POETRY
Bluebird
Pranali Ashara
My inspiration for Bluebird came from the Japanese song, ブルーバード, whose lyrics echo feelings of escapism, passion, and drive to pursue one’s goals.
As bluebirds signal change, witnessing one indicates transition - from winter to spring or from racism to healing and justice. In the poem, although the narrator wishes they could be a bluebird, they realize instead they can fight their struggles, becoming a vessel of change like the bluebird is. And, to recognize my Indian heritage, I allude to the Gujarati festival of Makar Sankranti (which welcomes the spring harvest season after winter) using the image of kites.
Art by Bryan Wu
Seaglass
JC Ju
I've always loved finding pieces of seaglass on the shore. They don't exactly fit in, but they were worn down in the same ways that the sand and stones of the beach were.
Through "seaglass," I wanted to convey that standing out didn't always feel good, and that sometimes, I would "hide" my Asian-ness to try to fit in. When I found this community at Northeastern, the opposite. I felt that I wasn't Korean enough. Over time, I began to understand that I just had more to learn.
Reading this, I want you to feel whatever you need to feel.
