Torch: U.S. LXIX Spring 2020 | Page 9

Twinkling wooden lights

Lit with fairy dust

Hung from the trees

Unknown flowers

Iridescent

Sprung from the ground

Vines crawled up every decayed stone

Industrialization faded

As gods remained

Gaea in her glory reigned supreme

The air pollution

Had faded from here

It was all so tempting to her

The peace

Letting go of the hardships

She said goodbye,

Forgetting what she’d lose

Leaving a world for lost

Is not right

And that is what he knew

To marvel in technology

Was destruction

But so was abandonment

Her second option was a hell

Secluded and blinded

From all life’s qualms

Together, he knew

Industry would change

They could be beautiful again

If only

He took off in the dead of night

Lantern light

Moved him

The beautiful green was now black

Stardust abandoned

He saw what he knew

Fear plunged into his gut

As eyes watched him go

Voices cackled as he tripped on a route

Beauty was gone

It was never there

It could never find him here

He thought until he saw

A being a nature

Ruffled brown hair on glowing eyes

She was there

Oh, he ran forth and grabbed her arms

As roots held her in place

But he fought for her

They darted back

Through invisible monsters

They were almost home

Yet the forest was so beautiful

So enchanting

It enticed her to stay

And when he turned around

She had gone away

Back to the land

Of magic

With no problems or woe

Removed from reality

But he wouldn’t

Follow

Ignorance

Ignorance

(Or the Tragedy of

Orpheus and Eurydice)

Anne Gregg, Indiana

Next, the cheerful JCLers gathered in a circle to play an entertaining game of White Elephant. Gifts ranged from a Hello Kitty bowl to a kazoo kit to a lion ornament.

The North Gwinnett Junior Classical League held their annual winter party, Saturnalia, on the 21st of December! The party was started by members hanging out with each other, and grabbing food from the wonderful array of food put together by all of the members of our club.

they rolled a six, they would try to unwrap the layers of the box while wearing very thick mittens that slowed them down. They would continue to unwrap the box (containing a special prize) until the next person rolled a six, and then the box would be passed on. The winner of this game was Maya, who managed to unwrap the gift before the next person rolled a six – she won a Chick-fll-A gift card!

After that, all of our JCLers gathered outside in the cold to watch Michael, our Webmaster, and Kaya, our Spirit/Publicity Princeps, face off in the annual pie-eating contest. The crowd erupted in cheers when Kaya, the reigning pie-

eating champion, won for the third year in a row! Finally, it was time for the pinata. Michael Phan, our Webmaster, broke it with just one hit. We all had a blast at Saturnalia this year!

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In the first game, all the members of the North Gwinnett Junior Classical League sat in a circle to play a fun Christmas game. To play, each member would toss a die; if

eating champion, won for the third year in a row! Finally, it was time for the piñata. Michael Phan, our Webmaster, broke it with just one hit. We all had a blast at Saturnalia this year!