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Deciduous Trees and Fire Hydrants
Zhang, Michael
The poem compares life's transient nature, symbolized by deciduous trees and stationary fire hydrants, to human experiences of fleeting happiness and enduring melancholy. It emphasizes the beauty of genuinely feeling, remembering, and cherishing moments, especially amid loss and sadness.
Renewal
Liu, David
The protagonist repeatedly flees past mistakes, believing new environments will cure his inner turmoil. On a ship’s edge, he realizes genuine change means facing and forgiving his failures, steering his life’s course with resolved will—transforming flight into purposeful direction, anchored by the lessons of his past.
Grim
Lawrence, Brook
Phoebe, a naive peasant girl seeking hot cocoa, follows a suspicious old man into his caravan. He reveals himself as a tooth-collecting witch, trapping Phoebe inside. The story ends with a grim moral: always heed your mother’s oddly specific warnings, and never miss your appointments.
The Johan Syndrome
Jiang, Joanne
Drawing on Jonah’s biblical tale, the author discusses “Jonah Syndrome,” where fear prompts us to dodge responsibilities, then fault God or others. A personal account of isolation in the U.S. shows how confronting challenges, rather than retreating, leads to personal growth.
August, Someday, Moonlight
Zhang, Cayden
The author reflects on their newfound connection with the moon at Stony Brook, contrasting it with the artificial lights of Guangzhou. The moon becomes a source of solace, tranquility, and introspection during moments of uncertainty, offering a quiet refuge from life's pressures. Despite the ever-changing nature of the moon, its constant presence brings comfort, even as the author recognizes the inevitable return to the sunlight and the crowd.
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