The Sagamore

The Literary Magazine of

Masconomet Regional Middle School Boxford, Massachusetts

May, 2015

In 2015, we have the luxury of being able to get our food from grocery stores. In the seventeenth century, when Chief Masconomet, sagamore of the Agawam tribe, lived on the land surrounding what is now Boxford, Middleton, and Topsfield, people had to hunt, fish, and grow their own food. As we can well understand after these past few months, winters were harsh, and food was not plentiful, but once spring arrived, the tribe members worked together to provide for their families. They fished for food, and also used the fish as fertilizer for their crops. In this region, men hunted for deer, bear, birds, small animals, and even moose. Spring was a time of renewal – not only for the animals that filled their empty larders, but for their spirits, as well. This re-awakening of the soul mirrored the new growth of nature: blooms bursting open, berries and vegetables burgeoning, and new babies arriving to expand the tribe. Just as the Agawam did, let us all take note of the beauty of our surroundings, appreciate what we have, and enjoy the season.

Greetings, Masco friends, and welcome to the third issue of The Sagamore, the literary magazine of Masconomet Regional Middle School. This winter seemed endless and kept us indoors a lot, but our students and staff have been nurturing their creative sides during this time, and some of the great the products of their skills are right here on these pages. Creative writing, including poetry, short stories, and essays, is not a subject that gets a lot of attention, nor does artwork or photography, but we at Masco value those pursuits and are so proud to showcase the vast talents of our students and staff. If you would like to submit entries for the next issue of The Sagamore, please contact Ms. Coburn at [email protected].

Masconomet Regional School District, 20 Endicott Road, Boxford, MA 01921

CONTRIBUTORS:

,

= writing = artwork,

Daria Adamczyk   Haiku poem Sketches

Lily Elwood  Ignorance 3 Haiku poems

Sarah Ager  Haiku poem Simple Saturday

Mr. Felt  3 Haiku poems

Fridahan Basame  Hair

Claudia Fennell  Haiku poem Relax

Daniel Bisson  Haiku poem

Dr. Flaherty  Eiffel Tower

Mr. Boepple  Haiku poem

Mrs. Fowler   Haiku poem Sailboat

Ben Burnham  Haiku poem Luke Callahan  Haiku poem Sophia Ciccarelli  Haiku poem Ms. Coburn   Haiku poem Teal by Fire Jake Dewey  Trees Alex DiBlasi  2 Haiku poems Michaela Dillon  No Worries Ms. Dougherty  Haiku poem Henry Dolan  Haiku poem

Tara Gallagher  Haiku poem Orla Gauvain  Haiku poem Julia Gibson  4 Haiku poems Ms. Hathaway  Haiku poem Ellie Hoxha  Haiku poem Life at the Beach

= photographs Ms. Marsella  Haiku poem Mr. Mazzaglia  Haiku poem Charles McGinley  Haiku poem Nicholas Meader  Haiku poem Mrs. Micus  Haiku poem Julia Miller  Haiku poem Waves Mr. Morris  Haiku poem Tommy Murawski  4 Haiku poems Joe Nadherny  Haiku poem Stephanie Reineke  Haiku poem Jared Ross  Haiku poem

Alexandre Jean  3Haiku poems

Ellie Scheirey  4 Haiku poems

Matheos Kartsounis  Haiku poem

Sophie Weaver  Haiku poem

Mrs. Lambert  Haiku poem

Elizabeth Wootan  New Life 1 New Life 2

Zak Mahaba  Haiku poem

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” --Boris Pasternak

The promise I kept was a delicate flower easily broken. --Lily Elwood raise child, raze not town. Middle East? Mid-Atlantic continents adrift --Mr. Mazzaglia eskers snake throughout flat plains surrounding their roots

scarring the landscape --Ethan Ellis-Johnson

the ocean of sleep is shaken by wicked storms to capsize my dreams. --Lily Elwood

Hour by hour, the moon’s glittering power brightened the last bud. --Tommy Murawski

Sand whips through the air, eroding rocks covering the desert landscape. --Ethan Ellis Johnson

eagle soars up high nest is built, new season comes babies – here, enjoy! Mrs. Lambert

H A I K U

the grass is greener the flowers bloom and birds sing

it is time for spring --Ben Burnham white pines bow as wind rushes down from the drumlins sighing under stress --Ethan Ellis-Johnson withering away in the desert of darkness brings me to my knees. --Lily Elwood Flare fired from boat, pleading to be recognized. Will I be rescued? --Henry Dolan

Stars brighten night skies, not allowing darkness to overcome their light. --Ethan Ellis-Johnson

foul odor fills room furtive glances—who dealt it? silent, but deadly --Mr. Morris

glittering snowflakes coating trees in new white drapes

making fun snow shapes --Tommy Murawski

Spring daffodils in bloom yellow and orange in green colors of springtime Summer white, salty sea-shells tumble out in changing tides to bask in the sun Fall orange, red, yellow falling leaves make tree-tops bare winds echo winter Winter frost frozen window curled cat asleep on the sill no robins to watch --Mrs. Micus

wading in water the waves crash against the shore want to go aboard --Ellie Scheirey and Julia Gibson seen out the window shades of green and signs of spring like the birds and buds --Ms. Dougherty

accumulation buries the snow-white landscape plows quietly pass --Ms. Coburn sailing with the sky enjoying the summer breeze ready to say bye --Ellie Scheirey and Julia Gibson rainwater traps earth in its strong meniscus mud makes a good friend --Ms. Coburn light as a feather drifting down from the night sky good in this weather --Ellie Scheirey and Julia Gibson changing of the tree slowly falling from above everything is free --Ellie Scheirey and Julia Gibson waiting for summer children are getting restless only two more months --Mr. Boepple

the curtains open bright lights shone upon my face the stage was all ours --Sophie Weaver

The Little Mermaid So much talent, cast and crew Come enjoy the show! --Ms. Marsella

the blood flows through veins circulatory system very important --Daniel Bisson

Jason is awesome Jorge is his Spanish name Jason is my friend --Charles McGinley

And some more haiku poems… deep blues, choppy surf rustling sails, hiking hard, splash wet, salty, laughing --Mrs. Fowler losing is not death duty to art is splendor haiku contest thrives --Mr. Felt frozen long winter fear not that strange ball of fire it is just the sun --Mr. Felt rushing over rocks, twisting through the bending stream, crashing on the shore. --Daria Adamczyk twinkling in the light slowly receding o’er grass melting in the sun --Alexandre Jean eagles soaring high up above the deep blue sky using their good eye --Tommy Murawski a sparrow flies past bearing a twig to its nest building its new home --Alexandre Jean the sun is shining blazing heat on our faces now we have a burn --Alex DiBlasi

Summer days will end I wait by the fire for you That's all I can do --Sophia Ciccarelli Chocolate is good Chocolate is really good Chocolate is great --Luke Callahan “Lobster” can grow four feet long, can weigh over twenty pounds. can taste very good --Nichlas Meader reaching to the sun branching off into small buds the tree is growing --Alexandre Jean riptides wild and strong fish and creatures swim along surfers sing a song --Tommy Murawski the sky is light blue the cows give off a loud moo this is a strange zoo --Alex DiBlasi glistening ocean dolphins glide through cool water playful, joy, happy --Stephanie Reineke “Football” we are a family brought together as brothers we play with our hearts --Joe Nadherny

playing in the sun I have so much fun outside summer is coming --Claudia Fennell

the wind blows strongly a storm drifts in from the south raining down on all --Jared Ross

the skies seem severe beautiful, the way they turn quick! a tornado --Orla Gauvain I have writer's block I do not know what to write wait, the haiku's done --Sarah Ager

regret hits us at times that we do not expect and causes much grief --Matheos Kartsounis

darkness is coming, to hide and mask all in black light will not return --Zak Mahaba dogs have many skills growling, crying, sleeping and not letting you down --Ellie Hoxha

“The Dandelion” nasty yellow heads hide in the intertwined grass until the wind blows --Tara Gallagher

first a small blossom then growing into petals a flower blooming

Chief Masconomet proudly stood where we still walk the winds yet call him --Ms. Coburn

rain pouring down hard trees dancing in the wild wind the lightning flashes blossoms start to bloom everything is turning green spring is beautiful --Julia Miller

A haiku poem is a Japanese form of poetry that focuses on a brief moment in time, and a sense of sudden illumination or enlightenment. Haikus are composed of seventeen syllables in three short lines. The first line usually contains five syllables; the second line, seven syllables; and the third line, five syllables.

--

Elizabeth Wootan

--

Elizabeth Wootan

Mrs. Fowler

--

What better way to relax than a boat ride down the Seine River in Paris to look at the Eiffel Tower!

--Dr. Flaherty, from her recent trip to France

My family likes to relax by the fire while watching a movie or reading some good books.

--Ms. Coburn

Spring Trees

--Jake Dewey

Ignorance by Lily Elwood I will not relax cannot relax. not at a time such as this when my time hangs in the balance and I stand on the edge of my grave. for life, as it may, is simply one prolonged death. you are born and then life, not death, kills you. relaxation is out of the question for I cannot ignore the problems so clearly pictured before me. do not tell me to relax, to let life dance past my longing eyes like a butterfly flitting above me, dashing to the heavens out of reach. to pretend that problems can vanish with a snap of my fingers is true ignorance. I shall not sit upon a throne of lies and let it topple me over, for relaxation is for those less willing.

No Worries

Waves

by Michaela Dillon

by Julia Miller

A bee flies by,

Waves gently rolling on,

As I relax on a tree.

Swaying so peacefully,

No one else in the world,

The sun shines bright,

Is as lucky as me.

Not a cloud in the sky,

With no worries,

Rough sand beneath my feet,

And no stress.

A cool breeze blows back

All I do is lay back

my hair.

And forget.

"Life at the Beach"

Relax

by Ellie Hoxha

by Claudia Fennell

Life at the beach is never annoying Take a break in the morning Make sure to be here by 9:00 a.m. Because that's when the waves slam The beach is fun When you’re in the sun Gives you a tan Proves that you can Swim in the ocean Because it's your body’s lotion

Swaying back and forth Up above the earth In the comforting shade Cool summer breeze blowing I close my eyes and relax In my hammock

Simple Saturday by Sarah Ager

He sat on his sandy towel, lemonade in his hand, watching the waves crashing onto the rocky shore. Seagulls chirped in the background, but he couldn’t hear them, because he was listening to his favorite country song on his IPod. His eyes began to close, his feet in the sand… nothing could be more relaxing. As the guitar in the song played out its last tune, he slowly drifted to sleep. When he woke, the rest of his friends had left. He laid alone, the sun falling slowly from the sky. The sky, he thought, was only this colorful in paintings. Different shades of orange, red, and pink were displayed across the horizon. He hopped up onto his feet, shook the sand off of his towel, packed up, and left.

“Hair” by Fridahan Basame 6th grade was an experience that dragged my head and my heart into the real world I was now living in a land With deciduous forests instead of deserts Where the birds sang sweet songs of opportunity instead of screeching the sour tones of culture and poverty And the snow covered the earth as if shielding it away from the sun’s harsh rays, plaing the inhabitants who seem to appreciate the cold more than I The trees, I’d never seen so many trees So many trees With their leaves Falling like the rain From my parents’ home country Watering their yams and their beans and their farms And annihilating the holes in their cottonlike hair, Filling with water “Is that your real hair?” I twirl my braid around my finger, soaking in the question like the sponge I was, My hair had just been woven by one of my mother’s friends because No one else knew how to take care of Black hair Of course they don’t. 300 freaking years of Africans living in the United States of America And you can’t braid a little brown girl’s hair America, what kind of education have you been giving these hairdressers? My friends in my foreign home state of New Mexico, Never questioned the legitimacy of the hair on my head I didn’t know that people would come to you and touch it, I didn’t know that I was supposed to accept it as is, I didn’t know that people would say “it” instead of “her hair” to describe the strands of my heritage I didn’t know I didn’t know I didn’t KNOW

That what my hair really is, is a masterpiece My hair is straight, my hair is as wild as I am crazy But I’ll tell you the darkness swirling around my scalp is not “fake” Fake: Deceptive or misleading, phoney Is my hair misleading to you? Then you must have never seen hair, Because this is it. This is me, and this is Africa This is the Nile River flowing streams of baby blue glass This is the forests, the rich greens of the lands and the loud music and the spicy tastes of my father’s and my grandfather’s homeland And I know you are all thinking, “Have you lost your mind?” I have. I have lost my sanity Because I cannot go to a school Where people will approach me to touch my hair, And will never speak a word to me again. I cannot go to a school, Where I am bombarded with the question of the authenticity of my hair. I cannot go to a school, Where my hair is called “fake” and weird Where my hair is touched and expressions of disgust spread like a disease on one’s face, Or worse, they say “Cool” and weave their fingers through my braids As if you have the right to label the hair on my head As if you have the right to touch my head! As if you are my master, my savior, my friend? I am tired Of people that have never felt The sword of racism prick at your skin and draw blood, Blood as red as rose petals dipped in rage My hair is the brand of my mother and my father and my people If my hair is what you call “fake” Sorry I’m not like you...

“Sketches” by Daria Adamczyk

Mrs. Green’s Relaxing Reading Recommendations

Chill, by author Deborah Reber, gives teens the insight and tools they need to manage the pressures of everyday life by offering expert advice and practical stress-reducing techniques. Everybody needs to chill sometimes, right?

Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson, is a collection of comic strips following the hilarious adventures of Calvin, a rascal of a boy, and his stuffed tiger Hobbes as they get into all sorts of mischief. This is appropriate for all ages.

Popular: a memoir tells the story of author Maya Van Wagenen, a teen stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at school, who decided to conduct a unique experiment. She spent the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. The results are painful, funny, and include an unexpected meeting with Betty Cornell herself.

No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman, tells the story of eighth-grade football hero Wallace who is sentenced to detention attending rehearsals of the school play. While there, and in spite of himself, he becomes wrapped up in the production and begins to suggest changes that improve not only the play, but his life, as well.