The Orange Island Review, Vol. 2 No. 1

By The Orange Island Arts Foundation

This issue of the Orange Island Review is dark.

And while that darkness may rattle and unsettle the adults who read it, it is that very darkness that exposes the undercurrent of anxiety, fear, sadness and anger that the high-school poets showcased in this issue navigate on a daily basis.

The Gen Z poets compiled in this issue were born in an age of terrorism, global economic melt-down, catastrophic climate change, and a sense of community that is more screen time than social time. As such, the poetry in this issue reflects their concerns and the realities of world they currently inhabit.

The incredibly talented high-school-aged poets in this issue write what they know: natural landscapes defiled by human hands, the reality of being reared in homes tainted by substance abuse, the emptiness of houses filled with technology but empty of parental supervision, the rampant pervasiveness of sexual assault that is barely acknowledged but that persists and persists, their need to connect, to be seen, hugged, heard, listened to. These are the monsters that lurk in their darkness.

Beneath the darkness, however, hope exists. These young poets understand that only by voicing their troubles, their concerns, their fears can these monsters ever hope to be vanquished.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beating Windward Press
• Release date: Dec 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781940761329

The Orange Island Arts Foundation

Orange Island Arts Foundation, which is based in Broward County yet serves South Florida and beyond, is an organization that encourages creativity; cultivates learning; and engages youth, established and aspiring writers, and the community at large with the literary arts. By providing avenues for local and national artists, we seek to inspire those who are interested in further developing their talents. We support transformational ideas by creating literary programs to help the 21st century writer in collaboration, publishing, showcasing, and learning.

Book preview

Orange Island Review

Vol. 2 No. 1

Fall 2016

Created by The Orange Island Arts Foundation

Edited by Caridad Moro-Gronlier

Copyright

Published 2016 by Beating Windward Press LLC

For contact information, please visit:

www.BeatingWindward.com

Copyright © Orange Island Arts Foundation

and respective authors, 2016

All Rights Reserved

Cover Art by Brianna Kinnion

Book & Cover Design: Copyright © KP Creative, 2016

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited.

First Edition

ISBN: 978-1-940761-32-9

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Orange Island Review

Vol. 2 No. 1 2016 Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Caridad Moro-Gronlier

Managing Editors

Alicia Lores

Jin Milan

Samantha Fraga

Contributing Editors

Zuly Blanco

Maria Cuellar

Alexa Dinello

Arianna Navarro

Poetry Editors

Janelle Altamirano

Natally Avila

Laura Batista

John Cruz

Kaliane Falcon

Laura Gomez

Adrianna Hernandez

David Lopez

Michael Marrero

Brian Martinez

Melissa Santaya

Ranier Valdes

MOUTH MANTRA

Brianna Kinnion

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Editorial Staff

Table of Contents

Introduction

Editor’s Note

Poetry

Britney Allen

Dusted Twine

Danelle Antelo

Out of Sight

Tabula Rasa

Daniel Blokh

Mother Retraces

Photosynthesis in Birmingham

Katie Boyajian

Jaded

Milky Shadow

Emma Camp

Diving Lessons

Hunting

Senior Salute

Stephanie Casio

Balete Trees (Strangler Figs)

I Am Non-binary

To The Girl I Love

Stephanie Castiglia

Advice to A&P Customers

Jessica Contreras

Where is Daddy Going?

Alexa Curnutte

3:46

Montilla, August

Maria Davila

Blossom

Violeta de la Guardia

Memoria

Arielle DeVito

Aleph Null

Victoria DiMartino

Dosage

Eddy Elguezabal

Excommunication

Joel Enamorado

A First Kiss in The Modern Eden

Samantha Fraga

Renaissance 2.0

Emily Garroway

Hurricane Season

Sophya Giudici-Juarez

So Much More

Michelle Glans

If Only I Could Stay Here Forever

Ellie Gomero

To Unravel

Ekaterina Hardesty

The Love Poem My Girlfriend Won’t Ask Me For

Tucker Huston

Not So Evergreen After All

Our Love is a Storm

S. Beth Kimsey

Friction

Isabelle Kulick

Refugees

Kelly Liu

Perpetually Speechless

Jin Milan

Wolves

Natalie Mlikota

Arrhythmia

I Am a Hotel

Adam Nayak

black-eyed susan

Natalia Pires

Portugal

A.A. Reinecke

Schnapps with Milk

Lila Rosendorf

Pontoon Boat

Maya Silberman

Prayers to Pluto

Noah Snitzer

Nap Time

Ethan Sumner

The Hardest Poem to Write

Emma Weiss

Early in the Morning

Dylan Winsick

Goth Gerbil

No Dandelions Allowed in Washington

Jackie Yang

Winter Sea

Artwork

Aryeri Castro

Untitled

Melanie Gimeno

Untitled

Brianna Kinnion

Mouth Mantra

Untitled

Jack the Ripper

Contributor Information

INTRODUCTION

Reading in the Dark

Caridad Moro-Gronlier

As an avid