Nine Muses

West Forsyth High School2016

Nine Muses

Tell me the reason, Muse: what was the woundto her divinity, so hurting herthat she, the queen of the gods, compelled a manremarkable for goodness to endureso many crises, meet so many trials?Can such resentment hold the minds of the gods?

-Book 1 of The Aeneid, translatated by Allen Mandelbaum

The Nine Muses of Greek Mythology

Calliope – Muse of Epic SongClio – Muse of HistoryEuterpe – Muse of Lyric SongMelpomene – Muse of TragedyTerpsichore – Muse of DanceErato – Muse of Erotic PoetryPolyhymnia – Muse of Sacred SongUrania – Muse of AstronomyThalia – Muse of Comedy

The Nine Muses is the literary magazine for West Forsyth High School. This third volume for the 2015-2016 school year continues a commitment on the part of West Forsyth to celebrate artistic endeavors by the many talented students, faculty, and parents at our school.

Many thanks to Charles McAninch, principal at West Forsyth, for helping make this publication possible and to Mark Goslen, West Forsyth parent, patron and president of Goslen Printing.

Cover Art –Kayla Taylor

A special thanks goes to the West Forsyth Fine Arts Department, especially Elizabeth Betson, Anneliese Edwards and Nathan Newsome.

Adrionna CummingsAlex ElliottAmanda HoffmanAri MarshallAshley GreeneAvery CornatzerBailie GuggeisBill “Coach” OakleyBrandon Hicks Bridgette ScottC.J. IngramCarlee HammondCasen DraneCeleste CurtiCindy LiuElizabeth HoltzclawGabrielle DrumGeorgia MurphyHeather SigmonJordan SettelenKannah WongKayla MorrisonKayla TaylorKelly Brinkley

Kelly Brinkley Kelsey GillonLaura LlibreLeon LiLexi MillerLuis Cuevas GuzmanMadelyn PatellaMargarita SkordasMarissa VaroutsosMeridith LewisNaomi PobleteNatalia OrtizNick HoleNoah HigginsNoor ShehataNora CrouchOlivia BotelloSamantha GrahamSarah FrisbieSarah UnksShannon CaseyTania ChavezTaylor Miles

West Forsyth Muses

Nora Crouch

Madelyn Patella

Jordan Settelen

Ari Marshall

Leon Li

Carlee Hammond

Natalia Ortiz

Lexi MillerMadelyn Patella

Kayla Morrison

Kannah Wong

Celeste Curti

Adrionna Cummings

Bailie Guggeis

“Flightless Bird”

To my dismay my wings were clippedFor sake of someone’s ownershipHe told me I could not decide – And must reside – Inside a cage forever

To my dismay my shirt was rippedFor sake of someone’s ownershipHe took a golden chair and tied – With pride – My broken ribs together

(How noble it must feel to sayHe chased my darker days away)

I don’t speak up, I don’t objectBy far an easier sellI don’t reject and always letThem keep me in my shell

- Callie Koeval

Madelyn Patella

Kayla Taylor

Natalia Ortiz

Kannah Wong

Bridgette Scott Bridgette Scott

Bridgette Scott

Tania Chavez

Olivia Botello

Nick Hole

Laura Llibre

Naomi Poblete Naomi Poblete

Bridgette Scott

Bridgette Scott

Bridgette Scott

“Untitled”

as he climbs the mountains in her mind not once has he stumbled for he has figured out the tricks to avoid falling, easing through all the crevices as if they were nothing, the rocks that tumble down he swifts past them, assuring her that he can make it to the peak and the creases of worry on her forehead are for him, instead of the erosion he’s causing with the tsunami of lies he has produced, and she cannot find a life vest to swim to the top of this sea that has formed, while he found a separate cave safe from the water to continue polluting the ocean of thoughts, he has already made putrid she is long gone from this planned hike, for she has stepped on the wrong stone and became lost from the correct trail a while back, yet even so, he only cares about reaching the top it does not occur to him that she could be lonely, going mad from the lack of humanity she has been shown the tainted claws of his devotion, have not been sharpened enough to completely pick her up, they can only graze her fingertips, as she is desperate for him to rescue her from this deep abyss but once he reaches the top, all his care goes towards all the pride and glory, but was it even there to begin with? it only takes one small step, to create a domino effect of unfathomable catastrophe and everything that makes up this mountain, finally collapses leaving behind nothing but dust, and the girl still trapped under all the rubble.

- Noor Shehata

Sarah Frisbie

Nora Crouch

Leon Li

Margarita Skordas Margarita Skordas

Samantha Graham Samantha Graham

The Absolution of Prometheus

Atop a lone cliff of the Caucasus,Did that silent sufferer yet reside.In a time before mighty Heracles,Lived he who was cast down by Zeus defied.

With the gods he had stood, in that grand war,In the grandest war of all known ages.But after the mighty titans had fallen,Then his trickery came in fatal stages.

But enough of this common history,For all shall be told. To Prometheus,Aletheia, ancient goddess of truth, approached.Through her are truths ever revealed to us.

Behind her followed the company of the high heavens,Including dignified Zeus, god of men.“Prometheus,” proclaimed Aletheia,“Lord Zeus wishes to speak with you again.”

Then mighty Zeus stepped toward his old foe,And, rumbling with thunder, he declared:“Behold, Prometheus, lord of forethought,I come to you to settle our affair.”

“How long has it been, o lord of the sky?How many years have I spent locked away?They say that even immortals may die,So why must I live for another day?”

Zeus recognized an immense pain in Prometheus’ voice;He heard this pain like a soldiers’ death cry,Bringing tears to the eyes of onlookers,But not to mighty Zeus, lord of the sky.

“Now is not the time to wallow in grief,”Began King Zeus, unfettered by the words.“I have come to understand, nothing more.Spare me your tears; crying is for the birds.”

“Very well, o fickle son of Cronus.I have not all day to speak with you, Zeus.For that grim eagle shall interrupt us.That eagle which you appointed for my endless abuse.”

“Then I shall move on, o Prometheus.I bring Aletheia, goddess of truth.To her may none lie, neither god nor man.Always trustworthy, even in her youth.

So now I request, o backstabbing lord,Tell to her that fabulous tale of yours.And if you can evoke pity in me,Your respite shall finally be assured.”

This did King Zeus, lord of the sky proclaim.But Prometheus knew of the resolve of mighty Zeus.It would take all of the Titan’s cunningTo finally end his endless abuse.

“Very well, this challenge I do accept.Bring forth Aletheia, and all shall hear;The tale of that flame, which for Man I kept.Yes, behold, the goddess of truth is near.”

Aletheia had come forth as he spoke.“Tell me that tale, o great Prometheus;Speak, that the company of gods may hear.”And his air was unchanged as he spoke thus:

“Verily, I need no introduction.Surely all of you have met me before.So I shall start at the Flame’s abduction.That flame which from high Olympus I bore.

King Zeus, lord of the sky, had hidden the fire from mankind.From my most beloved creation had he taken it.And for their sake, I accepted this bind.I am the lord of forethought; I knew this to be my writ.

Yet, for my most beloved creation,I was willing to take my mighty fall.And never shall I regret my action.Not ‘til I am reduced to nothing at all.”

Already were there many gods weeping,For the Titan’s tale had only ever been told in jeer.Why was he condemned just for helping man?Even in the eyes of Zeus, one could see a single tear.

“Long ago was I tasked by the mighty lords of heavenTo create that creature called Man, a beautiful being.And indeed, when the fire was taken,I could not bear to see them suffering.

Indeed, all actions have consequences.And so forevermore I stand here chained,And I regret not my grand offenses,And for all eternity shall I by my blood be stained.

Look up into heaven, o gods, and see.See that the eagle doth yet approach us.Depart now, lest you all be subject to my agony.Leave me now; there is no time to discuss.”

But there was none among that company who did not weep;Not even King Zeus was free from pity.And, with a deafening burst of thunder,The lord of the sky drove the beast to flee.“Hear me now, o mighty Prometheus,Who hath endured pain beyond all known imagination.I have heard your tale and thought through it well,So bear witness now to my new, final proclamation:

Those sins which you bore in a bygone ageShall no longer bind you eternally to suffering.I, Zeus, lord of the heavens and of fate,Hereby pronounce your deserved absolving.

In due time there shall come a great human,Whom you shall know as a god among men.His name I dare not reveal to you now,But surely he shall free you from your sin.”

And so did the gods descend from that mount.And for the first time in years unnumbered,Prometheus could finally smile.Thus was the absolution of Prometheus conferred.

- Noah Higgins

Kayla Taylor

Kayla Taylor

Kannah Wong

Heather Sigmon

Heather Sigmon

Heather Sigmon

Heather Sigmon

Avery Cornatzer

Heather Sigmon

Ashley Greene

Marissa Varoutsos

Shannon Casey

Sarah Unks

Here’s to our dear old West High, Of which we are so proud. With victory our motto, Our voices we raise loud. Our banner raised in Titan praise, Our name we shall uphold; So here’s to dear old West High, And her green, her white and gold. Years after we have parted Our memories will hold; Those glorious days at West High, And her green, her white and gold.Yearbook Staff

Kelly Brinkley

Coach Bill Oakley

Tayllor Miles

Elizabeth Holtzclaw Celeste Curti

Alex Elliott

Amanda Hoffman

Casen Drane

Luis Cuevas Guzman

Cindy Liu Kelsey Gillon

Georgia Murphy

Gabrielle Drum Gabrielle Drum

Brandon Hicks & Meridith Lewis

Gabrielle Drum Brandon Hicks

This piece represents my imagination of how I have “fallen into place” at West Forsyth. The colors I have chosen represent the different types of people who have become my true family. The past 4 years have been the best times of my life. I have met some of the best friends that I know I will keep forever. While at West Forsyth, I have learned about different cultures, and how we interact together. The friends I have made at West Forsyth have always been there to help me, and made sure that I felt happiness and success in all activi-ties. Most importantly, I have always felt accepted for who I am despite being in a wheelchair. I believe that West Forsyth has been the best environment for me to “fall into place” over the past four years.

C. J. Ingram