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MERAKI MAGAZINE (LITERATURE & ART)

EDITION FIVE

1 February, 2022

“MERAKI” [may-rah-kee] This is a word that modern Greeks often use to de scribe doing something with soul, creativity, or love -- when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing, whatever it may be.

2 STAFF

“CREATIVITY TAKES COURAGE.”

- HENRI MATISSE

Meraki Magazine has a passion and devotion to creative writing and visual arts with a desire to provide a safe space that connects people to stories, poems, photography and various forms of art. The staff seeks to highlight the talent of artists within the community who pour themselves into their creative work so that readers may know and experience the joy, beauty, and love of the arts. Thank you so much to everyone who submitted pieces- we know it takes courage to share what you’ve created to the rest of the world. It takes courage just to be creative. Sincerely, The Meraki Magazine Team

STAFF 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS POETRY ... 6 A Dull January, Emma Harris... ... 7 February Fading, Emma Harris... The Cycle That Never Stops, Capi Kirby... ... 8 My Favorite Moment With You, Emma Harris... ... 9 ... 10 Lo Sestine, Delaney Haskel... SHORT STORIES & CHAPTERS Affiity Sweets, Abby Johler... Garden of Dreams, numerous authors...

... 13 ... 19

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Fall, Ashley Beam... ... 21 Tea Leaves, Ashley Beam.. ... 21 Greek Goddess, Delaney Haskel... ... 22 Cystal, Gideon Schwamb... ... 23 Mr. Snowman, Natalia Hunt... ... 23 Mr. Mushroom, Natalia Hunt... Rainbow Dragon, Natalia Hunt... ...24 ...25 Dying Breath of a Pen, R.J. Walker... ...26 Dying Breath of a Pen 2, R.J. Walker... Head and Torso of a Machine, R.J. Walker... ...27 Untitled, R.J. Walker... ...27 Skull, R.J. Walker... ...28

4 CONTENTS

POETRY

STAFF EDITORIAL 5

A DULL JANUARY EMMA HERRIS, 12

The echoes of elated cheers are swallowed, By the abducted name of life everyday functionality & practicality borrowed, A deflated January rolls around once more, Celebrations are continuing to feel more & more like a chore, I deck my down coat & take a walk in the cold, It’s becoming a bore, this propped up set of life is getting old, And the tickets to see the play increasingly expensive, And the ambiance more & more ostensive, And my mood more & more obstinately pensive.

POETRY

FEBUARY FADING EMMA HARRIS, 12

It’s been a long & lonely winter, maybe the longest we’ve ever seen, February just dragged on for what felt like forever, I grew tired of simply being, The blistering summer before must have provoked this winter’s icy weather, That was a reason to believe in a balance of the universe, it kept us together, Holding on strong to the belief that what is bad has to eventually get better, And yesterday, as we sat shivering, we noticed the snow getting wetter, I think tomorrow might be better.

POETRY

THE CYCLE THAT NEVER STOPS CAPI KIRBY, 9

I sit alone in a dark, crowded box, In a never ending cycle that won’t ever stop. I show my face once a year, Unless I get left in here, That is my ultimate fear. Alone in thought, But not in the box. Sparkling, glistening, gleaming, Companions crowded around me. They hang me high, Dangling up in the sky, Careful not to drop, While they gaze at me and stop. Music surrounds, Cookies passed around. I sit here and watch, While I waste here and rot, Back in a box, The cycle that never stops.

POETRY

MY FAVORITE MOMENT WITH YOU EMMA HARRIS, 12

Winter crept in on kitten’s feet, And fell upon your shoulders like a blanket of snow, There was a quiet amongst the street, Peering out of your apartment window, The radiator hummed soft, Murmuring in the early dawn, The record played up in the loft, You sang under your breath to the song. You were wrapped in a quilt, The world was full of charm, Like an old photo with a slight tilt, Like a record sleeve with a little bit of harm, Your hair framed your face, Like a fine work of art, Everything was perfectly in place, Everything felt straight out of the heart. And everything was beautiful, Everything was right, And we were okay.

POETRY

LO SESTINA

DELANEY HASKEL, 9

The fields of where I fled, covered in shade Upon me came the descent of the pure The divine and their guest filled me with woe Beneath you was a destiny ruined Your ego brought only destruction near I paid for your insolence with my form Your disgrace attempted to hide my form The queen saw through and cast into the shade New meadows brought by a servant to near Eyes watching constant, the bouvine made pure A guard with an intent soon be ruined A son of yours, to bring the monarch woe I travel to rescue me of her woe, Her fury was what I hid from my form For if she found, my life worse than ruined Over the estuaries, mountains, and shade I feared the touch, the angry, the un-pure I went toward the light, a prospect brought near The venture brought emergence and death near Taken over like an eclipse, filled’th woe I and heart no longer a maiden pure Seemed like centuries away from first form For I attempted light, I linger shade My dreams and longings, filthy and ruined While I wept my tears, not all was ruined Shining fortune drew to the bouvine near Scaring and tormenting the fury shade Through my tears coming justice fought my woe

POETRY

A freeing spirit, brought to my own form Return but unalike, corrupt and pure A new sojourn for a unique world pure Searching and finding a home not ruined I found a love in a welcoming form My fatherland nowhere but my heart near With him and my prophecy, kept no woe A devotion freeing me of your shade

POETRY

SHORT STORIES & CHAPTERS

AFFINITY SWEETS ABBY JOHLER, 12

1515 Wooden Bridge Trail 314-315-7088 INT. APARTMENT- MORNING An alarm clock starts beeping obnoxiously, and the Baker’s clumsy hand reaches over to switch it off. Next to the clock sits a picture of her, younger, with a man that seems to be her father. The Baker is seen stretching with a big yawn.She slips her feet into slippers by her bed and goes to the bathroom to brush her teeth and tame her unruly hair. She puts on a pink bakery uniform and scurries to grab her shoes and head out the door. EXT. CITY- DAY The Baker walks down a bustling urban street and turns the corner to find a blind woman selling flowers. She stops to buy a little bouquet of yellow roses. As she walks to her shop she hands out these flowers to people as she goes. She ends up walking down an ally and opens up a bakery door. INT. BAKERY- MOMENTS LATER A quaint bakery sits in a bustling city tucked between two modern buildings that starkly contrasts the urban setting with its classic atmosphere. The sign above the building reads Affinity Sweets. The young Baker dressed in a pink uniform with an apron is inside preparing sweets for the bakery to open. She cleans off some counters, decorates some strawberry cupcakes, and finishes stocking the display case. EXT. STEET- DAY The perspective switches to a young girl somberly walking down the street. She sniffs the air and turns to find herself looking at the “Affinity Sweets” sign. She walks towards the store. INT. AFFINITY SWEETS- MOMENTS LATER As the woman who owns the store finishes her morning routine, a bell dings and her first customer enters. As the bell sounds, the Baker sees flashes of the customer’s life. INT. BAR- NIGHT She sees the girl with man at a bar drinking and laughing with each other. The scene is a loud party with intense music and a colourful clubbing environment. They exchange phone numbers and say goodbye… 2. EXT. PARK She sees these same two people walking and holding hands in a park. They stop at a bench STORIES & CHAPTERS to and look at the stars. They share a kiss. The man offers the girl a little box. She opens it13

find a key inside. She says yes to moving in with him… INT. APARTMENT- NIGHT She sees these same two people in a small messy apartment yelling and fighting with each other. The girl is crying while the man yells at her… INT. KITCHEN- ANOTHER NIGHT She sees the couple having a dinner together. The girl asks a question and the man pushes the girl’s dinner away and slaps her. She storms out crying. She crumples to the hallway floor in tears… INT. AFFINITY SWEETS- DAY The bakery owner now finds herself back in her store with the same girl from her vision finding a seat at the far left of the dining area. The girl, around 23, is bleary eyed and trying to keep it together. The bakery owner takes a kagami mochi from the display case and brings it over to the young girl’s booth. BAKER (In a comforting tone.) Welcome to Affinity Sweets. (She pushes the dessert towards the girl. There is a pause as the girl looks up at her.) This may make your day a bit sweeter YOUNG GIRL (still wiping away some dried tears) Thank you so much... (She takes a bite of the dessert) I don’t know what to say. (A small smile imprints her face as she looks down at the dessert) What is it? 3. BAKER It’s a traditional Japanese dessert served during New Year’s (She slides into the booth and whispers like she’s sharing a secret) You know, this dessert actually represents new beginnings and starting over. YOUNG GIRL I wouldn’t mind starting over on some things.

STORIES & CHAPTERS

(She laughs quietly and begins to study the dessert) BAKER (As she slides back out of the booth) Well I hope you enjoy! Let me know if there is anything else I can get you. YOUNG GIRL Ok, thank you! The Baker steps back behind the counter and tidies up the area. EXT. STREET- DAY An older woman in her early forties is walking down the street. She drops a picture of her and a little boy. As she leans down to pick it up, she smells a wonderful fragrance which leads her to “Affinity Sweets”. This woman approaches the front of the store as if being drawn by the inviting disposition of the building. INT. AFFINITY SWEETS As she opens the door solemnly, the bell rings and the Baker sees a flashback of her life. INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM- NIGHT She sees the middle—aged woman reading in bed to a little boy. They cuddle and the little boy falls asleep on her shoulder… 4. INT. KITCHEN- DAY She sees the same mother and son making strawberry cupcakes. They have fun icing the cupcakes and the mom wipe, some icing on the little boy’s nose. They both burst out laughing… EXT. CITY- DAY She sees the mother and son walking through the city pointing at unique buildings and colourful architecture. The pair stop where some people are doing chalk, and the mom and little boy draw a big, colorful building out of chalk… INT. CHAPEL- NIGHT She sees the mother standing alone in a chapel in all black, dabbing her eyes. A singular white rose is laid upon a casket… INT. AFFINITY SWEETS- DAY The Baker snaps back to find the bell finish ringing and the middle-aged woman walking to take a seat in the booth across the room. The young girl finishes eating and exits. The Baker looks around the bakery case searching for an item. She find, the strawberry cupcake she was looking for and starts bringing it towards the middle-aged woman. BAKER

STORIES & CHAPTERS

Hey here’s a little something that may brighten your day MIDDLE AGED WOMAN Oh my, thank you so much. (She looks down at the cupcake amazed.) How in the world did you know? BAKER Know what? MIDDLE AGED WOMAN This cupcake looks exactly like my little boy’s favorite. We loved to bake together. (She smiles sadly to herself. There is a pause) 5. Thank you… BAKER I’m glad I could help. (She smiles) MIDDLE AGED WOMAN Ya know… he would have loved a place like this. So colorful and unique… (She trails off in thought) BAKER I hope you enjoy the cupcake. Is there anything else I can get you? MIDDLE AGED WOMAN (Snaps out of her train of thought) Yes, may I please have a coffee? BAKER No problem. I’ll be right back with that for you. The Baker walks back behind the counter and pours a cup of coffee. The audience sees her bring the coffee to the middle aged woman and the faint noise of another thank you. As the Baker is walking back to behind the counter she hears another ding from the bell by the door and as it rings she sees another flashback. INT. FAMILY HOME- AFTERNOON She sees a little boy posing with his parents in their military uniform for a family picture. The parents then take their military bags and hug their son goodbye… INT. LITTLE BOY’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE- DAY She sees the little boy is seen reading a book next to his grandma knitting, surrounded by cats. He glances at the clock as another minute ticks by…

STORIES & CHAPTERS

INT. LITTLE BOY’S GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE- LATER DAY She sees the little boy opening the front door and being handed a folded American flag by a government officer… INT. GROUP HOME She sees the little boy be guided into a room with a bag. He 6. sits on the bed and looks at the family photo from before. He looks into his bag and pulls out two dollars… INT. AFFINITY SWEETS- DAY The Baker is back in the bakery watching a little boy approach her with two dollars in his hand. LITTLE BOY Excuse me, ma’am, but could I please have a strawberry cupcake? BAKER (She reaches down to take the money. As she counts it she frowns.) Oh, You’re just fifty cents short. MIDDLE AGED WOMAN Oh I‘ve got some change. (She starts to rummage around her purse.) The boy sits down at the table and the Baker brings over a plate with a strawberry cupcake. The Baker walks back behind the counter and the boy and the middle aged woman are seen talking together in the background. Time passes and the shop is empty. The Baker starts to clean counters and do other menial tasks as the bell at the door rings again. INT. HOUSE- NIGHT She sees herself as a small girl with her father as he is stressing over bills. He curses loudly, and her younger self runs to grab her piggy bank for him… EXT./INT. GAS STATION- NIGHT She sees her father enter a gas station with a gun and robbing the cash register. The police arrive immediately and arrest him… INT. PRISON She sees herself as a child bringing a blueberry scone to her father in a prison visiting area over and over again. She sees this happen throughout her childhood. 7. She sees herself older now waiting at the same visiting area with the blueberry scone but

STORIES & CHAPTERS

with no one on the other-side of the window. The father is seen just outside the visiting area telling the guard he doesn’t deserve to see her… INT. AFFINITY SWEETS- NIGHT The Baker finds herself face to face with her father, much older now, holding a blueberry scone in his hands. The Baker approaches him slowly with tears forming in her eyes and a expression of suppressed surprise. FATHER I know it‘s been way too long… but… The Baker hugs him with tears and a smile on her face. BAKER I missed you… the father hugs her back with tears in his eyes. As they break the hug he gestures the blueberry scone towards her and she gratefully receives it as they walk to a table together. The film closes with a daughter and her father reunited smiling and talking together. The End.

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

GARDEN OF DREAMS

GIDEON SCHWAMB (11), JACKSON LOEHR (12), PEARL JOHNSON (12), ANGELINA SPENCER (12)

JIMMY ORANGESEED walked slowly through the field, arms outstretched, palms up. The seeds he was carrying slipping through his fingertips onto the fertile soil below. But these weren’t ordinary seeds, these were Seeds of Dream. Jimmy smiled as the Seeds touched the earth and upon contact, immediately began sprouting enormous flowers and buds, with huge leaves and twisting vines. Some of the Dream Shoots were belligerent, wildly thrashing and whirling about. However, others were calm and grew slowly, digging their roots into the soil as they sprouted. But mixed in the Seeds of Dream were the Seeds of Nightmare. Giant sundews coiled around the once happy ferns, gargantuan pitcher plants shoveled buds into their stomachs, and predatory flytraps grasped onto the tall, rooted trees and began to consume them. Orangeseed was displeased by his garden. His brow furled in frustration at the fact that his lovely plants were being taken over. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small drawstring bag and reached in, scooping out a large handful of neon orange powder. Grinning, he ran towards the pitcher plants as they were greedily scarfing down more and more Dream Shoots. With one big breath, the dust exploded over the carnivorous plants, and they coiled back in pain. Before long, the Nightmare Shoots began to shrink and wither away, until they were nothing more than dried up husks to be blown away by the wind. Jimmy smiled as his Plants of Dream were freed from their torment and spread their blooms and buds to the sky once more. The young boy traipsed through the mystical garden until he came to its heart. There he found a beautiful tree that towered over every other plant and provided life to the Plants of Dream. Jimmy smiled and sat beneath its flowering branches, enjoying the serenity and quiet. Sunlight filtered down through the leaves and onto his face, making him sigh contentedly and gently close his eyes. Now, he could finally sleep in peace, and dream once more.

STORIES & CHAPTERS

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

FALL

TEA LEAVES

ASHLEY BEAM, 10

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

GREEK GODDESS DELANEY HASKEL, 9

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

CRYSTAL

GIDEON SCHWAMB, 9

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

MR. SNOWMAN

MR. MUSHROOM

NATALIA HUNT, 7

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

RAINBOW DRAGON NATALIA HUNT, 7

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

DYING BREATH OF A PEN 1 R.J. WALKER, 12

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

DYING BREATH OF A PEN 2 R.J. WALKER, 12

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

HEAD AND TORSO OF A MACHINE

UNTITLED

R.J. WALKER, 12

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

SKULL

R.J. WALKER, 12

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

WRITING PROMPT FOR THE NEXT EDITION

NEED INSPIRATION FOR THE NEXT ISSUE?

Try these creative ideas... WRITE A POEM IN HONOR OF POETRY MONTH (APRIL). MAY WE SUGGEST A SESTINA OR SERIES OF NATURE HAIKUS? WHETHER ABSTRACT OR LITERAL, CREATE ART THAT REFLECTS SPRING OR SUMMER SUMBIT A PIECE THAT REFLECTS YOU (A SELF PORTRAIT, PERSONAL NARRATIVE, ETC.) SUBMIT TO CREATIVEMAGAZINE@WCASTL.ORG

creativemagazine@wcastl.org 30

THE END