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An ekphrastic poem is inspired by a work of art. Jadelyn Corzo’s “Us” is inspired by Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. I love the waywe fit togetherlike puzzle pieces, orthe heart and vesselsof blood, neverwithout the other, untildeath I love being insideyour brain, to tasteyour thoughts and allthe dirty things, you knowI am the only onewhoContinue reading “Us”

To the shattered stone of my youthful years In shadows cast by fear, in silence drownedI make this verse, a tale of walking soft. On eggshells thin, an unsafe ground. In the empty halls of my childhood, A song of tension, a somber score, Whispers dance on the fragile shells, Each step, a gamble, anContinue reading “Childhood Symphony”

Kyle Merchant is a graduating senior and Creative Writing student at Pembroke Pines Charter High School. This piece was inspired by contrasting day and nighttime photographs that he took while in another country. Kyle is also a musician and visual artist. His digital art piece “Helix” is featured on the cover of this issue ofContinue reading “In Light Of Dawn and Dusk”

Sophia Lopez, graduating PPCHS senior and our 2023-24 NEHS Vice President, is a long-time artist who has contributed her realistic sketches of animals to our 2022, 2023, and 2024 issues of the atala. “The Tiger” was created using black prismacolor pencil. Sophia also writes poetry: her free verse poem “Orchids” in this year’s issue.

My mother always checks on her orchids,yet dozens have died by her hand.She blames the negative energy blanketing the house,the orchids breathe it in, thoseasphyxiating arguments, anddie the cruelest deaths.A collection of orchids all barren and stooped,from every corner of the world, share our space.She absentmindedly waters them anyway,leaves them outside to bake in theContinue reading “Orchids”

His eyes, her eyes,His lips, her lips,Meet mine, and I die;Die from the battle,The battle between my heart and mind,Of which I can’t decide,Who’s side shall I take?The pressure to do what is “right”,I just might-Let the heart win? No.Yes.The heart should win.The mind is weak,Easily influenced by the pressure.The heart chooses between,His eyes, herContinue reading “Heart or Mind”

Fiona Findley is a student artist finishing up her junior year at Pembroke Pines Charter High School. This piece is about rebirth. To create a feeling of renewal, she created out of clay an infant face that looks like the bud of a flower.

Fiona Findley is a currently finishing her junior year at Pembroke Pines Charter Highschool. She has hopes of becoming a physician assistant in the future and will to continue make 3D art pieces in her spare time. Fiona aims to become an active traveler and explorer.

Sarah Martinez, who is completing her sophomore year at Pembroke Pines Charter High School, enjoys creating both art and literature. This piece in particular is about the struggles associated with self-loathing and identity.

(Click below to view short film/animatic) Sophia Rizzo is a graduating senior from Pembroke Pines Charter High School. Both a writer and an artist, Sophia wrote the script for Leaves in the Wind as part of a solo creative writing project and then animated it herself. Sophia’s short story “Flight” is also featured in thisContinue reading “Leaves in the Wind”