Archives

Triumph

by Libby Kline

 

Victory.

The feeling of winning, even in times of great despair.

Pulling through, even when you think it not to be possible.

Defying all odds, even though you have lost hope.

 

Spirit.

Getting excited about the competition.

Not knowing the results, but your heart is racing.

Who will win?

 

Resilience.

The spirit that brought the Philadelphia we know and live to be.

Where would we be without it?

We would be lost, without anything to grab onto.

 

We won the Revolutionary War, yet we are still struggling through everyday battles.

“Unity is key,” they said.

“Everything will go back to normal”

But they were wrong.

 

They were so wrong.

We have pulled together as a city many times, and we think that is all we have.

We have more than that.

We have love, compassion, and desire.

 

As human beings we have the desire to be one with one another.

A desire to be unified.

We embody that spirit.

Even when we don’t know it.

There are so many amazing people from this city, and you are one of them.

We are all part of that union.

Even those who have stumbled down the wrong path.

The question is, which path will you take?

 

Will you fight the fight for independence?

Will you stand back and watch?

Will you die trying?

You decide.

 

Many cities are followers.

Not this city.

We will rise up, stronger than ever.

 

We are Philadelphia.

---

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Germantown. While I was living in Germantown, I was surrounded by diversity, which I loved. I enjoy doing ballet and competing in track and field. I have a younger sister and a younger brother, and I love reading.

Internal Conflict

by David Smith

 

The overwhelming, mentally dwelling,

Mind state is overbearing.

Sure, it looks high and mighty externally,

But internally, slowly dying.

Emotions non-complying, trying,

To ward off the thought of a love interest who is in a relationship I shattered,

I took one of the shards,

Stabbed my own heart,

Pain is my art,

I compose like Mozart,

But the vocabulary I got can’t save me.

 

These sick thoughts in the cranium,

The monster within, in vibranium it’s caged,

Passion lost like digging through a tar pit,

Solidified, looking into my mind.

Anger.

Lust.

Humbled feelings broke.,

My heart chokes,

Hatred flowing through my veins,

I maintain on the verge of going insane,

How many songs have I written to diss her in my bitterness,

Man that’s lame when in reality

I miss her.

---

David Smith is a freshman at Immaculata College.

Car Rides

by Zaayn Beamon

 

an invisible cloud enters my lungs, i take a deep breath, accepting all that it is

and will be.

 

it’s unfortunate that the used puffy existence calms me to a certain degree, yet it

also strains and clogs my nose.

 

it’s the feeling of drowning and never getting air, yet feeling as calm as ever.

 

two very different feelings. twisting into the air.

taking a hold of me.

 

car rides.

---

Zaayn Beamon is a freshman in high school and likes to write poetry. She also likes writing in general and lives with her family of 6 in Philadelphia, PA. She plays 5 instruments and counting.

Untitled

by Zaayn Beamon

 

i’m falling

but what can i do?

my body wants to let go of you

not feeling the spark, not feeling the love.

i’m feeling for myself, you’re not in love

 

you’re gone

but what can i do?

i’ll scream and shout,

i won’t be heard.

i’ll cry and beg,

but that’s being absurd.

i’ll reason and explain

but who’s really to blame?

 

i hate it

but what can i say?

your love just doesn’t feel the same?

that somewhere along the way,

I started feeling your pain?

wasn’t supporting you,

always a part of you.

 

i love you

but it hurts.

it’ll stay that way and it burns.

yet time apart will heal the marks

and raise you back from the dead.

---

Zaayn Beamon is a freshman in high school and likes to write poetry. She also likes writing in general and lives with her family of 6 in Philadelphia, PA. She plays 5 instruments and counting.                

Philadelphia’s Change of Season

by Ava Egan

 

I cannot help but to stop and feel the cool breeze passing us by .

Through Philadelphia in the North, South, East, and West.

How happy are you that the weather is the best?

 

October, how hard you always try to be born.

I will never forget the unstable summers,

Going here, there, and everywhere.

 

But instead, fall is here.

As the clock falls back and the night grows longer,

enjoying pumpkins, hayrides, and apple picking, in the near future we will be tricking.

 

What other night is such a joy being out

In the dark dressed in different things like a cowboy.

Chanting, “Trick or Treat” so we will get something good to eat.

 

The night is over,

I’m so glad I have so much leftover.

Hiding candy in my drawer, all this long walkin’ has made my feet sore

 

I look outside and there’s a full moon,

Just think, Christmas will be here soon!

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I was born in Philadelphia, PA, and was raised in East Falls. I have made so many friends in my neighborhood which I love. I play basketball, soccer, and lacrosse  for Chestnut Hill which is in Philadelphia. I love writing poetry. I live with my older brother and my parents.

Immigration Experience Poem

Kaitlyn Covert

 

I came from Russia

Three years ago today

I had an interesting journey, along the way

We came on a plane, it was my first time

Never have I ever been so high in the sky.

The clouds looked like marshmallows, they gave me hope

For freedom and that I’d be able to cope

With all the new faces, the trip, and the discrimination to come.

We landed and went to our new home

 

One week later, I started school.

The kids and teachers were all so cruel.

They talked so fast and bullied me.

They told me I should move to a lower grade

But I kept pushing and trying my best

And now you can’t tell I’m different from the rest.

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My name is Kaitlyn Covert. I am 13 years old and I am in 8th grade at the William Penn Charter School. My favorite subjects in school are English, social studies, and art. Outside of school, I participate in competitive all-star cheerleading. I also enjoy reading, writing, shopping, surfing, and hanging out with my friends. In the future, I hope to attend UCLA for college and I want to become a lawyer!