Overwhelmed
by Jac Layton-Brown I’ve never been so overwhelmed before. I’ve never felt so calm yet stressed at the same time before. Things have been affecting my community, the Black Community, for so long. I feel as if I’ve become numb to it all. I’ve grown up seeing it. I’ve grown up hearing about it. I’ve grown up being afraid of it. Lately I’ve been silent. I was affected but I was silent. But once I spoke out, everything that I’ve worried about, everything that I’ve tried to inform others of, has poured out. All the pain, all the anguish, all the sadness, I feel it all. And it’s so much to feel. Jac is a Junior at Franklin High School. She is an active member of Epiphany.
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Stand Up
by Evan B. Don't let anyone take your confidence or self esteem. Don't pay them no mind-- ghost them! They're just mean and a fein. If it gets carried away, take it to the dean for her or him. Don't let anyone take your confidence or self esteem. Stand up for yourself and 'be a man.' You have to show them no weakness or fear, Like you're rock solid and no fan. Evan is a freshman. He wrote this poem as an assignment in response to the film adaptation of 'Persepolis' for his Graphic Novels & Anime class. Fed Up
by Catherine Rodriguez, FHS Class of 2018 I was fed anti blackness by the sun on the shore when i was nothing but a young girl being told to embrace the shade because i wouldn't want to get too tan I wouldn't want to get black I was fed anti blackness by the boxes of relaxers that burned my scalp and my six year old tears but beauty was pain I was fed anti blackness when i told my best friend in third grade that I had a crush on our classmate and she laughed saying he was ugly because he was too black as if there was such a thing as being too beautiful my diet continues to extend into emerging adulthood continually fed anti blackness by institutional racism but even after so many stereotypes you never get used to the to the taste after being fed so much anti blackness you get fed up, full of the bullshit that wants to neglect my people from opportunities that were stolen from them from the time they were stolen to the white guy who can keep himself quiet during biology lectures but cant control his mouth from releasing the 2 syllables of “ni**a” when that song comes on who wants to scream reverse racism when I drop a comment about white people the truth must hurt I state the truth about the never extinguished oppression, just disguised oppression “you’re being racist” is the response I get when I call out their privilege as if me keeping it real is offensive it's the black people who get offended and affected by the system in which whites are the sole benefactors, a system of inequality an industry that loves to cast the black as the maid or doormen, catering to the needs of the modern day masters it hurts the chains around our necks that get tighter and tighter every time we pledge allegiance to a flag that doesn't give us freedom here's to my black kings that are too blinded by straight hair and oppositional culture to recognize their black queens that reject us because we tend to be ratchet because we ain't nothing more than some ass to look at on a campus where there ain't much to see my black king, we are here for you do not be flattered by the white girls who love to stroke your brown skin don't let them check you off as a box on their list of fetishes because while she may throw herself at you she refuses to have any ounce of black baby inside her she wants to f**k you but not support you and the ones that do want to have your baby and are willing to fetishize their lightskin children don't know how their moisturize their babies’ hair but love to show off the new standard of beauty you know the ones i'm talking about the ones who love to flex with you in pictures but go ghost as soon as a black lives matter post goes viral and the ones who are there for you the ones who fight for you who are willing to take the lashes the ones who understand you are waiting for you to recognize their worth but you don't see me how could you in a world that silences me because if I say anything that speaks against society I turn into an angry black girl how are the things that I hate most about myself my most black features affirmative action gives them a reason “you're only at cornell because they want diversity” in fact, we are more than a diversity statistic we are statistics of death I'd be damn if instead of worrying that my son become a dealer or a thug that he become a hashtag the blood only gets heavier they say history repeats itself but this history has yet to end my black king, when you sat alone on the bus because they rather stand up than to sit next to you there was a seat next to me my black king, when the class acted like they didn't hear you and the answer you offered was correct but wasn't acknowledged until a white voice repeated it I was impressed with how you computed the result so fast my black king, when you walked into class and received stares from an ocean of blue eyes I was staring too but not out of fear or disgust, but so in awe with the way you walk with your head held high in a world that doesn't love you. because in this world that doesn’t love you, I promise that I will Catherine Rodriguez is a 2018 graduate of Franklin High School, where she was a contributing member of Epiphany. She just completed her sophomore year at Cornell University. She writes under the handle of @sincerelycathy. Motivation by Jasmine Fleming I see so many horrible things going on in the world... so many people suffering in so many different countries... including our own... it makes me think: what kind of future will my generation have? This is what motivates me.. helping people. That much I am certain of.. I know there is nothing else I wish to do in my life, but make this world better.. Bring people together.. make things good. Jasmine is a sophomore at FHS. She has become an active member of Epiphany this school year. She performed this piece for the Drama Showcase. Work, Work, Work
by Ms. Meyer and Mr. Laden's bunny loving student Work, work, and more work The toughest year lingers upon you Work, work, and more work Staying up late to study hard enough for an A on your test grade Work, work, and more work Piles and piles of homework to complete Work, work, and more work Losing motivation to keep working Work, work and more work Junior year is a very hard, but important year Ms. Meyer and Mr. Laden's bunny loving student is an 11th grader at FHS who wishes to remain anonymous. This Thing Called “Love”
Feelings, so raw and untouched... Butterflies in my stomach at the thought of you, My mind wanders whenever I’m with you; Endless smiles, the heat rising up my cheeks, blushing at the sound of your name. You found the love in me that I’ve lost. Lost the sight of love, Until we met In this thing called “Love”. -A.V A.V. is a former Poetry Today student of Ms. Barbour's and a member of Epiphany. Unobtainable During Quarantine
by Johany Solano I must take this time to say: That our friendship started as a flower that blooms; But now there's come a day Where change threatens to smother us like fumes So now that I have the room to write I realize now that what I once found ideal, it's run off by itself into the night And still, even in this moment, I can no longer deny how I feel This thing that grows stronger, little by little With every twist and turn it adapts and bends Accompanied by thoughts that warrant an acquittal For always fearing of a possible end Finally I can understand my heart and all it can say, is it pains to see us apart Johany is a Junior at FHS. She is an aspiring author currently working on short stories, poems, and a novel. Her love for works expands towards all types of literature, but especially classic novels. "Picture"
by Johany Solano A picture is worth a thousand words But words can paint infinite pictures A word can be spoken Or shown through ASL written in the pages of books Or forever remain hidden A word can mean the word to one Serve as inspiration to others A symbol to the cause Or a direction when one gets lost Johany is a Junior. She is an aspiring author currently working on short stories, poems, and a novel. Her love for works expands towards all types of literature, but especially classic novels. wet grass
thunderstorms muddy puddles tiny flowers warm breezes naked trees sunny skies Springtime Jac is a Junior. She has been an active member of Epiphany for the past few years. "Compassion"
by AJ The feeling of compassion Is not lightly to take In no form or fashion It’s nice like a lake No need for hate Only compassion You have time you're not late There is time to change imagine The feeling of compassion Is not lightly to take AJ is a senior. He is looking forward to graduation and continuing to be a student athlete in college. |
About Epiphany
Epiphany Literary Magazine is a safe space for students at Franklin High School to share their creativity. Archives '16-'20
June 2020
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