*An ode is a lyric poem that addresses and celebrates something or someone.
The doors leading to classrooms Short halls going nowhere but to school… On my way back from the bathroom, I glance into the rooms—Some with windows, most without— And see them full of zombies. Ninth graders learning algebra, Tenth precalculus, Eleventh AP calculus— If they’re lucky. By twelfth the apocalypse seems Normal. Seniors, we’re called. We can exhibit arrogance simply for surviving. I’ll take it, this added superiority— I’ll take anything I can get. Except I can’t get much of anything anymore. “the quality or state of being senior : PRIORITY” Then give me the priority I deserve, As per seniority. I survived the apocalypse using The excuses-of-weapons I acquired: The literary devices, the quadratic formula— Wait, what? I need those for life? K. What seniority do you have over me? What gives you the power To assign my worth as a student— My worth as an entity of society— Based on a singular college essay? A mere 650 words. Your need for labels Is my bane. Thank you so much for the acceptance letter.
Janell Penichet is a senior at Pembroke Pines Charter High School. She is known for reading and writing dystopian stories that parallel with today’s world a little too closely. She won second place at this year’s Broward County Literary Fair for this Ode and also second place in the school for the Library Foundation Short Story Competition in 2020.
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