- Yearbook
Inklings Winter 2022-2023: Thresholds
In this issue, our writers describe the moments surrounding "thresholds" in our lives: when change is coming, and decisions must be made. Sometimes, the need for this change comes from within, when we have grown beyond a certain situation, or when we have seen or learned something that makes remaining where--or who--we are impossible. At other times, however, change is thrust upon us, and we must find a way to meet it and keep going. Each of these pieces features an author facing, and sometimes drawing, a "line" that must be (or can never be) crossed, in order to make a new way.
November 14, 2022 (1)
I’m so glad I finally got to see you
I don’t know that it’ll happen again soon, due to my attitude
That visitation was well past due
And I’m so tired of forcing myself to feel gratitude
It shouldn’t be a problem for me to see you, you’re my mom
Some people just don’t understand
No one knows how hard it is for me to be calm
Seeing you is something I demand
People always think I’m being mean
But no, I’m just doing me
You always had an attitude too, so maybe it’s a gene
This is the way I’ll always be
We have to keep fighting for it to go our way
I promise I’m looking forward to it; I’m waiting on that day
-Hilary C.
Distance
The Moon loves the Earth
Even after their separation
Millions of light-years away
Yet it feels like a vacation
The Moon misses the Earth
He dreams of reunion
The Moon's face kept it's worth
But Earth's is in ruin
The Moon worries for the Earth
Earth has begun to break down
In a few thousand years
Earth may no longer be around
-Preston T.
Untitled
i am brokenly beautiful
i wonder what would make me wonderful
I hear their constant chatter
i see my confidence shatter
i want myself to matter
i am brokenly beautiful
i pretend to be alright
i feel a flame ignite
i cry at the treacherous height
i am brokenly beautiful
i understand this won't last forever
i say i can do better
i dream of becoming more than i am
i try the best i can
i hope for a life that's meaningful
i am brokenly beautiful
-Emma T.
November 20, 2022 (1)
I have hidden scars
Some on the inside and some not
I keep them hidden as if they’re behind bars
On the inside hidden there is a lot
On the outside there aren’t many
My scars I’ll never show
All my scars are due to pain
They’re also due to neglect
It’s all just hard to explain.
All this pain I never thought to expect
I’ll forever protect myself from pain like I feel now
Getting hurt is something I just can’t allow
-Hilary C.
Life Poem
Life, a four letter word. In life, there are many different things you go through. Love and happiness are some of the things you might experience, but there are also bad things that you might also experience, such as grief or breakups.
Love makes you feel like you’re on top of the world, or like you’re running through a field of flowers that never ends, and you want to stay in that moment forever.
Happiness is the same way; you feel like you are high on some type of drug and nothing else matters at the moment.
Grief, on the other hand, is the opposite. You are emotional and don’t really want people to see you at your worst, and the one thing that mattered was ripped from you in a matter of seconds. When you go through a breakup, it feels like you are dying on the bathroom floor. Everything reminds you of that person who hurt you so much, and no matter what you do, you can’t seem to get them off your mind. You’re crying all the time; sometimes you don’t know why, and it sucks.
Everything we go through is part of life. These things are happening for a reason, but you might not find out the reason until later in your life. Look at life like a string-puppet. Each string moves a different part. Life is the puppet, and the strings are different paths; each path will lead you to something different, different parts of your future. You just have to decide which path you want to take.
-Haley W.
Facade
Facade.
Our decorated box with a vacant interior
Facade.
Our beautiful waterfall with a rigid slope in the back
Facade.
Our pleasant expressions displayed to avoid confrontation
Facade.
White lies to keep our sanity
Facade.
-Preston T.
Untitled #2
I’m not letting you back in
You were supposed to be my dad
My patience has become thin
I just wanted to let you know before we begin
You always make me mad
I’m not letting you back in
Where have you been?
Having you in my life is what I used to wish I had
Now, my patience has become thin
You say you’re gonna change, but since when?
You always lie, which is really bad
I’m not letting you back in
The decision is made, no need to try and convince
I used to stay feeling sad
My patience has become so thin
I’m going to take this as a win
It’s time to be glad
I’m not letting you back in
My patience has become too thin.
-Hilary C.
The Mindset of Grief
Every night I rest in bed, hoping to see you again, to see the laughter, hope, and joy that you bring to the world. The pain of grieving, knowing that y’all in a better place. It still hurts my soul, knowing I didn’t want to fall again into a mindset that no one could understand. It is the feeling you mentally go through, as every day the sky turns on the stars. That is when I begin to fall into a place where i’m dealing with my mind, where I just cry, wipe my tears, and wait for the sun to rise and shine on my face. Simultaneously, I miscommunicate. People wonder why there isn’t a smile on my face today. As I go on with my day, my day is sometimes different. I usually play it cool so that no one knows the feeling that I’m going through, looking at the ceiling while lying in bed, waiting on you all to come home. Waiting to see what could happen if we were all in the same place calling each other’s names from a mile away.
Every chance and time we could make, that would
be another day. As time passes by, I wish I could be the one to fly away as my through will flee away, and the pain can go away--the emotions I feel without y’all being here today. This isn’t a place for me anymore, but I can only say you all aren’t hurting any more.
-Aliyeanna W.
November 30, 2022
I’m barely keeping it under control
Slowly, I’m losing it
I just wanna feel whole
I’m ready to just quit
It’s only getting worse
Life should never have to be this hard
Sometimes I wonder if iI’m living with a curse
My feelings I wish to disregard
I’m just holding on due to a bit of hope
But what’ll happen when the hope is gone?
I don’t even know how to cope
Am I gonna be able to keep holding on?
These feelings won’t go away
Hopefully it’ll get better one day
-Hilary C.