JH

by B. Hernandez-Baralt It was mid-May and the weather was brisk and chilled, with a tantalizing wind that caught Melody’s breath in mid-inhale. The horizon showed no end in sight while the sea beneath the large Ocean Blue ship liner torpedoed effortlessly, severing the massive waves below. Melody recalled months ago when her parents asked her where she wanted to go on vacation, her mind immediately thought of Alaska. The Last Frontier, with its monstrous glaciers, and magnificent wildlife was...

by J. Hernandez Within me there is a fiend; A mindless ferocious thing That beckons my every thought My every action To exist in this world A world with no meaning For what is life, but toleration For endless situations And frustrations That never yield, or cease to grow Infinitely more, more than I can bear But not for the beast Within me there is aglow Seeking victory from the animal, Which eludes me; continuously In the dark, that surrounds me; And the hope inside scratching-...

by B. Hernandez-Baralt I’m known as the city—Lasagna. The pages of history are folded in layered sheets, stacked with war, victory, and bitter defeat. As you stroll through my cool, uneven cobblestone streets, bear witness to the monumental relics— a culture transformed through timeinto what now stands before you. Enjoy the company of my people. Discover who they are through echoes of long ago. The beauty surrounding you did not come without cost. Beneath your feet lie trails of blood—...