Musings: Fine Arts Mag

Poetry Contest

What adventures does your future hold?

Write an original haiku by November 18, 2011, for a chance to win fantastic prizes from Dell!

All information is avaliable at the Scholastic website.

Open to students in grades 7-12.

Click here for rules and guidelines!

SUBMIT ART NOW!

Lower School

Creative Writing
Visual Art

Creative Writing

Main
A Dog's Point of View

Main

A Dog's Point of View

A Dog's Point of View

By: Nory Brockman, 5th Grade
Hi, I'm Carter, and I am... an average dog. But life isn't all bones and chasing cats. My best friend, Co-Co, is small in size but big in attitude. She lives across the street in a regular old house that she treats like a castle. So let's get to the story then, shall we? I was walking down the street with Co-Co one fine summer afternoon when I heard a low, scruffy growling. It sounded like a fellow dog, but of course, it wasn't welcoming! Co-Co heard it too. She was freaking out like a cat in water. "We gotta get outta here!" she screeched. "Right now!" Then we saw a large, muscular dog standing before us. My snout only went up to his giant, box-shaped chest that was definitely much larger thanCo-Co. He said in a deep scary voice, "If you don't out of MY territory, I'll pulverize you!" Now Co-Co was trembling in sheer terror. She was so small compared to him I personally thought he could eat her whole. "Well squirts, I told you once and I ain't gonna tell you twice. Get outta here!" Co-Co went off like a rocket. I sulked away, thinking that I should've stood up for myself, even thought he could clearly PUL-VER-IZE me. It was the next morning, and I already had breakfast and was heading out to Co-Co's place. Co-Co was still carrying on about "The Bulldozer" as she called him. "Oh, what if he sneaks into my house?!" she wondered. I then said, "He couldn't fit through any crack or crevice, Co-Co. You're perfectly safe." She snapped back, "I am a princess! He could easily dognap me and ask me where all my precious gold is! I'm doomed!" After a lost argument, I trotted home. Then I started my dog business. You know, gnawing on furniture, romping around, digging holes that could lead to China... When my owners came home, they scolded me as if I just chewed up the entire house! Later I went to sleep. I dreamt that "The Bulldozer" was chasing me. He was yelling, "I'll catch up! You can't hide for long!" The next morning, I was called for breakfast. "Come on down, Carter!" they called. I scarfed down my breakfast, scrambeled down the street, and ran right into The Bulldozer himself. "Hey squirt! You better back OFF or I'll pulverize you!" I said, "You better not be talking to me!" I instantly regretted it. I said it because I had read a book about bullies and how to stand up to them. (And yes, dogs can read.) Then he ran for me, right when I saw Co-Co run around the corner to see what was happening. She barked ferociously, distracting The Bulldozer long enough so that I could scratch his chest. He swiped back, and I felt a large pain in my front shoulder. Co-Co jumped up as high as she could and bit the bully's ear, and I ran. I felt terrible for abandoning my friend in a time of need. When I came home, I took a well-need rest. I woke up to a triumphant voice saying, "I beat a monster! I beat a monster!" I knew it was Co-Co. I raced downstairs and congratulated her. We won!

Visual Art

Sunset

Lemurs

Mustang

Sunset

Lemurs

Mustang

Upper School

Creative Writing
Visual Art

Creative Writing

Main
The Crossroads Drawn
Kingdom
Gasmeme
The Order of the Urchin

Main
The Crossroads Drawn
Kingdom
Gasmeme

Main

The Crossroads Drawn

The Crossroads Drawn

By: Merry Lain, 11th Grade

Today we as one awoke

Kindred spirits of the same origin

With the same blood we joined

Never to diverge, yet

Through unforeseen consequence

We no longer will be one

One and one walk different paths

One into the rising sun

One into the fleeing light

One day two join at the crossroads

Where the I and You make We

Kingdom

Kingdom

By: Merry Lain, 11th Grade

Richest of wisdom

Bestowed upon the mind

Crowned with the wealth

of privileges of class

Passed from heir to heir

Elder to youth

With happy dagger

or with sorrowful passing

The naive prince

Who in his eagerness

practices honor, bravery, and courage

Proves himself before

his ancestors of yore

The Newly made King

Gasmeme

Gasmeme

By: Sophie Ryland, 7th Grade
Darkness stood gaping at the wall. He knew it was there, but he didn't think it would be so big. The drizzle had stopped and his makeshift prince-like outfit stuck to him in the heat. Darkness rotated his shoulders around to let a breeze roll up his back and scanned the base of the wall for a gate. He spotted it and sauntered up casually. "May I be let in?" The guard that was standing there wearing a different uniform, just as Gralgath had said, flickered his eyes suspiciously at the boy. Then he realized who it was and bowed deeply. "It would be my honor, Prince Kres. This way to the palace," the guard pushed open the gate with much melodrama and beckoned Darkmess, also known as Prince Kres, inside. He placed a hand on Darkness' shoulder, his voice dropping to a mutter. "I'm 'Hector' to you..." Darkness nodded curlty, trying to act like what he thought the average prince would do. The town square was directly after the gate. It was packed shoulder to shoulder but parted like the Red Sea when Hector passed. Darkness scurried at his heels like a trained puppy. After passing a very large and quite unnecessary, in Darkness' opinion, statue of King Alexander the ? dribbled off and the beautiful cobblestones were finally visible. Not stopping to gawk, Hector pushed on and rushed Darkness through town. The boy felt a rock in his shoe. Suddenly his foot hit wood. They were at the bridge. Hector stepped back and let Darkness go first. 'Kres' took a deep breath and crossed it slowly and carefully. He never had a thing for bridges. That, and he was almost terrified to meet the king. Hands thrust in pockets, Darkness shakily stepped off on the other side. Darkness looked back at Hector. Hector motioned for him to go on. Darkness swallowed hard. "I guess I'm on my own," the boy murmured, shuffling on. It took Darkness forty-five minutes to find the throne room. Princely asking for directions and wandering around aimlessly took up most of the time. He spent the rest studying his monologue. He paced outside the room. What would Gralgath do to him if he failed? Hang him? Worse? Or perhaps doomed to rot in the dungeons for eternity? The double doors opened slightly and a small young man, about the size of Darkness, stuck his head out. "His Highness is ready to see you, sir." Darkness nodded and the man led him inside. The king was sitting, legs crossed, stroking his orange and grey beard nervously and looking to side, lost in thought. The thrones beside him were shorter but grand all the same. They were empty. Darkness knew the story. The queen, Lady Isobella, died after giving birth to some girl whose name he couldn't quite recall. He remembered seeing her once while on a tour that his orphanage visited. He was eight and three quarters, a slight boy... "And who do we have here?" Darkness started slightly, looked up at the king like an idiot, then bowed deeply. "Prince Kres of Morbodia, your majesty..." "Ah," King Alexander leaned back in his throne and steepled his hands under his chin, his foot having a minature spasm. "How does your father, King Randalph, fare, Master Kres?" "Very well, sir. But I'm afraid Morbodia has recently been attacked by the Dreadlord and we were forced to retreat to inner lines. It greatly weakened us... I have come at my father's request to seek shelter until the attacks lessen. I will offer you ten gold coins in return for a roof." The king mulled it over, still petting his beard like it was a fluffy orange cat. "I suppose so. Here you are - stay for the time being, keep your gold, but pay in one week's time. You have my word." Darkness fought the urge to smile wolfishly with success of the first step. "I'd be forever in your debt, sire." Just then the double doors were thrown open and a blur of light pink hair and purple fabric flew past the boy. "Sorry I'm late, Dad. I was- Who is this?" She jabbed a finger into his chest. It hurt. King Alexander massaged his temples. "This is Prince Kres, darling, of Morbodia? His father - a good friend of mine - King Randalph sent him here for safety." The heiress glared at Darkness for a second then climbed up onto her throne. She curled up, barefoot and slightly dusty. What had she been doing? Rolling around in the dirt? "Anyway," the king sighed, "Master Kres will stay in the room with the emblem over the door on the third floor. Cirsten, will you give a tour to him?" "Sure, whatever." "Shall you begin? I have matters to attend to." Cirsten hopped down and grabbed Darkness' elbow. "Let's go, Kressie." She half-led, half-dragged Darkness out of the room. The door slammed behind her. Cirsten didn't stop walking furiously fast until they had reached the courtyard. "Okay," she snapped, spinning around. "What is your real name?! Nice try attempting to sneak by. I recognize you from that weird tour carriage. So fess up." "I'm Kress of Morbodia, I swear! My father - " Cirsten held a finger to his lips. "I said your real name." Darkness stared at her. "Fine! I'll just go tell Dad you're a traitor and - " Darkness grabbed her shoulder. She had started to turn away. "Samuel. I'm Sam." Not Darkness, he thought grimly. "Sam Pride. Period, the end." "Nice to meet you, Samuel Pride. I won't pry why you lied like that... Just as long as it doesn't involve me." Darkness couldn't meet her eyes. "Nope." "Okay, good. I guess I'll 'tour' now," Cirsten took his hand, strangely, and pulled him along. "This is the cor - " She stopped. "One more thing. Call me Kitty." "Why?" "Just do it." She continued, deftly dropping his hand, and strolled along. Darkness smirked, shoved his hands into his pockets, and followed the Princess of Gasmeme. He caught up. "I guess you already saw the throne room..." Darkness nodded. Cirsten looked at him for a moment. They were still walking. "And... And. I guess I don't HAVE to tell Dad who you really are..." She suddenly became deeply interested in a ladybug that landed on her thumb. "If you want." "Okay." "But don't try anything funny!" "Okay." They toured.

The Order of the Urchin

The Order of the Urchin

By: Jacqueline Jenson, 7th Grade
When Elaine woke up, it was cold. Dead cold. She slowly opened her eyes. At first, all she saw was gray. Then, the image clarified; she was curled up against the dreary wall of a small alley. Her eyes widened and Elaine gasped before she remembered. Last night, getting lost, wandering through the city... She stood up and stretched. Her body was sore from being crumpled against a wall all night. Elaine found herself still wearing her school uniform. Her coat was lost. The mere thought of having to face this new day without a coat was enough to make her cry after all she had been through. Elaine was short and bony, with shoulder-length light brown hair. She wore it half up in a pink ribbon, which she found lying on the ground with footprints stomped all over it. She picked up the ribbon and carefully restored it to its rightful position, her head. With this, she felt empowered and also the need to get moving. Nothing is ever accomplished in alleys, she thought. Elaine, with her shoulders hunched and her arms crossed, ventured out into the streets. The sky was a somber gray. No one was out except for her and perhaps a few dead bugs. Her thin frame began to quiver under the cold. She was weak. All of last night's events slowly played back in her mind. It started with her nanny, or, as she called herself, the governess - Elaine's apparently unstable governess. She had simply dropped Elaine off in the middle of the huge city, without a word. Elaine had thought her governess was taking her out for a surprise dinner. How wrong she had been. Now Elaine's stomach grumbled like an angry old man, So, for whatever reason, her crazy governess caused Elaine to end up alone on the dangerous streets. But next came the boy. Although all her other memories were fuzzy, his face stuck out clearly in her mind. His huge eyes, the long straight nose, his slightly hooked over lip. The boy's expression was odd, though. It was almost as though he was hiding something, but his mouth was a grimace. Even stranger, his eyes seemed to talk to her. The divine indigo irises semmed to cry, "I need someone. I'm lonely." It was all coming back to her. Elaine remembered; she was walking. It had started to rain. Not heavily, but like little sprinkles. She found that she remembered that very clearly. It hadn't rained hard, it had rained lightly. Then Elaine became tired of walking. Despite the rain, she had sat down on sidewalk. Her eyelids had just begun to close when he came running out of nowhere with his shiny dagger. He flew at her, with that conflicted expression behind his shaggy dark brown hair. As soon as she had seen him, Elaine stood back up like an electrical shock had gone up her spine. Somehow, standng up is often safer than sitting. She pressed her back against the wall, foolishly wishing she would turn invisible. But by then, he had reached her. He was tall, taller than her, and he had the blade up against her throat. She gasped, trying to make her neck skinnier, Elaine had felt something hot on her neck. It was just now that she remembered that as she was walking through the streets. Elaine reached up and felt her throat. She scratched carefully; dried blood rubbed off on her fingers. After the boy had cut Elaine, she must have blacked out. Luckily, the cut had been small. She had passed out only from shock. It was now that she wondered, as she shuffled down the sidewalk, how she had ended up in the alley. Confused and forgetting the troublesome memories, Elaine continued on through the town. It was five blocks later that she noticed something strange. Elaine had a feeling... a feeling she couldn't quite place. Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to a battered stop sign. She has definitely seen it before... It hit her. This was where it happened. Where the boy came from. Where she was stabbed and apparently dragged away from the scene. Nothing made any sense anymore. Elaine, in a sudden stroke of fear, whimpered. Was he still here? The boy? The boy from before? And that was when she felt a sharp pain in her arm and instantly fell unconcious as she started to bleed. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was his face.

Page 7

Sophomore Haiku

A calender ends

While timelines are eternal

Limitless ideas

By: Jennifer Henry

My mind may be small

However, meaning it has

As I dream for good

By: Brent Charles Alexander

Into the future

I see endless adventures

Completely unknown

By: Aamna Asif

My future ends soon

Light at the end of the trail

Death is a cold embrace

By: Cody McMillin

Page 8

Junior Haiku

I sought the unreal

Misconception leads us all

Search beneath the veil

By: Anna Claire Rogers

Happy pencil writes

New and old worlds of wonder

I shall author it

By: Merry Lain

Sunsets and a sea,

An evergreen certainty

Sure as the morning.

By: Rebecca Causey

Foreign soils called home,

horizons golden and bright,

my future does hold.

By: Madison Street

Page 9

Senior Haiku

An apocalypse

Filled with zombies and me

Life while walking dead

By: Mary Shaw

From show to show, I'll

help make your dream come true; Just

let the notes flow through.

By: Amanda Medaries

Holster on my side

Trials of life flying by

Jesus is my fire

By: Walker Thurmon

One day when I've aged,

Whatever my future holds,

I hope I'm brought joy.

By: Anna McCarter

Macbeth

Macbeth

By: Miracle Lain, 11th Grade

Lain - Macbeth.docx

Click to read Macbeth , as told by the unmentioned fourth Weird Sister.

Visual Art

Hands
Dragon

Hands

Dragon

Contact