, I must avoid the world with sun. To walk the night is not quite what you think.
Darkness Inside
By Lauren McGrathThis darkness inside my heart
Residing in my pitiless mind
A fuel to a fire of ever-burning odium
That cutting sarcasm of such cruelty
The cold cynical aura that never abates
What is it that filled me with such hate?
Who We Are
By Blaire GinsburgWho dreams?
Who dares to enter such a realm?
Visions, fleeting,
Escaping with the waking flutter,
Living on bated breath
And translucent promises of
A world all your own;
A world anew.
An Everyday Misfit's Dream
By Catherine StrayhallWhen you dream of becoming a writer,
You get stories embedded in your soul
Ideas of near and far-off lands,
And journeys down rabbit holes.
once upon a time...
By Breanna SnareThe gem did spawn of evil’s fire
The gem shall be his portal
He comes to claim; our time is dire
The end of all things mortal
His reign of evil, he did conspire
The gem shall be his portal.