Fall 2005 PDF - Milton Academy

They say that the tough part was that, inthe case of Magus-Mabus, they needed torespond with a flat “yes” or a less encouraging“no” rather than asking writers to redrafta piece. The upside is the chance toreward good work and share it with thecommunity. Art editors Randy Ryan andAdam Walker, also 2005 grads, worked intandem with Emily and Andrew, selectinga mix of outstanding photography, drawingsand painting to reproduce in Magus-Mabus.“For me, reading the work of other studentsis more inspiring than reading thework of professional poets,” Emily says.Both she and Andrew say that “workshopping”in creative writing classes gavethem the competence, confidence andlanguage—and reinforced the good manners—withwhich to analyze and appreciatethe strengths, weaknesses and nuggetsof brilliance in others’ creative work.“Editorship is fun,” says Emily of her rolelast year. “You make decisions and create amagazine. You get to read good poetry,which is even more fun than writing. Iwould love to be an editor [as a career].”“I think we’re both probably better readersthan writers,” Andrew says. “We’ve learnedto read with an ear instead of just ahead.” (The pair won writing kudos inthe 2004–2005 Achievement in WritingAwards from the National Council ofTeachers of English; and Emily won aScholastic gold key prize and took firstplace in the Bennington College YoungWriter’s Competition.)“Kids here who are good writers areincredible,” Andrew says. “The kids whoare okay are amazing.”Heather SullivanBirthdayI’ve always liked cracking eggs.The rap of calcium on stainless steel.The plopping yellow.The mucus dripping clear,nose blown on a mother’s sleeve.I’ve always liked cracking eggs.But today the metal lipped mixing bowl’s echo was offwhen I tapped egg number three,(Large, Brown, Grade A).It didn’t slip down and float above the creamed butter.It didn’t break at all.I had to peel apart the gentle fissure with my nails.Inside I saw a chicken,wrapped tight under foggy film that kept it warmuntil the supermarket’s refrigerated rows.It was folded up in three,eyelids shut black, elephantine in its pinprick head,pink skin poking frostbitten through its matted would-be wings.In high school my biology teacher told the classthat girls get all their eggs when they’re still eggs themselves.We carry them with us our whole livesuntil one by one they expire and slip away.—Abigail Padien-Havens ’05, as published in the spring 2005 Magus-MabusA WaveThe great ship plunges forward—The dark, deep wavesRoll their white lace caps outwardAnd,Breaking into crystal spray,The wind catches, and throws it on,Leaving powdery traces in the wakebehind.—Polly Cunningham ’31, from TheMagus, December 1928 editionAt right, Andrew Gorin and Emily Cunningham, literary editors of Magus-Mabus;at left, Adam Walker and Randy Ryan, the publication’s art editors.29 Milton Magazine