Labyrinth 2016

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Labyrinth
34th Edition
2015-2016
Copenhagen International School
Journal of the Arts
All rights of reproduction and copyright are reserved and the sole property of the
COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Copenhagen, Denmark. This book may not be
reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying without expressed permission from CIS.
COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MMXVI
Dear Reader,
WELCOME TO THE thirty-fourth edition of
Labyrinth, the Arts Journal of Copenhagen
International School.
The wonderful, moving, beautiful, scary,
funny, smart, emotive and otherwise brilliant
works you are about to enjoy, here in the
Literary and Visual Arts print section and in the
Performing Arts section on the site, are testament
to the strong sense of creativity the students of
CIS possess.
Art, of course, can exist in any place and
at any time, from a hastily executed graffiti or an
impromptu street performance, to a carefully
sculptured marble statue and a performance that
comes after months of rehearsal. So, the
imagination alone sets the boundaries, but we
must confess to a degree of excitement that this is
the last Labyrinth to be published by a twocampus CIS. Labyrinth 35 will be published from
the new Nordhavn Campus, and the Arts are
eager to fill this new facility with performances,
exhibitions and readings. And Labyrinth will of
course remain as the natural collection of the
students work.
But for now, lean back and get stuck in to
these wildly varied pages, which are bigger this
year, to allow the work more space to breathe.
We would like to thank the PTA for their
generous support of the prizes, without your
continued support Labyrinth would not be the
same.
Labyrinth Staff 2014-15:
Anastasiia Katona
Sophie Smedegaard
Lukas Rpke
CONTENTS
Fiction
The Bob Carignan Art
Purchace Award
2D Art
Digital Art
Colour Photography
3D Art
Graphic Art
Doodles
Poetry
Speeches
Black &White Photography
Prose
3
9
14
24
30
43
49
56
58
74
86
97
Cover Art by Lara Gardiner
All the best,

On behalf of the Labyrinth Staff,
Rebecca Lindroos, Gora Lizaso & Daniel Sarstedt
Labyrinth Advisors
MORE LITERATURE, VISUAL

ARTWORK AND PERFORMING ARTS
ON WWW.CIS.DK/Labyrinth
This year's fictional category, which is very real for that

matter, contains powerful micro nouvelles and other
short masterpieces written with zest and brilliance.
Though a small selection, the category brims with a
fiercely creative fire ranging from dark plane rides to
refreshingly new outlooks on humanity as a whole.
Fiction being the beautiful and unlimited category it is,
the works included reflect this beauty in a unique way.

The texts are conceived from the minds of the creative
magicians among us and welcome you into a world of
their own.
Lukas Roepke
Labyrinth 2016
Fiction
FICTION
First Prize
Isabelle Nelson
Second Prize
Clara Strmsted
An ever so carefully-written skeletal narrative, and a

perfect demonstration of what flash fiction can achieve.
Kudos to Isabelle!
A deeply disturbing tale is unfolding in this superblywritten meditation on a single image.
Red
The Fridge
She opens the fridge and stares. Her body screams
for food, so much that the churning scares her. She
is blinded by the light, but she is fine with that
because it also blinds her mind, which turns bright
instead of black for a moment. Her eyes slowly
adjust to the light, and a variety of colours meets
her eyes. The shelves are packed with food.
However, emptiness is all she feels; both in her
stomach and in her mind. She grabs an orange and
studies it. The bright orange colour used to be her
favourite, and it reminds her of the beautiful
sunsets by her summerhouse. It is now a year ago
since she was there.
Red. They had always liked the color red. Red like
the roses that bloomed in the drive. Red like the
color of the creaky mailbox at Mums. Red like the
balloons they would buy at the carnival. They
liked red less when they left.
Red went from roses to fire, mailboxes to uniforms,
balloons to darkened dog tags. They slowed, their
chests stilling, their last image being the red
pooling along the ground. Maybe they didnt like
red that much anymore.
Isabelle Nelson
Inside, she feels as lifeless and frozen as the fridge,

and small goosebumps appear on her arms. She
begins to shiver, yet she does not move, because it
will not help her inner coldness. She is frozen, like
the beans in the fridge, and like those, she will not
thaw until somebody helps with her cold
emotions. Her nose catches the smell of something
rotten, but she cannot tell whether it is her hope of
ever being happy, or if it is something in the fridge.
Her heart pounds as if it was sprinting the last
metres of a marathon. Frightened, she throws
every single food item out of the fridge,
determined to find the rotten food, to prove that it
is not her hope that is completely rotten.
Finally, her sight meets the egg tray from which
the disgusting smell comes. She is relieved and
opens the tray to look at the eggs. She thinks of all
the life they represent, all the dead life. Her heart
falls to the ground as the picture of her sister
passes through her mind. Full of anxiety and grief
she throws the rotten eggs back into the fridge and
aggressively slams the door. With a shivering
voice, she swears to herself that she will never ever
open the fridge again.
Clara Strmsted
FICTION
Third Prize
Demi Ogunremi
18:00 They start boarding for my flight. I start to

pray for my family and for me to go to a better
place. I just hope that they can forgive me.
This one sent a shiver down the spine of the judges.

Great handling of characters and mood as the story
draws inexorably towards the final outcome
19:00 The plane is big, many children on board. All

I can say is that Im sorry for what I am going to do
to them.
20:00 The plane is taxiing to the runway now. It is

pitch black outside. There is a woman sitting next
to me. She is pregnant and is wearing a beautiful
red cardigan. She tells me eight months. I smile but
inside is a face of sadness.
Twelve Hours
9:00 The sleep in the hotels lumpy bed was
uncomfortable, but I have to get on with my job.
21:00 The plane is rocketing down the bumpy

runway. The wind is pushing the plane side to side
of the runway. I can hear the package in the
overhead locker rocking about. Im sorry Dahma
for what I am about to do. Please take care of my
kids and tell them I did it so that they can have a
better future.
10:00 I just left my hotel room. I need to meet a

man at 11. They tell me he will give me the
package.
11:00 The man is waiting in a fancy bar sitting in a
dark booth with a drink in his hand. I cannot tell
you what drink it was as I do not drink. I go to the
booth, I cannot see his face in dark. He hands me
the package.
Demi Ogunremi
Honourable Mention
Alix Reynolds
12:00 Today is a cold day. The sun is hidden by the

clouds and everyone is wearing warm clothing.
13:00 I call for a taxi. While Im sitting in the taxi I
see children and their parents in the playground. I
just hope that my wife and children can forgive me
for what I am going to do.
The Ticking Seconds

There are seconds left. Just a few more seconds left.
Everyone has gathered for that time of year again.
Repeatedly ruined by the missed opportunities
that only this annual night could offer. Being the
scrawny adolescent I am, I of course can fit
between the monstrous crowd, hungry as they all
call out the ticking seconds. Below me cries of
beaten and lost children are unheard by the
roaring screams competing above them. As every
second ticks away, the surrounding savages have
winded me. I am now gasping for what little
oxygen there is left in the air. I struggle to move
forward. Attempting to charge through the stone
like beasts, I hear the screams gradually getting
louder.
14:00 The traffic is getting worse and worse as we

drive along the narrow streets. It reminds me of
the line when boarding begins on a plane.
15:00 I have arrived at the huge airport. Many
children and adults are exiting and entering the
airport. Probably going on a warm holiday
somewhere else in the world. I dont blame them.
This place is very cold, not like back where my
family are.
16:00 I have got my boarding pass, I am waiting at
security. I just hope they do not question the
package.
"5...4...3..." I hear. Feeling like I have crossed an

endless stampede of wild savages, I take a second
to try to find an empty area. Somewhere that I can
breathe and escape the madness surrounding me.
But everywhere I look is covered with ferocious
animals.
"2...1..." The crowd suddenly goes quiet. The
growling, blaring beastlike mammals once
hysterical and whacking all over the place just
17:00 The officer looked at the package, then

looked at me. My heart was pounding. He called
his supervisor over. He then also looked at me and
said, Interesting carry on. You can be on your
way now sir. I am sitting at the gate waiting for
the flight now with the package in my hands.
FICTION
stand still, glaring at the bright light ahead of
them. I release a gasp that echoes through the
streets.
Ant Funeral
Why did it have to happen to him? Johnny
contemplated as a eulogy was read. Johnny had
always wondered why they loved the gods so
much when they could bring so much pain and
disaster. He had heard of multiple casualties the
other day as well, from another ant hole. The gods
used gas. Every single ant died. Every single one.
He heard rumors of them all the time. People said
they walked on two legs, had a white tone to their
skin. Some said it was dark. Some rumors were
used to terrify children if they had been bad. He
still didnt understand why they thought of them
as gods. He was not much of a believer himself,
but he thought the reason people put their faith
into them was the fact that they had power over
them. He wondered if the gods believed in bigger
beings than them themselves. Something that
controlled their lives.
"Now is my chance." I think to myself. As I take a

step forward, the sudden silence comes to an end
and the yells thunder through the New York city
streets once again. Without the slightest control
over where my body is to go, my face is suddenly
wrapped in a pair of soft, warm hands. I feel gentle
lips, lightly press against mine. Opening my eyes,
a woman stands in front of me. The thunderous
screams, once blaring into my ears have stopped.
The bitter coldness has become a warm and
cheerful ambiance. Instead of savage-looking
beasts, I can now see orderly, mannered people,
excited but civilized. The woman and I stare into
each others eyes in silence. Breaking the silence
she says softly, Happy new year and disappears
back into the clustered crowd.
Alix Reynolds
Dario Aguiriano
Doors
Honourable Mention
Lewis Foster
Doors, he was surrounded by doors. So many

choices, so many considerations. Which doors to
open and which to close. Which doors would make
him happy, which doors would make his father,
his mother or his friends happy. Choices. Doors.
Some doors were harder to open than others, some
were harder to close than others. He didn't know
what was waiting behind the doors, maybe light,
maybe darkness or something completely
different. All he knew was that if he closed all of
the doors, the room would be pitch dark. For years
he was experimenting, closing and opening the
doors carefully and making sure that he did not
close all of the doors so that nothing would happen
to him. Some doors were filled with light when he
first entered but later turned dark, so he quickly
ran back into the room full of doors.
[untitled]
Sorry, there is none left.
Lewis Foster
But one day he had enough. He decided to close all

of the doors. One by one he closed them, till there
was very little light left in the room and only one
door still open. He went to the last door and closed
it. There was complete darkness for a minute, but
then one of the other doors started to slowly open.
He then ran to this door and closed it, but this led
to another door opening. And this door opening
led to a second door opening, which then led to a
third door opening. He realized that it was
impossible for him to close all of the doors. One
door had opened another door, which had then
FICTION
opened another door, which finally led him the
right way, till he was met by another room full of
doors. Doors he was surrounded by doors...
tree. I start walking fast then I got a message on my

phone.
Youve got seven days. Im watching
you. I turn around. No one behind me and I cant
see the shadow anymore. Ive got seven days to
what? to die? to move? I couldnt stop thinking
about that message and who could have possibly
sent it. I finally get home and decided to take a
long bath to help me clear my mind. Who could
possibly say that to me? Ive got to stop thinking
about it. I woke up the next morning and went to
school and I simply cannot stop thinking about the
text messages. Who could have possibly sent that
to me and why? I headed to my class which was
absolutely boring. I get another text and Im scared
to what it could be. Is it the same person who sent
that text or is it someone I know. I finally get the
courage to check my phone and see that its
coming from an anonymous number and that
could be nobody else but the person who sent me a
text before. The text says 6 days left more like 2
days left, do as I say or in 2 days you will be
paying a big consequence. What could this person
want from me? And what have I done to them that
would make them send me this disturbing text. I
decided that as soon as I get home I will show my
mum and she can inform the police. Later that day
when I got home I go tell my mum but before I can
say anything about the texts to my mum, i get
another text message. Like I said, Im watching
you. Say one word to anyone about this text and
youll have to pay a big price.
Gustav Korsholm
Gustavs comment on his micronouvelle: This short
story was inspired by an experience I had at home.
As I was going from the kitchen to the living room
and closed the kitchen door behind me, the
draught of air from closing the kitchen door made
the door to the living room open. This inspired me
to write this story which, I think, it reflects how
there are different paths we choose in life. When
growing up you experiment with different things,
different sports, different subjects to discover find
the things that suit you. In the short story each
door represents such a pathway. It is impossible
for the protagonist to close all of the doors, and I
believe this is true in life as well. You can't close all
of the doors because closing or opening one will
inevitably lead to another.
Today Is the Day

I woke up later than I had planned because I
missed my alarm clock. Today is the day. My
anxiety runs through me leaving me with shivers
when I realize it. For months now, my life has been
a ticking bomb, waiting for this day to explode. I
get dressed and grab some breakfast. Im not
hungry at all, but I desperately try to squeeze
something down. Running out the door, I almost
forget to lock my door. It all feels just like any
other day, but for some reason I cant think about
anything else. I can feel my body starting to feel
more and more nauseous. My mind is foggy and I
cant see clearly. I cross the road distractedly.
Abby Kiambi
Suddenly, my thoughts are overpowered by the

sight in front of me. Bright lights race towards me
and the ringing sound of a honk, gives me one last
moment to look around this beautiful world I am
about to leave.
And just like that, my life turns from present to
past.
Amalie Smedegaard
Fear
Its 11 oclock at night and Im walking home.
Someone is following me. I stop and turn and can
see nothing but a shadow of someone behind a
FICTION
The Painting on the Wall
The babysitter was rushing through the halls of the
old manor house, wondering why she had even
taken the job considering all of the stories she had
heard. In her haste to get the cries of the child in
the manor, she caught just a glimpse of the
painting on the wall, and the image of the looming
figure in the distance seemed to pull her towards
it. But she brushed past it, making a mental note to
investigate further when she had the time.
Finally, the kids were asleep and she had tidied up
the kitchen. She was alone. Suddenly the house felt
much larger and colder than she remembered. She
then remembered the painting from before.
Intrigued as to who the painting portrayed she
made her way the through the corridors to
investigate. Having made sure she had been
through the entire house more than once with no
sign of the painting she gave up the search and
was heading back to the kitchen when she heard
the child cry.
On her way there she realised this was the same
path as the one she had taken when hearing her
cry earlier and became excited at the prospect of
seeing the painting. However, upon rounding the
corner to where she expected the painting to be
hanging she found only a bare wall with a mirror
carrying a reflection of herself.
Aodhn Cunningham
Labyrinth 2016
The Bob Carignan Art

Purchase Awards
9
THE BOB CARIGNAN ART PURCHASE AWARDS
Sophie Achiam
Cell
Mixed media installation (Plaster, metal strips, wire, spotlights). 50x50x48 cm excl. lights
Inspired by Louise Bourgeois cells seen at Moderna Stockholm, this piece is a representation of the
juxtaposition between the softness and purity associated with the glorified female figure and the
rough reality of a modern, urban environment. The white breast is pierced and hung by metal wires,
pinned down by the cold embrace of the metal frame. The shadows looming overhead add eeriness
and tension.
10
Naomi Bekele
Ene 4
Coffee on paper, wax crayons on paper, 50cm x 70 cm

This piece is part of my self-portrait series, done with coffee, as coffee is symbolic to Ethiopia. It is
done with the lino block of another piece, with this one only including the face. I wanted to create an
illusion therefore I decided to trace the face multiple times and dispersed randomly.
11
Ihdaa Bugis
The Culture Within Me
Digital Art, 60x80 cm
A self-portrait that portrays my culture and my identity as a person and an artist, which was
influenced by Shirin Neshats Seeking Martyrdom #2 photo, 1995, B&W RC print & ink (photo
taken by Cynthia Preston), 27.9 x 35.6 cm.
12
Nicola Richards
The Other Side of Me
Digitally Manipulated Photograph, 29.7cm x 42cm
A digital photograph representing struggle and angst, layered with water marbling prints.
13
Labyrinth 2016
2D Art
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2D ART
1st Prize: Falling, Defne Sendil
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2D ART
2nd Prize: Emma Jepsen
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2D ART
3rd Prize: Caged, Pratya Arora
Honourable Mention: Miruna Lopata
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2D ART
Honourable Mention: Claudia Gesmar Larsen
2D ART GALLERY
Pratya Arora, Idhaa Bugis, Claudia Gesmar Larsen, Holm Lamp,
Defne Sendil, Brage Haavik, Mia Machholm, Sydney Evans, Naomi Bekele,
Thomas Reynolds, Sophie Achiam, Victoria Jaded
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2D ART
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2D ART
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2D ART
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2D ART
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2D ART
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Labyrinth 2016
Digital Art
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DIGITAL ART
1st Prize: Alone, Karolina Zydelyte
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DIGITAL ART
2nd Prize: Urban Bliss, Nikola Trajkovski
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DIGITAL ART
3rd Prize: Brage Haavik
Honourable Mention: Flop, Karolina Zydelyte
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DIGITAL ART
DIGITAL ART GALLERY

Idhaa Bugis, Max Twining-Ward, Sophie Achiam, Addison Copas,
Brage Haavik, Naomi Bekele, Thomas Reynolds
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DIGITAL ART
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Labyrinth 2016
Colour Photography
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
1st Prize: Teo Della Torre
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
2nd Prize: Paradise, Nikola Trajkovski
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
3rd Prize: Motherland, Sophie Achiam
Honourable Mention: Addison Copas
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Honourable Mention: Plane, Alex Benes
Honourable Mention: Teo Della Torre
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

Nikola Trajkovoski, Defne Sendil, Alex Benes, Holm Lamp, May Gregory, Max Twining-Ward,
Sophie Achiam, Teo Della Torre, Addison Copas
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
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Labyrinth 2016
3D Art
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3D ART
1st Prize: Sophie Achiam

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3D ART
2nd Prize: Idhaa Bugis
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3D ART
3rd Prize: Thomas Reynolds
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3D ART
Honourable Mention: Naomi Bekele
Honourable Mention: Sophie Achiam

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3D ART
3D ART GALLERY
Defne Sendil, Brage Haavik, Sophie Achiam
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Labyrinth 2016
Graphic Art
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GRAPHIC ART
1st Prize: Naomi Bekele
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GRAPHIC ART
2nd Prize: Defne Sendil
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GRAPHIC ART
3rd Prize: Anastasiia Katona
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GRAPHIC ART
Honourable Mention: Hannah Tomczyk
Honourable Mention:
Laura Blum
Honourable Mention:
Megan Duncanson
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GRAPHIC ART
GRAPHIC ART GALLERY

Anna Zaske, Gerda Kazakeviciute, Jasmine Bagherpur, Julie Jahant,
Mia Machholm, Brage Haavik, Noah de Rider, Sunaina Chander, Tess Kaufman
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GRAPHIC ART
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Labyrinth 2016
Doodles
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DOODLES
1st Prize: May Gregory
2nd Prize: Jadelynn Park
Jadelynn Park
57
When opening a dusty old dictionary to find the

definition of the fruitful thing that is poetry, one is
surprised by the coldness and critical language used to
describe it: Poetry is literature that uses aesthetic and
rhythmic qualities of language, such as phonaesthetics,
sound symbolism, and metre. Poetry is so much more
than random combinations of words, with meaningless
rhymes and meters, but a true form of art that
encompasses every human emotion. Each word is
carefully chosen to carry a certain meaning and
nothing is left to chance.
The creators of this year's Labyrinth poetry
submissions are fearless and brave because they have
explored the furthest corners of themselves and are

choosing to reveal their thoughts to the world.
Poetry can be delightful, strong, delicate,
painful and real, which is why it touches us in ways
that are meaningful to our lives. Each and every poet
ought to be congratulated for daring to reveal their
inner thoughts for the public to consume and may they
all continue to evoke emotions and thoughts that will
leave us wishing for more.
Sophie Smedegaard
Labyrinth 2016
Poetry
58
POETRY
1st Prize: Sydney Evans

A spectacular piece by our prolific in-house poet
Sydney. We loved it! Almost unanimously chosen as
the winning piece by the judges.
Oceans Stand Still for You

you're a vision
a siren of the sea, rising out to talk to me
clutching a surfboard to your ribcage
i'll never tell you how your current draws me in.
i'm a sailboat, navigating your white-capped waves.
you stand elegant against the tidal backdrop
smirking
sunburned lipsx$
cracked, but soft
flavored like salted caramel
you're the color of the sunset.
oozing with confidence
you trace patterns in the sand,
emerald eyes hiding beneath faded sunglasses.
your skin is made of summer sunshine
water catching in your hipbones,
smiling around a strawberry snowcone.
you're basking in light of molten gold,
eyelids like creamy seashells
grains of sand lining your jaw.
the sky is bleached blue above you
burning azure over the horizon
salt water dripping trails from your tousled hair.
a soft breeze, and your coconut scent wafts across the beach
you smile, and slice open the bitter pineapple that is my heart.
toasted sandwiches on the pier
scorched, sandy feet
the water splashing up to meet us
i'm still counting your freckles
would you consider counting mine?
Sydney Evans
59
POETRY
2nd Prize: Holm Lamp

Enigmatic and wonderfully obscure, Holms dialogue
suits the nocturnal setting perfectly, and puts you
right there into that twilight zone between reason and
myth where we try to find answers to the big questions
in life. (This year, the 2nd Prize is shared.)
Late-night Wisdoms
What is the beginning?
time before ending, before sinning
What do you see when you fly?
hills, river, trees, a vast, hard, open sky
Where do butterflies go in the winter?
to soar in snows with wings white and tender.
How do you measure grief?
by pain caused, however brief
Why write?
for sake of flight, Son
Holm Lamp
60
POETRY
2nd Prize: Sophie

Smedegaard
A brilliant lyrical piece, light yet full of captivating
imagery. A triumph! (This year, the 2nd Prize is
shared.)
So go on and love him.

Hes the whisper in the wind that calls you home,
the blanket around you shielding from harm
Hes captured your heart like no one else could
So go on and love him good.
Spend your weekends tangled in bed,
His tousled hair flutters your heart
Not even the blue in the skies,
Make you forget the ocean in his eyes.
You do not always agree on how to live life,
But hell bring you his scars and youll kiss them goodbye,
And hell never admit that youre just as strong,
Yet hes the one who strings your heart along.
Mountain tops, deserts and snow,
Places you dream of seeing with him by your side.
Hes the only man who made you take the leap,
So go on and love him deep.
Sophie Smedegaard
61
POETRY
Honourable Mention: Sydney

Evans
Mortal
you stand over me
and i realize how far down i am.
six feet of earth between us
your reflection in my headstone
tracing my name with bruised fingers,
etched in blood.
red cheeks
tears water my grave
my soul frail, my body skeletal
i wish to reach up and touch you
no matter the cold
but instead i float,
hand in yours.
if only you could see, feel.
your light finds me
through the cracks in my coffin
flesh, a beating heart
who says you need warmth to care?
the organ fades and i hear you laughing
slow, sweet melody
would you still dance with me, my friend
if i could rise?
as though it were a wedding
and not my funeral.
you rest the flowers above my head,
and i will watch them shrivel.
i'm only sleeping, darling.
you whisper that it's all gone grim
you chuckle with profound bitterness
you hurt.
even covered in gore, i'd hold you.
here, and now
in terminal silence
i bleed what i can no longer say.
fate is cruel,
we are all victims of time
and words mean so much more
when offered from blue lips.
you care eternally, don't you?
now that i've been ripped
from the surface of the world
and stuffed back into it.
we're only mortal, after all.
Sydney Evans
62
POETRY
Honourable Mention: Laura

Sundwall
7,407,926,598th Place
We are all just a pack
and were
running
running
running
because this life is a marathon
and it doesnt stop for you.
Instead I trip over my own feet.

as I try to push out of this haze.
I scrape my knees
my elbows bruised
as I fall
again and again
and watch
It just keeps running on

leaving you behind.
Im falling behind in this race.
Im getting tired.
My legs are struggling to push.
Im slowing down.
I dont want to run anymore.
as the runners get smaller

and smaller
and smaller
as they run
further and
further away
and I wonder
if I will ever cross that finish line
or if I will quit before I even reach the halfway mark
because I realize this race isnt worth running at all.
But life is running on without me.

The other runners stride past me
smiles on their faces.
Their legs strong
propelling them
forward.
Laura Sundwall
Meanwhile my pace slows.

My heart rate decrescendos.
I open my mouth to speak.
Wait for me.
Dont leave me behind.
But no sound comes out.
63
POETRY
Honourable Mention:
Paige Egelston
And The Stars Dance
Stars shimmer in the moonlight,
like an excited young child.
Dripping in sacred elegance,
they wait for the night.
Stars have dreams,
and they are dreaming of dancing.
We shine brightly on our planet,
never knowing how the stars watch us,
and protect us from the monsters in the night.
Dancing in a fiery impatient freedom,
they wait for the night.
Do not fear, the stars protect us,
while dancing in the shadow of the night.
Paige Egelston
Honourable Mention:
Sydney Evans
Anomaly
she's out of her time
an ashy white pillar in the ruins of an old city
singular, everstrong, carvings still fresh
her shoulder blades are slabs of marble,
encased in soft blue cloth
held together by destiny and dark red suspenders
her face is a piece of metal, torn from the ore
refined and dented just right, tilted in the sunlight
the sharp surface reflecting the worlds she's seen up close
her eyes are lenses to an archaic telescope, windows to the
stars
she was forged in fire
but even steel has a melting point
a fossil, buried and earthbound
she's chiseled from ancient rock, and she knows it
lasting, but worn
immortal, but not omnipotent
questions asked, but never answered
memories she doesn't want to remember
she charms her way through the years
watching the universe grow old.
Sydney Evans
64
POETRY
A girl wearing winters jacket

A girl wearing winters jacket
Staring out to a cool blue blanket sky
Though she hasnt seen a ripple or tear
She waits and waits,
Even in despair.
She shivers in the gust of secrets that whisper in her ear
And falls cold on the floor,
No battle, no fear.
Her history flashes by her eyes
With her heart leaping,
As she remembers him in demise.
She smiles towards her sky.
Finally,
She can be in continuous harmony,
With him and her.
Julie Jahant
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia are called strange.
They are different.
Sometimes they are happy.
Other times they are murderous.
They are constantly changing what they wear
depending on their mood.
Once they wore a bright green shirt
with grey trousers and red shoes.
They are constantly changing their mind.
They live inside their head talking amongst
each other.
All the things they say or do
get filtered through
despair
love
hate
but not reality.
The fact is,
they are multiple personalities.
I am schizophrenia.
I am me too.
Lewis Foster
65
POETRY
Hope
For the Kiya Survivors, Peru
The smile on their faces gives me hope to move on.
The minimal amount of resources that these children have
makes me wonder about the superficial,
selfish community I live in.
A community where everybody has to have
the new 2k16 Balenciaga bag,
the Chanel shoes,
oh! And dont forget the Valentino perfume.
In the rich world,
where people only do good for themselves
and nobody else
take care of themselves,
and make their happiness
a priority.
And nobody elses,
the help that I provided
was like gold to them.
Taking two weeks of my life
was supporting them for two more years.
The world needs hope,
the world needs to build bridges,
and to accept.
People should provide,
for inspiration lies
in hope.
Tess Kauffmann
Food
I am hungry.
Food.
Food can be as strong as coffee.
Or as sweet as candy.
Food can be as light as a feather.
Or as heavy as an elephant.
Food can be everything.
Or nothing.
Food is food.
And I am hungry.
Food.
Ian Mlller
66
POETRY
Experience of a Lifetime
Everything is different, yet it is completely the same.
A tsunami of emotions hits me.
Anger, frustration, powerlessness
wash away
every single positive emotion inside me.
The step out of the airport may seem like the tiniest step,
but it is one of the greatest I have taken.
Replacing a completely different world behind,
with a disturbing one that no human should ever live in.
Orange reminds me of the beautiful sunsets,
the fence which secured the bubble
in the middle of the bomb of poverty and insecurity
recalls so many emotions it is hard handle.
It would be easier just to ignore this reality.
Thinking of the complete inhumane conditions,
that humans encounter every single day.
Thinking that there is a difference
between living and surviving.
Which one would you choose?
Many people do not have the privilege to choose.
It is so simple
for us is to turn on the tap
and fill our glass with clean water;
you are lucky even to survive.
Existing without existing.
Being a burden and being shame.
They want to forget you and ignore you forever,
and you cannot change it because you do not exist
on paper.
Looking into these childrens eyes,
not understanding any word coming out their mouths,
yet still entirely certain
that they will never get the same opportunities as me,
even though their mothers would give their eyes, teeth for them.
Whereas I do nothing.
To be given all that I have got,
these mothers compromise every single day,
trying to do the best they can for their children.
I will never have to think like that.
Is that fair?
Even though this experience
was harsh
it is the best I have had.
I
67
POETRY
t taught me to think.
It taught me to prioritise.
It taught me to do what I love.
There is more to life than just
social media, appearance and grades.
A person is much more than that.
But most importantly
It made me feel happy
all the way to my bones.
Clara Strmsted
(participant on this years Team Peru trip)
The flickering flame

The flickering flame of our lives,
Consistent yet indefinite.
The only moment undeniable,
Our demise.
Uncertain is the day unknown,
As is the strength of warmth in the day
Yet, you loll about with much to do
You yowl, you beg, you long, you moan.
Some might call it normal,
That you yowl, you beg, you long, you moan.
But for it to be normal,
Should it not make sense?
Feel the fiery sunlight on your skin,
The sharp stones under the soles of your feet,
The eager wind whipping through your hair.
This wild beauty is redemption for your sin.
The weed on the cliff stands determined and tall,
Away from dainty flowers.
Her blades slash through the wind
Not waiting for someone to make her fall.
The precious moments of human life
Are rare as pearls in clams
With gentle blows from Him above,
Our flames can go out.
Sophie Smedegaard
68
POETRY
Day After Day

Day after day
some are born
whilst others die.
With those who mourn
along comes cry,
day after day.
Day after day
plenty of love
but watch out for hate,
fly all above
but dont be the bait,
day after day.
Day after day
some will strain
to follow your heart
or choose with your brain.
No need to be smart
day after day.
Day after day
upon a shiver
men will wear ties
where one will deliver
someone's goodbye
Day after day
Alix Reynolds
Think of anything
Think of something.
Think of anything at all.
When you find it hard to focus
on the task at hand,
thinking of something insignificant
can help you understand.
Think of anything,
think of something,
think of anything at all.
Whether it is grand
or whether it is small,
it doesn't matter what it is
Just think of anything,
Anything at all
Lewis Foster
69
POETRY
Nine things to do with a Laptop in Lessons (other than Facebook, YouTube, NooTube, Twitter;
Titter, Tumblr, Pinit, Pickit, Instagram, Reddit, Flickr, Flippr, Gooooogle... )
(An English Teachers Lament)
1. Plug in, warm up and then sit on it to keep bum warm.
2. Stand up, open window, throw computer out of window into street. Observe magnificent
parabola of Mac/PC and satisfying crunch of plastic, silicon circuits and transistors on
pavement.
3. Place head between screen and keyboard. Slam keyboard shut. You can ask a partner to
help you with this. (Note - this can be a little tricky with the smaller Notebook style
machine, unless you have an exceptionally small head.)
4. Try the above manoeuvre with other parts of your body (fingers, toes and other parts of
you that stick out).
5. Open computer as if to log onto Facebook as usual. Place computer on floor. Jump up and
down on keyboard and screen repeatedly. You might work in groups on this. Try jumping
from a height - chairs, tables etc, but take care - the coolants and small components can be
slippery.
6. Make the usual excuse about going to fill water bottle/go to toilet. Discreetly take your
computer with you (easier with MacBook Air or Ultrabook as you can stick up jumper).
Check coast is clear, then (quietly) use your laptop as a toboggan to slide down stairs.
7. Try the above with laptop as snowboard. You might try the banister as a rail. Take care
not to decapitate students/teachers using the staircase as stairs. These manoeuvres can be
more successfully using larger gaming PCs.
8. Make usual excuse as above. Go out to park. Float laptop on surface of lake. Fling self on
and paddle out surfboard-style.
9. If your computer should suffer damage in the attempt of any of the above, come back and
write a poem.
With a pencil.
Rebecca Prisk
Security Announcement
Attention to all students.
This is a security announcement.
For security reasons and due to the risk of theft,
students are requested not to leave their personal life
unattended at any time.
Unattended years, months, hours and minutes
will be removed by the authorities.
Failure to comply with these precautions may compromise
sanity on board of your mind.
Lorenz Hindrichsen
Reflection
70
POETRY
reflection, noun
1. the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or
sound without absorbing it.
2. serious thought or consideration. (www.dictionary.com)
Being reflective is one attribute of the learner profile.
One attribute of the learner profile is being reflective.
The reflective profile is one attribute of the learner.
One attribute of the learner is the reflective profile.
Being the learner profile is one attribute of reflective.
One learner attribute is being the reflective profile.
One learner profile attribute is the reflective being.
Being one reflective attribute is the profile learner.
The learner profile is reflective: the attribute of being one.
One is being reflective: the attribute of the learner profile.
Lorenz Hindrichsen
Searching for the Right Word

I am forever seeking the perfect word.
Everyone has one.
It is his own.
It is private.
It is beautiful.
My infant daughter wordlessly rises each day to greet
her world.
She points. I name.
Crib. Doll. Door.
They form silent meanings in her head.
Fan. Picture. Closet.
I rattle them off mechanically.
Nose. Baby. Daddy.
She wants to own them all;
They have begun to sound common to me.
My word will definitely not be common.
A student in my class timidly puts up her hand during
an exam.
Whats that word? she whispers.
I correctly pronounce it,
Still a jumble of letters.
I offer a synonym,
Another quizzical look.
I finally reveal the full definition.
Thats all she really wanted;
The word just got in the way.
71
POETRY
My word will conjure connections all over the place.
My wife snuggles next to me on the couch one lazy
Sunday afternoon.
What are you thinking? she asks softly.
Can I truly capture the feeling?
I close my eyes to hear the moment.
Contentment? More meaningful.
Peaceful? More personal.
Rightness? More tender.
I hold her tighter and say, I love you;
It feels so much deeper though.
My word will make me comfortable with the quiet.
My word keeps to the shadows deciding how best to
claim me.
I am unsure how to coax it out.
So I read what others have written,
Listen intently to conversations,
Mine the hidden places of my heart,
And await an utterance of pure joy to reveal it.
For now, my world defines me.
I am Father. Teacher. Husband. Writer.
But I need to express myself.
My word will give my soul a voice.
I am forever seeking the perfect word.
We all are.
We have so much to say,
And so little space.
Bryan Munson
love song with two sneakers

For Jesper Slvberg, who taught me all I know about sneakers (check out the speeches)
Freely adapted from Grace Chuas love song with two goldfish
come closer (step) (step) spikey (step)
come closer (step) give us a rub (stomp)
come closer (step) my nike (step)
dont push me (step) into the mud
oh oh oh
shoe stomp, wild romp, high jump, air pump
come on spikey give us some actioooon
kanye west, likes me best, louboutin ya like me, huh?
come on baby lets make it happeeeen
balenciaga (step) with her tiara (step)
golden goose (step) on the loose (stomp)
giovanni buttero? (step) uh not that nutter, no! (step)
or yeezy? easy-breezy youre so cheesy no
oh oh oh
72
POETRY
shoe stomp, wild romp, high jump, air pump
come-on spikey give us some actioooon
kanye west, likes me best, louboutin, ya like me, huh?
nerdy spalwart (step) still smells like walmart (step)
and filling pieces (step) is a bore (stomp)
common projects whoa (step) your pun wont cut it, no, (step)
chanel my belle your factry smell is a hard sell
oh oh oh
shoe stomp, wild romp, high jump, fat lump
come-on spikey give us some actioooon
kanye west, likes me best, louboutin, like me, huh?
Lorenz Hindrichsen
Leavin City Campus Blues

I have de blues leavin City Campus,
Tears standin in my eyes.
I said I have the blues before leavin good ol City Campus
Tears a standing in ma eyes.
Gotta leave dem long ol spiral staircases
Cos baby we have to aggrandize.
Yeah I have to leave, leave you City,
N head on out to Nordhavn
I said I have to leave you City baby,
N head on out to Nordhavn
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darlin
N Lord in dem goddam bad docklands, I may likely drown
I have to leave your warm brown baked bricks baby
And go somewhere cold and new
I said I have to leave those sweet warm brown baked bricks City
And go somewhere cold and noo
I gotta pick up and leave you City
And it sure as hell is makin me feel blue.
Oh yeah.
Prisk
73
Nothing scares us more than making a speech in front of

a crowd. Is the script right? Will the audience get my
jokes? What if the speech feels off as I am midway
through my speech - should I just lie down and die?
The scripts below capture a mere fraction of these

speakers brave performances, which consisted of so
much more than just the written word. Try to picture
their voices, gestures, presence as you read these lines.
Lorenz Hindrichsen
Labyrinth 2016
Speeches
74
SPEECHES
They
First Prize
Clara Strmsted
are
basically
acting
like
children
in
kindergarten while people are dying. If we stand

together and demand action, we can change the EU
A wonderfully spirited and eloquent defense of

fundamental human principles, and a deserving winner!
policy of immigration and then this would happen:

We would not prevent a person from getting a visa
and therefore they would be able to avoid the
deadly dangerous travel overseas, which has
Did our humanity drown with the refugees?
costed around 3000 human lives including threeyear old Aylan Kurdis.
MANY OF US have heard the story of Aylan

Kurdi. He is a three-year-old Syrian boy and he is
And no, a plane ticket doesnt cost more than what
having the time of his life going to school and
being smuggled under inhumane conditions costs,
playing with his friends. Or should I say he was?
because human smugglers are not idiots but
He drowned.
businessmen who exploit the vulnerable refugees,

because we do not act.
He drowned, on his escape with his family from a

childhood amongst bombs and missiles without
My heart aches every time I think of this, because it
school and friends because everything was in
is so unbelievably inhumane that it hurts.
ruins. And so was his and his familys life.
We are so selfish and so square-minded that we
Therefore they fled.
cannot see the consequences of our non-taken

actions. That humans like you and me and Aylan
And they took the deadly dangerous travel
will die.
overseas, but Aylans final destination did not turn

out to be what had been expected. Aylan washed
What is even more humiliating is that the EU is not
up, dead, on a beach of Turkey September 2nd, at
only politically paralysed. As a matter of fact the
the age of three.
EU claims that we are not able to take in that many

refugees or provide enough economic aid because
Of course we have all been moved by this terrible,
we dont have enough resources.
grievous story, because we are all humans.

Who wants to lose their son, their brother or any of
Okay we do not have enough, no country has
their beloved like this?
enough, but we definitely do have more than what

Turkey has, a country with 16% of its population
The worst part is that we, as citizens of the
living below the internaternational poverty line,
European Union, stand by the sideline with our
a number that is only expanding for Turkey. No
hands in our pockets, even though we could do
matter what Turkey has unconditionally welcomed
something.
over 2 million Syrian refugees 400% more than

what the EU altogether has received.
This is ineffably embarrassing, not only for me and

for you but for us as a global community
Even though the EU does not take in that many
because we can change the current situation. We
refugees, we do not send enough economic
can raise awareness about the urgent need of a
support to countries such as Turkey. The 15th of
resolution to the politicians who seem like they

have
forgotten
everything
about
October the EU decided to send an economic aid
humanity,
package with approximately 3.4 billion dollars to
negotiation and collaboration.
Turkey but Turkey has already spent around 4.5

billion dollars on taking care of the refugees. What
75
SPEECHES
would you think about getting a bill of 1.1 billion
Joint First Prize

Gustav Korsholm
dollars, because you are acting like a responsible

human being?
Can a speech mean more than one thing? Take a look at

the following speech by Gustav, and find out yourself.
Sheer genius!
The Turkish economy is already on the edge of

what it can bear, and the influx of refugees does
not help; this might lead to even one more
Refugees should stay out of Denmark
revolution, which will put even more lives in

danger
Refugees should stay out of Denmark.
as well as sending even more refugees and put

even more pressure onto the global economy.
I dont want to hear people saying
Do we really wish that?
that there is space for everyone.
We, not only the Turkish people, nor only the
I believe that
Europeans need to take responsibility and cope
money is the way forward,
with this difficult situation. Every country, state

and citizen with the capability needs to.
and Its not true that
Antagonism towards the political handling is
we will live as happily as we did before after
rising amongst us. And because of that, we are
taking in all the refugees.
realising what we needed to realise a long time

ago;we need to insist on the inevitable united
This might come as a bit of a surprise but
handling of this predicament.
happiness comes from within

is a lie.
The unfair distribution of the refugees amongst us

is unsustainable and it must be handled.
The truth is
And we have to stop being penny-pinching,
money will make you happy,
privileged people who are too arrogant to act.

It will cost so much more in the greater picture, if
and some people think that
we do not handle it now. I cannot make it more
we have the resources to care for these people,
crystal clear: we cannot postpone the united
but that is not the case.
collaboration, as it is the only way to save peoples

lives. And that is what we all want.
Resources are limited.

Clara Strmsted
The press pictures Europe as if

we are inhumane if we dont do anything about the
crisis.
Someone needs to take action?
To be honest, I dont care about it.
My dads V12 Bentleys , which I will inherit one
day thats what matters the most.
Love towards foreign people
is a joke.
76
SPEECHES
we will live as happily as we did before, after
taking in all the refugees.
I have realized that

refugees should be left handle their own problems,
And its not true that

money is the way forward.
and you are ridiculous if you believe that

these refugees have a future and are able to
I believe that
integrate in our countries.
There is space for everyone.

***
I dont want to hear people saying
Refugees should stay out of Denmark.
These refugees have a future and are able to

integrate into our countries.
Gustav Korsholm
And you are ridiculous if you believe that
refugees should be left to handle their own
problems.
I have realized that
that is a joke
Love towards foreign people thats what matters the most.
My dads V12 Bentleys , which I will inherit one
day?
To be honest, I dont care about it.
Someone needs to take action.
We are inhumane if we dont do anything about
the crisis.
The press pictures Europe as if
resources are limited,
but that is not the case.
We have the resources to care for these people.
And some people think that
Money will make you happy.
The truth is thats a lie.
Happiness comes from within.
This might come as a bit of a surprise but
77
SPEECHES
So let me make this crystal clear for everyone. The
Second Prize
Amalie Smedegaard
definition of feminism is: the theory of the

political, economic, and social equality of the
sexes. Now, to put it in other words, it means
Feminism? Whasdad all about? In case youre in doubt,

our spectacular runner-up will handle that one
brilliantly. Cogently argued and superbly delivered!
gender equality. If you are a feminist you believe in

gender equality.
Youre a Feminist
I read an article about what people think about the

word. It stated that 37 percent said they consider
GUESS WHAT, YOU'RE a feminist. If you believe
"feminist" to be a negative term, compared to only
that all genders should be equal, youre a feminist.
26 percent who consider it a positive term. But the
This is hard for people to understand. When
most interesting I found was the comments below
people hear the word feminism, they immediately
the article. They all said negative things about
think of a woman who hates men. Well, they're
feminism like Feminism has to die! and many
wrong.
men find it attractive if a girl says she is an antifeminist. Why? I wonder.
To be a feminist is also to acknowledge that the

world is not, currently, a fair and safe place for
Recently many female celebrities have even started
women to exist. Because it is not.
to
publicly
express
their
feelings
towards
feminism. The problem with this is, so many of
What are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag,
them don't know what it means.
girl, bitch. Notice anything? The worst thing you

can call a guy is a girl. Being a girl is the ultimate
Take Shailene Woodley, an actress from Divergent.
insult. Now there is something seriously wrong
She was recently asked Are you a feminist and
about this.
she said: No, because I love men, and I think the

idea raise women to power, take the men away
Thats why I decided to write a speech about
from the power is never going to work out
feminism because recently I was introduced to the
because you need balance.
topic and discovered there is way more behind it

than you think. In the beginning I did not really
This is funny because feminisms wants balance.
understand it, and when I did I did not really feel
That the whole point of feminism. That men and
like it affected me. I heard about women getting
women are EQUAL.
treated so badly I couldn't really wrap my head

around it. But I discovered that it does actually
Lets look at some facts:
affect me in many ways I didnt even realise.
-Women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man

earnsfor doing the same work.
When I was doing research for my speech there
Now this is of course in general, but still. Why does
was one thing that bothered me immensely. Many
the gender you have determine how much money
people seemed to be confused about the word. I
you earn.
thought, thinking logically,
-One in five women in college will be sexually
feminists were people who believed in women,
assaulted.
because when I hear the word feminine I think of
-Out of all the rape victims in America, 91% are
women. I believed it was a group of people who
females while 9% are males.
were very aggressive and hated men.
This shows how common it has become. And its
But its not.
absolutely horrible. We dont believe that men are
78
SPEECHES
evil, its just the way theyve grown up. Our society
find it as a joke and all, and I am not telling you all
considers it normal to rape.
that if youre not a feminist, you are all horrible
-52 % of women in Denmark were said to have
people. Because I shouldnt force you to believe in
suffered physical and/or sexual abuse.
something you dont.
Think about this for a second. 52 percent. If you
But really this isn't just about you and me. Its
want this number to change Youre a feminist.
about all the women out there who dont have the
The thing with rape is that its become so
privileges we have. And if you still wanna joke
common. And that is the problem.
about it, fine. All Im asking is to think twice before

doing it and asking yourself if its really worth
joking about equality.
Another thing that was brought to my attention

was a new dress code policy that has been made in
Thank you.
middle school at CIS. Girls are not allowed to show

their bra strap. Many schools all over the world has
Amalie Smedegaard
this policy. A school in America sent two dozen

students home for breaking the strict dress code
rules. Most of the rule-breakers were girls who
were told that their visible bra straps or short
dresses may distract male students and teachers
from learning and teaching.
If boys and, especially, teachers are distracted by
the sight of bra straps, perhaps they need to deal
with their own issues instead of telling girls what
they cant wear. Shaming girls for wearing bras or
short skirts in hot weather plays very well into a
culture that humiliates girls for how they look, and
stereotypes boys as being unable to control their
impulses.
What I am trying to say is that feminism is not only
about women. Its also about boys and men.
Our society has given gender roles to men and
women.
From birth children are classified into a role. Colors
are one thing that represents a gender. Painting the
walls blue if its a boy and pink if its girl. Why?
Why do colors have to represent a gender.
Boys are taught to be tough, strong and loud. If
they act vulnerable, sensitive or weak our society
won't consider them real men. The phrase: Man
Up! is used to tell someone to be strong.
I hope by now that you all understand what
feminism is. And I know some of you still might
79
SPEECHES
bling. Suppose the exact same shoes produced in
Third Prize
Jesper Slvberg
China, bought not by campers but people without

sneaker intelligence. The response to such a buy
would be: This kid is poor and doesnt have the
If youre looking for true novelty in a speech, this is the

one!
money for the real stuff. The world of sneakers is

all about recognition; people want attention by
flashing these kind of shoes, but with these fake
The Significance of Sneakers
posts they get the opposite, the kind of recognition

you dont want: humiliation and hate.
DO SNEAKERS MATTER in our world, or are they

useless?
Now you probably think that I believe it is

ridiculous having an obsession with shoes, but I
Who would have thought that when sneakers were
actually believe that designers creative minds are
first worn for sports like running and basketball
giving society a way to flash their bling pieces.
that they would become status symbols and super
And that collecting sneakers is not just an
bling? The origins of sneakers as bling came from
obsession, but a hobby. And as I said before some
NBA superstars like Michael Jordan, who wore his
wear normal shoes, some wear sneakers and some
Nike Air Jordans with no laces and tongues out.
dont have any shoes at all. I believe these
This look by a superstar made the sneaker a cool
differences are what make us human beings
bling item and launched sneakers into one of the
different, and I myself like to buy sneakers and
most valuable parts of a guys bling outfit.
rock them wherever I go, and flash them in front of

people. Lets take the ones I am wearing right now,
Now, some people wear normal shoes, some
my Christian Louboutins: I do not only like the
people wear sneakers, some dont wear any shoes
spike feature on them, but should I ever get
at all. Some do it for the hype, some have the
attacked by some crazy people I can use the spikes,
experience and knowledge while some dont really
to easily kick them hard leaving them with some
give a damn about the shoes they wear. Over the
spike marks. One of the pros of having Loubs.
last three years, though, the sneaker hype has

definitely gotten real. Kids have started to camp in
So where does this strange obsession with sneakers
front of stores to get the significant shoes also
which I share, come from? I believe I inherited this
known as Yeezys that are Laut a kanj [made
from my brother. He started, then I started, but I
by Kanye] as one kid said on Danish television.
can never answer the question of why I buy these
Would you camp five days for a pair of shoes that
shoes. I believe its just simply an obsession, and
may only earn you a 3000 kroner profit? You might
obviously I would camp a few days for a pair of
as well get a 7-eleven job, spend the same amount
yeezys if my mom didnt tell me I should take care
of time and earn the double amount. The price of
of my school.
the Yeezys are different depending on which one

you cop, but as people say Dont hate the
Jesper Slvberg
player, hate the game.

This obsession with footwear often produces
strange or amusing results when people pose with
their shoes on social media, especially if the shoes
are fake. Figure this hightop Yeezy, a shoe with the
usual signature strap is produced in America,
bought by sneakerheads, and considered super
80
SPEECHES
they are trying to demonstrate a true passion for
Judgement
this issue?
THE WORLD OF 2016 is a world of no judgement,
and respect to all races and nations.
This isn't only a matter of freedom of speech but
Is this true?
also of freedom of being yourself outwards, of not

being judged by your colour, style, gender.
Most of you guys are probably thinking no, and

youre 100% correct. But has anyone really ever
When you look at a person how would you
taken a course of action against that and thereby
describe them? Let's say you are talking to a guy
successfully made a difference? No.
and he uses somewhat a large quantity of feminine

words, you would probably say to yourself Oh
hes gay.
Most of the time, people dont have the right to

express their own opinions without getting judged
or outdone by facts and other reasonings. No one
This is how every one of you thinks in daily life,
can ever give an explanation without causing
and I do, too.
disagreement somewhere in the world. This just

shows that out of the 7.125 billion people on this
But why does it have to be like this? Why do you
planet, there is not one that can look from all
have to label people as being
angles, and respect people for who they are.
gay, bisexual, transexual, transgender, straight,

polysexual, pansexual, asexual? Why can people
not look at you as a person.
People get disrespected no matter what statement

they make, and my question is: Why do some
people have more of a right to be heard than
People of this generation say that this is changing,
others? I mean its just like saying Which one is
but it really isnt. People still use these terms
better: Peanut butter or jelly? Peanut butter
without being aware of it. It shouldnt be a natural
because it is more salty, or jelly because it is more
instinct that you can judge people by their
sweet. This is exactly how peoples personalities
appearances.
are judged, and how they are then compared to

But lets be honest, is this speech going to do shit?
peoples own likes and dislikes.
Probably not, but I say these things because it

When judging people you will never really know
means a lot to me to respect people for who they
what is wrong and what is right because people
are. And just think about it the next time you look
stand in different positions, situations, sharing
at a person and judge them by their race, style,
different opinions. People look from different
gender, or colour, just to take a second to think
perspectives, express views, in different ways.
about it, and just think again.
People do things in different ways.

Tess Kauffmann
It doesnt matter who you are, what you have
done, you still have the right to defend yourself in
a given situation. People risk their lives every day
just to prove one simple point. Just to make a
change. But why is it that the only way of making a
change is by starting a brutal revolution that kills
thousands of people. Why do people only pay
attention when a death occurs because of a cause?
Why cant people listen, understand people when
81
SPEECHES
It has also been proven that there is a correlation
We Need More Gun Control
between stricter gun control laws and reduced

deaths from gun-related violence:
IT'S 9:35 AM on a crisp December morning. A

classroom full of children aged 6-7 is suddenly
interrupted when they hear sounds coming from
Firearm deaths are significantly lower in states
the hallway. Shortly after, the classroom door is
with stricter gun control legislation, meaning that
kicked open. A young man dressed all in black
there really is no excuse for not enforcing things
begins to shoot the children, one after the other;
like cooling periods, weapons' bans, trigger locks,
then the teachers, and lastly, he shoots himself.
or safe storage requirements.
Twenty-seven people were killed at Sandy Hook

Elementary on December 14 2012. Twenty of them
Among those opposing gun control, The National
were children. Now how could this have been
Rifle Association is the dominant player. They
prevented? Through more guns (as some might
have done a lot to stop gun control by lobbying
say)? Or perhaps, with the opposite?
and doing political advertising, on which they

actually spent 3 million USD last year.
Due to recent tragic events in the US, gun control

has again become a contentious topic in the media.
The NRA say that anyone should have the right to
In the United states, almost 90% of people own a
actively and determinately defend oneself, their
firearm.
families, and property from anyone or anything

that imposes a will to take that away.
If you take Denmark, for example, their percentage

is as low as 12, where most of the firearms that
However, without gun control, we cannot control
there are, are only used for hunting. In the States,
in whose hands the weapons end. It is currently, in
many of them are kept in households for
some parts of the United States possible for
protection.
criminals and mentally disturbed people to obtain

firearms because they are not checked for this.
According to the same statistics, in fact, about a

third of all Americans with children at home have
The NRAs argument against gun control is that
a gun in their household. With these numbers, the
people should be able to defend themselves from
United States has managed to become the country
crime, but that just doesnt make sense, because the
with the most firearms per capita in the world.
crime level would definitely be increased, if all

current restrictions were to be lifted and just
Having very little to no gun control in America, it
anyone was allowed to buy whichever type of
has become possible for many school shootings to
weapon they fancied. Does the NRA really think
happen. According to a study, there were 78 public
that the US would be a safer place, if every home
mass shootings in the United States from 1983 to
had a machine gun under the bed?
early 2013.
If gun control were introduced in a way that the
After 2013, the shootings have still continued to
public could still be able to own weapons, it would
happen, but in the past years, they have actually
make both sides happy.
become more common. Half of the 12 deadliest

shootings ever in the United states also happened
The other argument, that the population should be
after 2007.
able to defend itself against oppressive regime,

could be accommodated, if the current US National
guard worked like for instance the Danish Home
guard used to until a few years ago, that is: to
82
SPEECHES
allow members to keep an automatic rifle (one -
SPEECHES DELIVERED AT THIS YEARS ESU
not 10!) and ammunition at home - not in a central
SPEAKING COMPETITION
armoury as I understand it the practise in the US

National Guard. Of course, NRA members, who
The following two speeches were delivered at this years
fear governments will not be reassumed, if the
annual speaking contest organized by the English
weapons should be handed out by the same
Speaking Union (ESU), and addressed the prescribed
government in the case of a crisis. In the six
topic
decades where the Danish home guard had tens of
Integrity has no need of rules, a quote by Albert
thousands of rifles and ammunition at home
Camus.
approximately two dozens fatal crimes were
Delivered with conviction and zest, both Nicolai
committed with them and less than a handful of
and Zuzanna both made it into the final of the best 8
armed robberies.
Danish speakers, and, we felt, clearly outshined their

competitors, although the jury - for some reason -
Now if you look back at the US, there is clearly a
begged to differ and nominated another winner. Still,
very big difference.
they are to be commended for their brilliance and their

courage to get up there and sway the crowd . Way to go!
The relatively low amount of crime committed

Lorenz Hindrichsen and Bryan Munson
with the Danish automatic rifles can be ascribed to

the fact that you would have to be a member of the
ESU FINALIST SPEECH
Home guard, which means passing a screening, go

through a shooting training program and turn up
Breaking the Rules
for regular drills. This boring organisational

element
of
the
Home
guard
membership
automatically weeds out all the hotheads who just
HOW
IS
IT,
that
we
still
have
to
face
want to own a gun, and the fringe, political
discrimination based on our gender, ethnicity, and
crackpots.
sexual preference? How does society decide

whether youre normal or other? It seems that we
If enforced, gun control would only harm the gun
have created an equation of what a human being is,
business and the NRA, and therefore I believe that
with all the little Xs and Ys, the males and the
gun control could be helpful in the US and that it
females. Weve imposed rules and regulations
would reduce violence and murder.
designed to restrict our identity, individuality and

freedom of expression.
Hannah Tomczyk
And because, I dont want to live in a world where
all is black or white, that I proudly agree with the
resolution, stating that integrity has no need of
rules. But, I would even go one step further, I
would say, that rules make integrity much more
difficult.
Indeed, I am the Danish girl. I have perhaps
broken one of the oldest and most sacred rules of
our society. The notion, that a human must be
either male or female and nothing in between. If
youd met me three months ago, I would have been
completely different. And I wonder, does this
83
SPEECHES
changes the way you think of me, judge me?
teach us not to accept, not to understand but to
Would you have thought differently of Krystian
destroy and hate one another.
and his integrity?

Today, I am speaking for all of the worlds
Well, Its hard to say, because I live in one of the
minorities, all of the people who do not fall under
equal and tolerant societies in the world. But not
the umbrella of normality. We face aversion,
everyone has the same privileges as I do. Most
bullying and incomprehension every day, because
people do not understand, do not want to tolerate
of rules society follows, which destroy integrity
what breaks their rules. For example, in Egypt, and
rather than strengthen it.
Tunisia only below 10% of the population accepts,

not tolerates, or supports but merely accepts the
It is no art to integrate with those who are just like
fact that homosexuality exists. This situation is not
you, but to build a society full of individuals, to
much better in many of the More Economically
build a society where people can be themselves -
Developed Countries, such as Poland and South
that is a masterpiece.
Korea, where not even half of the population

Zuzanna Mroz
accepts homosexuality, according to Pew Global

Attitudes Project.
ESU FINALIST SPEECH
A human is not an innately evil creature, we are
Navigating the Stream
taught what to hate and destroy, and according to

anthropologist, Mary Douglas, we fear anything
that threatens our understanding of the world.
HAVE YOU EVER been late for a flight, because
Such as the notion that there only are two genders,
there was a huge delay and run down the long
determined at birth, a male, and a female. And
hallway only to realise there is yet another passport
when one breaks this social contract, one is
and security check? And then had to plead with
excluded.
for
the security guards to let you through, while the
Transphobia and Biphobia, reported 1731 murders
people at the gate call your name for the third
of transsexual people, simply because they have
time?
Since
2008,
the
organization
changed their gender Ladies and gentlemen,

Of course, the guards dont let you through.
would you call this integrity?
Security is security and the rules are the rules. So

Do you remember your attitudes or opinions of
you pass through the check the long way, and by
people when you were children before you were
the time you get out, the gates already closed.
taught all of the harmful and discriminating rules

of society? have you judged people so easily, have
You could be the most honest, most trustworthy
you looked at a clinically obese person and called
person with the most integrity in the whole world,
her a fat pig, or seen two men holding hands and
but there are rules that they must follow, and you
called them fags? Have looked a black person in
may not skip them. You may think that your
the eyes and called him a negro? Please forgive me
integrity has no need of rules, that you would be a
for my language, but how else do I express the
moral citizen even if the world enforced no
hatred thats out there, the hatred that we are being
regulation upon you whatsoever, which might
taught, by our culture.
even be true, but the security guards, they dont

know that. They might not just be following the
When is it time for equality? When will we live
rules, but perhaps also their own integrity, which
peacefully as the human race? Well, not as long as
tells them that all must be treated equally and
the rules of our society restrict our world view and
nobody should be allowed to skip the check!
84
SPEECHES
The truth is, integrity and rules are not two
can Learn from the Code of the West. He says the
separate islands, with no knowledge of the others
people working at Wall Street have a serious lack
existence, rather two sides of a valley, with a small
of integrity, mentioning the multitude of scandals
stream flowing through the centre. We cannot
that were constantly happening at the time of
simply choose between rules and integrity, only a
writing. To solve this, he goes back to the
combination of the two works the best. We need to
Cowboys, who had a strong code of conduct. He
learn how to navigate the stream that flows
wants people working in finance and business to
between the two and get the best out of both.
adopt this way of integrity, for the good of society.

How, then, can we do this best?
As we can see with our earlier example, the rules

may be at fault sometimes, but the same can also
Owen believes that we need to use rules. We need
be said of integrity. In 2011, there was a great
to use rules to encourage integrity and to remove
political scandal in Germany when the defense
those people from the system who do not have
minister, Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg,
any. There are many such rules that we can, and, in
resigned his post. He had been praised as one of
fact, already have, introduced. Take the OECD
the most talented and effective defense ministers in
anti-bribery convention as an example. This
German history, as well as being considered
convention strictly prohibits the bribery of foreign
Germanys most popular politician in 2009. What
officials and can prosecute companies that are
could make such a man resign his post? It had been
suspected of making this action. Here, the rules are
revealed that he had plagiarised part of his PhD. A
clearly working to encourage integrity and to
man of seemingly sturdy integrity brought down.
prosecute those who do not display it. Integrity
How could this have happened?
and rules are working hand-in-hand.
Herein lies the main problem with integrity; it can
We need to heed this advice whenever we are
be very difficult to spot and pin down within
dealing with integrity or rules. Is integrity being
people. This is a large problem, because if we do
stifled by the rules? Are the rules necessary in case
not know who has it, then how can we develop a
there is a lack of integrity? These are questions we
society that relies on it? And this is why we cannot
need to be asking whenever we deal with these
just choose between integrity and rules, because
two concepts. We cannot simply go to either of the
both of them have their own flaws. We need to
extremes and choose one over the other, many
navigate the stream that separates them to
negative consequences are the result. We need to
minimise these flaws and get the most out of both
navigate the stream and set foot on both shores -
of these ideas.
rules and integrity.

Nicolai Hkkerup
A good example of where rules are important is in

the world of business.. In 2005, James P. Owen
finished his book, Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street
85
Labyrinth 2016
Black & White

Photography
86
BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
1st Prize: Alex Benes
87
2nd Prize: Teo Della Torre
88
3rd Prize: May Gregory
Honourable Mention: Alex Benes
89
Honourable Mention: Nicola Richards
BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

Addison Copas, Max Twining-Ward, May Gregory, Teo Della Torre, Alex Benes
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
Breathtakingly touching personal essays that sprinkle

goosebumps on the readers skin; heart-stirring profiles
that give their audience detailed insights into everyday
hardships and delights of human life; moving speeches
that promote individual rights; topics ranging from
conflicts that are currently buzzing across the globe to
struggles that have been in the headlines for generations,
all await new readers in this thrilling chapter full of
astonishing works of non-fiction written by talented
young-adults.
Dive into a captivating world of logic and reason,

inferences and straight facts, grief and heartache,
sympathy and compassion. Explore various depths of
writing as the current of imagination carries you further
and further into the upcoming pages.
Anastasiia Katona
Labyrinth 2016
Prose
97
PROSE
We stepped off that ship when it took us
Joint First Prize:

Maria hrgaard
far enough, and it took us to my next home, a

yellow house in the suburbs of Brussels. Now
that we no longer live there, the house is painted
grey, but when we first moved in it was yellow,
Home is Being on the Move
and perhaps the same is true of me. Behind the

house was a narrow garden with a weeping
HOME TAKES ON many forms in my life. I
willow tree at the end of it, and another railroad
have been fortunate enough to have lived in
track running behind it, hidden by tall trees.
several different places; scattered across the

map,
like
darts
thrown
They may have obscured the tracks, but they
absent-mindedly,
did not silence the trains running along them,
landing where they will, pinning me down
and I can think of many nights when the sound
along with them.
of heavy freight trains pounding the tracks

would carry me off with them, somewhere.
Now, yet again, I live elsewhere, this
time in a small apartment, with a birds nest
outside my window. While I do consider it my
home, as I do consider all of the previous places
I have mentioned my homes, the true meaning
of home has always run deeper for me. It can no
longer be contained by four walls and a roof; it
escapes, and it travels along with me. Home is
the train tracks, the snails, the trains, and even
the weeping willow, always yearning for
something. It is what all of those things share in
common with me theyre always on the move.
First it was London, of which I have few

memories, but I am told we lived along a
railroad track and for that I am glad, as I have
always
been
fond
of
trains.
Then
came
Luxembourg, of which my only distinct memory

is of the snails that would come out after the
Maria hrgaard
rain, all small and pink without their shells,

looking for their own homes, but never looking
lost. Afterwards we seemed to settle for a while,
in an apartment in Brussels, with a kitchen with
a round window that reminded me of being
onboard a ship.
98
PROSE
Copenhagen
Joint First Prize:

Atticus McWhorter
Community
College
(CCC).
Yesterday I spend hours reflecting on my

decision to wear white socks to work. When I
arrived at the construction site late, I reflected
on my decision to reflect on my sock choice that
MYP Students Not Reflecting Enough, Study
morning.
Says
However, The only way that Mr. Chen-Zion

adopted this mature cycle of reflection was
through his extra-curricular course at CCC,
said Higgins in an interview, The MYP
program doesnt provide students with enough
experience with reflection to make it in the real
world Higgins report shows that the miniscule
amount of reflection in the MYP program is the
COPENHAGEN
According
to
reason for the lack of reflection in later life.
study
Students reflect on their diet choices and their
published on Friday by Baylor University, the
lifestyles in PHE class, then reflect on how their
average MYP student wastes approximately 56
reflections have helped them learn more. Says
years of their life not speculating on their
PHE teacher Mr. Nielsen, Most of our PHE
actions. Unfortunately, 7 in 13 MYP students
class times are spent reflecting on our diet and
will die having only spent a miniscule amount
exercise choices, which is much more beneficial
of their time on earth critically reflecting upon
than actually working out.
their own actions (Higgins, 2016).
According to Higgins, Mr. Nielsens case is one
The study also highlights the benefits that MYP
of many cases where the teacher thinks that 1+
students are missing out on. The art of
hours of reflection per class time is enough. The
reflection has many benefits, such as an extreme
same is found in classes such as Music, where
increase in boredom and repetitive writing
the reflection is based around reflecting on ones
says Josaline Higgins, lead author on the report
compositions for only 2/3 of the class period, or
which also found that most MYP students will
in Humanities, where projects are required to be
tragically spend vastly larger portions of their
turned in with only 3 pages of reflections on the
life working, eating, and most outrageously,
sources used.
sleeping.
Higgins calls for an increase in reflection during
Of course, as in every situation, there are
class time, and even homework assignments
extremes. We spoke to several MYP alumni who
regarding reflection on choices. Higgins justifies
maximize their usage of the heart-stopping tool,
this
reflection. Gilad Chen-Zion, an example to us
author,
life around, with her reflective course on
year old construction worker, Its just sad, I
reflection you too can become as reflective as a
mean, you just cant get hours or days back.
mirror.
(Chen-Zion, 2016)
Atticus McWhorter
Mr. Chen-Zion has reflected on every decision

he has made, he even reflects on the decision of
constant reflection that he made when he started
course
favorite
reminds you that its never too late to turn your
pondering ones previous decisions, says the 34
reflection
her
graduated MYP students worldwide, Higgins
of an individuals life is squandered not
extra-curricular
quoting
Shakespeare, Practice maketh perfect. And to
all, spends 19 hours a day reflecting. So much
the
by
at
99
PROSE
past has taught me, was that Ill never treat my
Second Prize:
Julie Jahant
children the same way ever.

Like a ticking bomb, she will explode at
any given moment, for any given reason, so one
must be careful on how to snap back. Say
Claire Jahant
someone has accidently (or purposely) tipped a

coffee mug over the sofa she had just cleaned
CLAIRE JAHANT, MOTHER of two, superhero
earlier that day, she might make them cry a
of a family with a ticking time bomb on her
river. Must they be a short tempered fuse, they
chest. She bares the toughest armor of titanium
will need to prepare for the worst battle they
and the soul of a lion. Her close friends often say
have ever faced.
that they are able to write a book of 300 pages
I dont believe in bragging; it is for the
on how crazy and confident she is.
desperate and the weak. If she had to describe
She supposedly has two daughters, but
herself she will speak of her skills at languages,
at times it seems she takes care of three, with the
the many places she has lived in and her
third being the money maker with a childlike
sociability. Because of her many different
personality. Her task is none other than to keep
tongues,
them all on their feet with her strength, and do
answer back the same way.
plays with her or watches movies with her.
Her early adult life was a work mania.
Working as a store manager, her days were
stubborn child. She will be relentless in her
filled with opening and closing the store in the
work to finish her daily tasks and chores, only
most popular street in Paris; Champs Elysees. It
relaxing once she has done enough. She will
was a glamorous life, talking to customers,
hold up a fight or an argument until she wins,
training employees and selling clothes daily. No
and gets the last word. When the older daughter
one and nothing could bring her down... unless
gets in trouble, their arguments will go back and
it was to find out that her employees were
forth like a tennis game until Claire does her

famous shot and
knocks down
most
Latinos, though it would be harder for her to
When the youngest daughter is at home, she

always
the
Deutsche. She can even understand the
and iron clothes like the crazy multitasker she is.
child,
you
with portugus, English, mit a mix of
fight a dragon with six heads. She will vacuum
stubborn
give
speaking avec un word en french, a outra
cleaning the house like it was her destiny to
will
international conversation you have ever had;
everything else too. She is like a warrior at war,
Once
she
secretly selling drugs (which really happened).
whatever
Being the manager, this took a big hit on young
comeback the girl had in line for her. She does
and hungry Claire, and thus around 20 of her
not stop when it comes to something about her
minions were fired. This was a lesson she never
family. She will make sure she gets what she
forgot; dont trust people, everybody has their
wants no matter what it takes, even if its to get
own agendas.
that damn passport and visa.
If it werent for pregnancy and a
Though tough, her image is but a mirage
husband wanting to work abroad, she might
she has created to block out the ones set out to
have been swallowed whole by her store.
hurt her, and to escape from her past. She closed
Germany was her life-saver, cutting off her
all doors to that time and makes sure no one can
panic attacks and migraines. Her first child
unlock that key to that hell of a place. It is my
made her stop working, and start becoming a
duty to make sure my kids arent ever close to
mother that sooner or later did the work of
that environment, and the one thing that my
keeping an expat's family afloat.
100
PROSE
Wearing sweatpants and comfy cotton
says that shes never liked them. If she could,
shirts at home, and jogging equipment when
she would be buying three whole boxes filled
going outside, her daily routine is to wake up at
with Orangina, and add in her Pritz crackers to
6:40, make breakfast for the hungry 5 year old,
have with her gin and tonic. She would drive
and put her running clothes on. Then at 7:30 she
1000 km to Paris just to get her favourite
will drive to the middle school campus to leave
desserts; like eclair au chocolat de Fauchon
her younger daughter, and then go to a park to
and end up buying red wine to go with it.
run for 10 km. She will never have her hair

Julie Jahant
down, it is always tied up in a ponytail to hide

her white strands.
Mornings, normally a peaceful start of a
day where one has breakfast with their family,
giving them the details of the day ahead. For
Claire, it is the worst moment of any day. It is
risky to even ask her if she has a good night's
sleep, for she will glare at you with I will kill
you
eyes.
She
will
have
the
deadliest
expression, the look of a dead zombie having

her cereal to start up her day. Since her
marriage, her mornings have gotten safer
around everyone else, now she is willing to sit
next to her oldest daughter, and have a light
conversation that consists of Good morning,
did you sleep well? We are leaving in ten
minutes please get ready in time. She is now
able to get back to her normal human self in less
than two hours, which is an impressive
progress. And thats it. Number one rule when it
comes to Claire; DO NOT INTERACT WITH
HER IN THE MORNING.
Her conversations consists of many
swear words, most of them being in French or
Portuguese. She will also amaze other mothers
when she reminds herself of the plans she made
for herself for the day, since it seems like she
never gets a break. Her voice will vary if she is
stressed or not. During calm days she will
sound higher pitched and serene, with barely
any cussing involved. But during days when she
is frustrated and panicked, her voice sounds
hoarse and cracked, and lowered down to a
French
accent,
barely
acknowledging
her
mispronouncing of English words.

It is almost certain that she will have a
cup of coffee as soon as she gets home. She
weirdly dislikes donuts and hotdogs, she always
101
PROSE
Third Prize
Sophia Greenblatt
and teachers. They should
consider their
A Letter to Students and Parents on the Subject
(Think of the children in the Middle East!!!!)
presence in this school as a gift, and one that,

had the government not made it compulsory for
them to have, could be easily taken away.
Therefore, due to this alarming pattern*,
of Dress-Code Violations
I have decided to no longer allow free dress.
To: Students and Parents of Blooming Dales
From now on, there will be an enforced uniform.
Public School
The uniform/ new dress-code for girls is:
From: Principle Highster-Ung
Clothing: A long, loose, and shapeless black

tunic. The shoulders, the full torso, and the arms
Dear Students and Parents
must be loosely draped with the thick, black
It has recently come to my attention that

instances
of
dress-code
violations
wool material, and the skirt must be long
have
enough to hit to floor. This is to ensure that no
drastically increased in the last few months.
parts of their feminine body structure is
Every day, new detention notices about students
showing and distracting any of their fellow
with obscenely short skirts and extremely
students. Black gloves will also be required to
revealing garments, pile into my mailbox like
conceal their hands at all times.
students into the cafeteria on pizza day. Due to
Shoes: Ski boots on top of warm socks
this emerging pattern, the school board and I,
Hair: Hair must be pulled put into a bald cap so
would kindly like to remind our students that
as not to distract their classmates with intricate
the following items are strictly forbidden to be
hairstyles such as braids, or ponytails.
worn at school:
Please remember that with the warm,
Male Students (not enforced)
summer months quickly approaching, it is more
Hats
Shirts with inappropriate language
Female
students
(enforced
ruthlessly
important than ever that the uniform is strictly

observed.
and
Girls, remember, your bodies, no matter
mercilessly)
Shirts that do not cover the shoulders
Visible undergarments
Backless tops
Mini-skirts shorter than mid knee
Booty shorts of any-kind
Cleavage revealing shirts
Crop tops
Jeggings or leggings
Yoga pants
In addition there will be no: colored eye
how disguised, are sexual objects, and a male

students or teachers inability to control their
sexual
desires
is
completely
your
fault.
However, to be even surer that there will be no

chance of your presence of being a distraction, I
would also outline that no female student is to
speak, be it in form of body language, or spoken
word, as their voice can be compared to the
voices sirens, luring poor, unsuspecting boys
into their lair of selfie-taking, and sex.
I hope that you will understand the
shadow, colored lipstick, unnatural hair
reasoning behind this decision, and will follow
colors, and nail polish.
the rules I have outlined.
I would also like to remind the female students
Sincerely,
that our school is an educational facility, and not
Principle Highster-Ung
the place for showing of your significant assets,
*And the harassment of female students by male
attracting a mate, or hoe-ing around. Female
students
students are reminded that their bare shoulders
Sophia Greenblatt
and legs can be a distraction to male students
102
PROSE
town she lives in. Often she and her friends will
Honourable Mention
Anna Zaske
engage in rosy, upbeat conversations about their

newest discoveries from the baking world or the
latest small town gossip. At this point, when
Hilde Raab
excited, she will begin to speak in half sentences,

starting the next sentence before even finishing
HILDE RARELY SITS down. She is constantly
the first. These half sentences can frequently be
running errands. One minute its grocery
heard before a big festive dinner or lunch she is
shopping, the next its doing the washing and so
hosting, usually her stressing about the cooking.
the list goes on. She consistently has something
Hilde is a big cook. Anytime, anyplace,
on her plate. Whether at home or travelling, she
she can always scramble together a delicious
is always buzzing. Even at her grandchildrens,
meal. The delirious smell of her mashed
Hilde will likely be found planting or doing
potatoes and red cabbage lets her grandchildren
weeding in the garden. Some say she has green
anxiously waiting for lunch with an expression
fingers. When Hilde does have a minute or two,
of excitement on their small innocent faces.
she likes to sit down in her white cushioned
When younger, to be precise, at the age of four,
armchair whilst enjoying Sudoku. To say Hilde
she was watching her family's little yellow
enjoys Sudoku is almost an understatement. If
chickens which were bathing in the water,
you go to her bathroom you might even find her
amused. Every time one popped out of the
Sudoku toilet paper, last years Christmas gift
water, she gently pushed it back down whilst
from her husband.
calling out, Bop, bop. By the end of this, the
Other than her love for Sudoku, she
poor chickens were drenched. For this reason,
loves her family and never misses a chance to
her mother decided to put them into the oven to
play a round of cards with them. She would win
dry. But at this moment the sound of the
many more games if only she remembered to
marching soldiers passing through the village
count. When all's said and done, you can almost
caught their attention and they ran out as this
always guarantee that one card is missing. Due
was obligatory at the time. When they came
to her great passion for card games, every
back the four little chickens were found burnt in
grandchild and child has been raised to be
the oven. Even 65 years later, Hilde can still
enthusiastic and more importantly winning,
recall this memory like the back of her hand.
Rummy players.
At the end of the day, Hilde will snugly
Hilde is a religious person. Every
let
herself
down
in
the
deep
cushioned
Sunday she heads to church with a determined
comforter which greets her with a wailing
smile, songbook in one hand, purse in the other.
groan, to enjoy an episode of the late night
Well dressed and always fresh, she pays
Italian thriller or maybe to even re-watch her
attention to her appearance. After all, she has
favorite movie. About 5 minutes into the breath-
lived in the small town her entire life where
taking thriller she can be found in a deep,
everyone knows one another. Usually, she
continuous sleep. Then quiet snoring fills her
wears her elegant black boots and often a
dimly lit, cosy living room whilst the tv carries
colorful scarf filled with the luscious scent of her
on chattering in the background.
Dior perfume. It can almost be guaranteed that
No matter what day of the year, week or
she is wearing this perfume. In fact, it's pretty
month, Hilde will never wake up after nine
much the law to give her Diorat least when
oclock. It is physically impossible for her to
she is running low.
wake up late. It can almost be guaranteed, she
People repeatedly say, she makes the
didnt do the dishes from the night before, hence
best apple cake in the whole of the pocket-sized
the sound of leftover plates and glasses being
103
PROSE
clashed together bellowing through the house
old son. Henriks deep blue gaze turns distant
nearly every morning. When asked why she is
and its clear hes no longer looking at the empty
already awake, she replies, I just couldnt stay
bowl of oatmeal before him.
in bed any longer, there is so much to be done.
accident destroyed his life and lead to his
It is claimed she is a morning person, although
alcohol abuse, which destroyed a big part of my
maybe what is scaring her out of bed is the
mums life and their marriage. So I think the
heavy snoring of her husband, thundering right
repercussions of that one tragic accident lasted
through the thin walls of their house.
for decades to come.
Chaotic,
determined
but
I think the
still
He got off the dead horse of his childhood. He
harmonious, Hilde never sits down.
got out, did something. He got a good education.

He kept focused and worked hard. He reached
Anna Zaske
continuously higher levels. That young silverhaired
Honourable Mention
Ida Poulsen
boy
running
around
the
woods,
pretending to be John Wayne, became one of

Denmarks top-CEOs. But breaking his familys
economic pattern wasnt the important thing.
Of everything Ive accomplished, Im most
Dont ride a dead horse
proud of my two kids, he says with a crooked

A FRENCHMAN TOLD a 39-year old Henrik
smile, I think its genetically decided that
Poulsen, If youre sitting on a dead horse, the best
youre extremely devoted and proud of your
thing you can do, is to get off. At 39 Henrik was
children. You will always have a subjective
experienced with life, but this advice stuck more
angle when it comes to your children. But Ive
than any other. The Frenchman didnt know
been unbelievably lucky to have two such
how relevant and relatable it was to him, but it
amazing, healthy, and loving girls. Its obvious,
doesnt change the story.
that when I see my daughters theres nothing Id

rather do than give them an upbringing, where
Henrik Poulsen was born September 10th, 1967
they get some good baggage and some good
in a small house on Stadionsvej in Givskud,
values. So that they, one day, will be able to take
Denmark. Here his parents and older sister,
care of themselves.
Helle, lived alongside the people making up

Henriks entire world for the first 15 years of his
Henriks way of life is not abandonment. Its
life. Givskud is probably the least important city
drive and it shines through every bit of Henriks
on the planet. Mix that with a ruined marriage, a
being. He believes its ones own responsibility
dead boy, a halting economy, and a ton of
to make something of life. Life is not fair, but its
graphic novels about cowboys, and you have a
not unfair either its just life. Life is filled with
perfect
many beautiful moments and happiness and
coming-of-age
novel
or
Henriks
dreams. But its also filled with many challenges
childhood.
and tragedies. And its really the mix of all the

Henriks upbringing seemed undeserved. An
ingredients that makes it such a fascinating
event happened more than 10 years before he
journey to travel through the different phases of
was born and affected his whole childhood
life - to be able to dream forward and reflect
perhaps even his life. Could I change one thing
backwards. , The sun catches the tips of his
from my past, it would be that my dad, back in
hair, highlighting the white streaks, having
the 1950s, hadnt been exposed to the massive
arrived over the last years. Theyre turning
personal tragedy of running over his four-year
silver, like the colour he had as a child,
104
PROSE
completing the cycle of life in some peculiar
A fox.
way.
We locked eyes and the world stopped. For ten

seconds.
Now, the graphic novels have been passed on,
1, 2
few remember his lost half-brother and both
Her eyes red and mysterious with white and
parents died more than twenty years ago, his
bright red fur wrapping sleekly around them,
dad in a car crash and his mother after a long
forming a flaming head staring right at mine.
battle with cancer. Several trials and life lessons
3, 4
are completed and Henrik has found his never-
The fire flickering down through his body and
dying horse with his wife of 16 years and his
up through his flaming tail. The tail stiff in the
two daughters. He spends his days working as a
moment, yet burning and flickering with the
CEO of Dong Energy, biking with his friends,
flames he embodied.
and spending every spare moment with family.
5, 6
Her paws so light on the pavement I could
swear she was floating. She wasnt bound like
Ida Poulsen
me.
7, 8
Honourable Mention
Valdemar Lauritsen
His body so small, yet was the most powerful

between us. He was the one who was going to
decide when it should be over.
9, 10.
Red Beauty
She was beautiful. He was powerful.

The train rushed by and the red beauty was
gone in an instant. Time continued, everything
was normal, but for a moment it wasnt, and
time was frozen
That moment was my moment. Nobody will
know what happened nobody would care
because nobody could feel the magic I felt.
Valdemar Lauritsen
SOMETIMES IT IS the small things that matter.
When you find a coin on the ground, when
someone compliments you, and when you see
something truly beautiful.
I saw something truly beautiful, and when I
least expected it, which is what makes it
beautiful.
I was surprised at how long ten seconds were. I
was briskly walking home from the station at
night. The air was fresh and the streetlights
dimly shining upon the cycling path. The
cycling path alone in the forest, the peace only
disrupted when the train comes by every five
minutes.
That was when I saw it.
105
PROSE
calm, motherly side. Starting the mornings with
Gabriela Wheeler
getting her younger daughter ready for school,

THE DAY IS never done for Gabriela Wheeler.
she instantaneously switches back and forth
Mother of two, which sometimes seems like four
from cleaning the house to typing away on her
with the addition of her little dog and
laptop and scribbling notes on a loose sheet of
opinionated husband, she works endlessly.
paper.
Once her list of reports and emails is through,

she continues her never ending job of being a
When I was a teenager, life was simpler. Wake
mom. From sitting in the kitchen on her laptop
up, go to school, come home, do homework,
calmly to aggressively scrubbing the bathroom
maybe talk to friends on the phone. Less
floors, she is never one to leave things untidy. I
violence. Things weren't as publicized. There
dont understand why its so hard to pick up a
wasnt so much to worry about. Life was just
dish or put clothes in the hamper. They are daily
less complicated. With technology playing
chores each individual should have to do
such a drastic role in Gabriela and her family's
themselves. When a bed is left unmade, she is
everyday lives, she wonders how it will
seen
in
continue to advance. Will we just be taken
hummingbird-like motions. Scurrying around to
over? Sitting down and reading a book or
tidy up yet another mess is not new for
spending time with her family, albeit some of
Gabriela.
her favorite pass-times, are rare events. Apart
quickly
folding
it back
together
from family dinner every night, Gabriela does

A pair of German grandparents, with another
not spend as much time with her family as she
pair of French and Italian descent. Born in
wants to.
Venezuela, lived in Argentina, went to a

German school. Growing up in a multicultural
Despising the gelid winters, she takes advantage
community taught me to treat everyone equally
of any time the sun is out. Why would you
and to have an open mind about people,
spend a sunny day inside? Especially here in
although I still make mistakes. Gabriela admits
Denmark. In her years spent in Japan, she
that
into
could be found lying in the sun on one of the
stereotypical categories, although she does not
front decks. Her ageing skin would darken
think any less of them because of that.
through the stretch of summer, much like a
she
often
places
new
people
luxury bag would patina.

After living in the same German-speaking
Argentine community her whole life, she shifted
The one thing that will effortlessly drive
onto the warm, salty coasts of California in 90.
Gabriela
Lugging all her belongings in a green alligator
specifically cockroaches. When I was 18 years
suitcase and moving without a place to go, she
old, I came home late after a party. I didnt want
stood out like a rose in a bed of thorns. A book
to wake up my family, so took off my shoes and
about her bravery would take decades to
didnt turn on the light. First step I took, right
compose.
onto a cockroach. Just retelling the gruesome
away
from
anything
are
bugs;
story sends a shiver down her spine and has her

You cant make everyone happy, so sometimes
searching around for other creepy-crawlies.
you have to do whats right in the situation,
When her two daughters were younger, they
even if itll upset someone else. Commonly
would often screech COCKROACH!, just to
saying that not everything can be done perfectly
catch the attention of their zoned-out mother.
for everyone, Gabriela still seamlessly manages

to intertwine her hard-working manner with her
106
PROSE
Gabriela is the most loving person with a heart
punishment, only that it would have to be
of gold, yet she is still driven and focused on her
determined.
goals. Perseverance, friendliness, and, como se
Mr Daniel Darkman, a spokesman for the
llama? Flexibility. Her native language often
Criminal Minds Abortion Clinic Inc., shares Mr
slips out in casual conversations. Those are the
Trumps view. We want to make sure women
top three qualities someone can possess. Not
and girls coming to our clinic get ample time to
only does she possess them, but exudes them in
reconsider what is best for their bodies, he
her presence. She masks her sensitivity with a
says. Mr Blackman proposes to raise the waiting
titanium shield, while on the inside she is just
period to a mandatory 72-hours as he recognises
soft and doting. Although she may occasionally
that the women arriving have been stretched in
burst from the smallest comment made, her
a lengthy and painful decision-making process,
overall outlook on life is rose-colored and
and we would like to respect this by giving
optimistic.
them
sufficient
themselves.
time
Mr
to
Darkman
second-guess
underlines
the
abortion clinic respects that the choice is a
Chloe Wheeler
personal
issue
and
encourages
women
contemplating abortion to wholeheartedly trust

their own moral values and judgements.
Women Undergoes Abortion. Punishment is
Women's
To Vote for Donald Trump
right
groups
have
protested
strongly against the bill, but the bills sponsors

DESCRIPTION:
are undeterred. It is important to be flexible
The aim of this satirical piece is to target Donald
and open in ones thinking, stated one
Trump and his outrageous publicly spoken
supporter of the bill. The bill was very
ideas about punishing women if they decide to
generous,
proceed with an abortion. The folly that I was
women not in favour of viewing the portraits
making fun of was the different type of
were completely free to look away or simply
punishments or procedures the women must go
shut their eyes.
he
continued,
suggesting
the
through or before they undergo an abortion. I
The bill also opens up for discarding the
chose to progressively go from slightly less
portraits. In this case, the medical advisors and
extreme to gruesome punishments. This would
clinicians will have to dress up as one of the
unravel my target and aim of the piece a lot
easily recognisable public figures, for example,
more effectively. In the beginning, I threw a hint
Mr Trump. This is a cheap option. A Donald
of
as
Trump-wig is available through Amazon.com at
Darkman. This already introduces faintly the
$12.95, plus shipping. You get free shipping if
satirical purpose of the piece. And the name of
you wear it whilst doing an abortion - surgeon
the clinic as Criminal Minds Abortion Clinic.
or patient.
naming
one
of
the
commentators
The piece ends with the worst punishment of
Someone launched an idea to highlight
all, which is to vote for Donald Trump over
Mr. Trumps glory and triumph to women
death - weighing them out to be equally
considering abortions, in the hope that it will
punishing.
persuade them to rethink their decision. On the
There will have to be some form of
back of this, Mr. Trump has decided that all
punishment for women who have abortions if
these women are to undergo their abortion
the surgical procedure was to become outlawed,
inside his voting booths. All other women
says presidential candidate Donald Trump,
patiently waiting in a voting queue, are forced
according to a NBC News report. Mr Trump did
to listen to the intense screeching travelling from
not offer any specifics for what form of
107
PROSE
the booths, a sound of torment from undergoing
Memories of Marcus Choleva
an abortion - not from voting for Mr. Trump.

Asked about what inspired him to change the
position on abortion, Mr Trump spoke of the
MARCUS CHOLEVA SITS in his great leather
time a friend, whom Mr Trump refused to
office chair. His eyes are scanning his home-
name, changed her mind and decided against
office that has now been his home for the last 46
ending a pregnancy: It was going to be aborted
years. The walls are still painted with the warm
and that child today is a total superstar. It is a
yellow
great, great child, Mr Trump says with an
paintings that go from the floor to the ceiling.
colour
and
decorated
with
huge
intense look in his eyes. He continues; We are
Hes 81 years old. It shows. In his
speaking of a human being. It should be no
earlier years, Marcus is known to say hell live
different if a 14-year old became pregnant
forever, making it even harder for Marcus to
following a rape. Who knows, the foetus could
accept old age. Growing to accept the realization
be the new Justin Bieber in the making - or
that he faces the same fate as the seven billion
better yet, a new me. Mr Trump smiles at the
people on Earth, he has started to sort his
thought. Imagine, yet another leader of the
inheritance.
world. We need to protect these unborn
His collection of files, books, and
masters, he says. The worlds cannot live
pictures could fill an archive. Though he doesnt
without such intelligence, wisdom and brains,
have an archive, Marcus does have two home-
Mr Trump says, tilting his head up and
offices. Walking to his other office, the stacks of
brushing his hair back.
brown string envelopes drown out the rest of

the room.
Mr Trumps statement has enraged some. But

Mr Trump is clearly onto something. Only one
This office is nothing like his other.
who truly understands the miracle of human life
Grey is dominant here. The walls are once again
will understand that abortion must be outlawed.
filled with art, this time photographs, all of
And if you dont get it, you should be forced to
winter landscapes around the globe.
witness a murder. Waiting her turn in the
He says with a slight smile on his lips that the
execution chair for her abortion (a real one to
grey office represents his childhood while the
make sure she realises what she is about to do
yellow
herself), she should walk through another room
office represents his adulthood. Whether he
where two men await - one with an axe, the
meant this or not will ever remain in the dark.
other with its head on a chopping board. As

soon as she enters, the axe should be lifted, then
What Marcus love the most is when he gets a
fall down on the neck of the man kneeling
visit from one of his grandchildren in his yellow
beside the chopping board, decapitating him.
office. The younger gets to sit on his lap while
Now that she has witnessed a murder, she is
the plus 7 can sit across the table in the chair
given two options; Either proceeds to the
as he puts it himself. When a grandchild has
chopping board, or save herself and the nation
reached the golden age of 10 he expects them to
by pressing the button which reads I vote
discuss politics, history and economy with him.
Donald Trump.
He is a man of high expectations. He is a man of

extreme wisdom.
Live Haavik
When Marcus talks of his childhood, he doesnt
say much. Marcus is one in millions of Jews sent
to concentration camp. Once in every decade or
so he opens up a bit. His eyes gaze gets distant
108
PROSE
as he slowly starts to speak. His voice loses his
Fast he became the best in class; school has
strength. He clearly remembers the day where
always been a thing Marcus priced high. I even
the Gestapo came and took his family.
helped the German teacher, I was better than

him.
It was early morning and my

family was on the way to Sweden, he recalls.
We never even got down the
Marcus
have
always
been
working
hard
stairs, he sighs, remembering the
achieving his goals, he is now a successful
details of the
businessman, which loves his job. Marcus brings
ominous day. As his he breathes in deeply, his
all the love he possible can for his family. He
eyes widen as he recounts the day the Gestapo
cant wish for anymore in his life.
stormed his Nyhavn home and took everything.

And everyoneincluding his mother, father,
As Berlingske Tidende once quoted him: I will
and two younger sisters.
never go on retirement
Edie Choleva
In
cattle
transport
down
they
went
to
Theresienstadt concentration camp.

The Mole Hole
Marcus is a resourceful man, which is one of his
A SMALL ROOM, isolated from the rest of the
secrets to his successful business path.

At Theresienstadt he found seeds
house, hidden beneath shadows and dust blown
in the trashcans, and planted them outside the
from the windowsills. Insects of all sorts
fence. He provided more food for his family.
clamber about the exterior windows, keeping
Life was hard, and brining up the
out of the sweltering yet blissful San Diego sun.
memories are painful, Marcus face gets darker
A small wooden door, barely latched to its
and darker as he tells his heart-breaking story.
rusted hinges kept the inside from the out- for
He slowly continues, now telling about his job at
good reason. This is a place where only the
the camp. I worked at the hospital, checking
invited come. My grandfather calls it the Mole
whether the sick were alive or not. I did this by
Hole, now I know why. Inside it is dusty- dirt
putting a cotton ball under the nose of the sick,
layers the once concrete floor, breathing is
if it moved; they were alive and breathing, if
impaired slightly due to the stale and stagnant
not, they have reached the destiny everyone was
air that has long since moved. Tools of all sorts
fighting not to reach.
line the hodgepodge walls- part cork, part rough
All of this has just an eleven-year
pine wood. There is a distinctive atmosphere,
old gone through. These memories will always
somehow aged, yet relevant. The wrenches and
hunt him.
screwdrivers are decayed, however the handles

are smooth from hours of persistent use.
Marcus came back to Denmark, he has now
Mountains of wood, all sorts fill the floor in
missed a whole year of school but he did not
areas where one does not stand. Blocks, plates,
want to be in a grade level lower than his friend.
poles, cubes, and more are wedged into every
Trying to find a school that actually believed
area of the already tight space. There are electric
that Marcus could catch up one year of learning
machines, too. They have somehow menacing
was close to impossible. Finally he found a
looks- probably a decade since bought. They are
school a one-hour drive away from his home
plugged in through feet after feet of coiling
that would give him the chance.
extension cord, yet its appearance is more of

thin snakes from the Amazon. To get from one
109
PROSE
end of the room to the other, funny I call it a
fog. The entrance to the fort is also decorated
room, one must duck their head, otherwise the
magnificently. Even after hundreds of years, the
stabilizing boards will give you somewhat of a
fort glows with colourful colours and fine
headache. The purpose of this area is unknown.
designs, like a white peacock. With mesh
My grandfather tells me it is for woodworking,
windows and doors, the entrance is covered
but I believe it is so much more. Anything
with such intricacy that there is no space to do
someone would ever want is here, WD-40, rolls
more.
of duct tape- to many to count, spray paints of

all pigments, stacks of varying sandpaper, and
Inside the fort, there are boisterous tourists,
not to mention; the hundreds of drill bits at the
families and even everyday local everywhere.
ready. The smell is quite pungent, yet not in the
Some have guides telling them about the palace,
way one would imagine. The flakes of wood
others take capturing pictures, while some just
sitting between the drawers for long periods of
appreciate the beauty of the fort. There are small
time construct a natural smell. However, this
stalls of vendors selling ice cold refreshments in
must not be mentioned without speaking of the
the sunny day, such as the luscious sweet,
dry air, which keeps every scent produced. Cut
cooling milkshakes, that taste so refreshing and
yourself on anything here besides the wood, and
delicious.
taking a visit to the doctor would be in your best

interest. Creations start here, but somehow
The fort inside is so enormous that it never
never leave.
seems to end. The fort seems kilometers long,

and it is easy to get lost. There are rooms,
gardens and courtyards around the palace, but
Paul Hansen
the most beautiful of all is the Sheesh Mahal

(mirror palace). The palace shimmers with small
pieces of mirrors with such beauty that it seems
Amber Fort
like another world of its own. The mirror palace

THE LAVISH AMBER Fort in Amber, India
glimmers all around with such intricate work.
gleams with elaborate designs in the pleasant,
Candles used to be lit to illuminate the palace,
clear sky day during winter time. Built up on a
so it looked like a sky full of million stars. After
rocky hill, it is a long way to reach the fort.
a long walk exploring different parts of the fort,
Some tourists and locals walk up the hill, while
such as the bedrooms, halls, and courtroom, the
some take elephant and camel rides, and some
pink, orange rays from the sunset start dimming
try to drive up the crowded street of roadside
on the Amber Fort, until it is night time.
vendors
selling
street
food
and
quaint
Sunaina Chander
handcrafts. Up the cobble valleys of the Aravalli

hills, with old, dusty, yellow buildings on the
way, local women walk with glinted mirror and
handworked Indian dresses.
Up from the fort, in the fresh air away from the
main city, the view is stunning. With the palace
lakes and palace gardens, there is also a moat
around the fort, where each side is as long as 5
football fields, used to protect what was once a
powerful and prosperous kingdom. In the
distance, one can see small houses and the
shapes of the hills that are almost covered with
110
PROSE
NINETY MINUTE BLOCKS insure students
between classes help make sure that mindset
ability to mentally transport them into a
doesnt stop between classes. Says student Ima
blackhole!
Tator. At one point I actually thought that I
After 90-minute classes were introduced at local
was a potato just drifting through the Milky
high school, sterport High, research indicates
Way. Then again, arent we all just drifting?
increases of concentration up to 500%. The
Unfortunately we couldn't get more from the
school hasnt seen this type of improvement in
student before she turned into a murmuring
the area of focus since the demolition of natural
zombie in the hallway.
lighting and positive colours.

Student cloning expert Zoom Bee who visited
Recently at sterport High, 90-minute classes
the school after the increase of class-time, said
have been introduced in an effort to improve
this: Its incredible, Ive never seen a school
class focus. A study was made before and after
that has been able to turn all students into
implementing the new class time, using a
zombies that easily! You bump into any kid in
special machine called the focus-o-meters and a
the hall, they barely notice, you hear a mumble
general
from
and then they blend into crowd. At the end of
teachers. According to principle Pupils R. Futile
the day we got the chance to catch up with the
In the past students had 50 minute classes,
expert
which were too short for intense focus to be
methods had gotten to him and when we asked
exercised.
him where he was he simply replied the milky
feel-of-the-room-statement
again,
unfortunately
the
schools
way.
In the average classroom at H, focus has gone
up 500%. To measure the change of focus, the
Leaving the school we felt sure that the students
school used a focus-o-meter, a machine that
there would make wonderful mindless
measures how loud and how much the students
workers who will only think inside the box.
move. We set up a focus-o-meter in an empty

Astrid Harsaae
classroom and compared the results to the

classrooms with students in them. There is only
a 2.12% percent difference, says classroom
monotony expert Focous Equaless Irelevantus.
Its been rumored that after the school heard of
Pirouz Shamekh
these findings, they started to consider leaving
PIROUZ SHAMEKH IS running to his car with
the students outside the classrooms. A trial of
his breakfast in his hands. Hes late again to a
this new method is said to start next week. The
translation appointment. Hes holding his tea
school also used statements from teachers as to
with a straight arm as if it was a crying baby. He
make reliable statistics. One teacher, Witt Less,
sits in his car and turns on his GPS. The
had stated: Student Focus? Sure that improved,
destination is Nstved. Connected says the
I barely even noticed they were there! However
GPS and he says it back in a funny way. When
later it was found that the students hadnt
Pirouz needs to go to far destinations he turns

the volume of music up and sings along as if he
never have been so happy before.
Actually been there, as he was teaching the class

without students.
Pirouz is an open minded and interesting man.

The 10 extra minutes really help us really get
He loves helping others in need. Even better if
into the mind-set of a lifeless potato whose only
its people who are in a situation he once was in.
objective is to stare. The unnoticeable breaks
Escaping their home and country because of
111
PROSE
many unimaginable reasons. He knows what its
countries
and
experienced
many
different
like to come to a new country with no
cultures like the Thai when he lived there for 2
belongings and not knowing anyone nor being
years owning a hotel with a friend. He has
able to speak the language to socialize. He
always been a musical person, loving to dance
understand their struggles. And if he doesnt, he
all kinds of traditional dances and learning with
does his best to think from their perspective. He
time and experience.
usually says go after the ball, not the person.
Pirouz is joyful, singing along with the song
WIth this he means dont put the fault on
currently playing. His tea did get cold though.
someone just for the sake of it. That only leads

Ava Shamekh
to arguments and disagreements. Instead go

after the solution and think about how to solve
it.
Vaclovas Sinkeviius - Profile
Pirouz grew up in Tehran, the capital of Iran. He

was bullied as a kid due to his glasses. He still
had his self confidence kept high like a giraffes
VACLOVAS SINKEVIIUS SLOWLY swings on
head. He always stands up for his beliefs and
his favourite rocking chair as he reads yet
arguments are always persuasive. He did have
another chapter of president Valdas Adamkus
to buy new glasses each year though.
biography. He is being quiet, considering that
Pirouz is an energetic man who loves to dance,
its Monday afternoon. For most
play music, help others in need and arrange
Monday means that its time to work and be
gatherings or parties for his close friends and
active again, but Vaclovas is retired. Even
family. You can always count on him.
though he doesnt like to admit it, sometimes
Pirouz have been many places and met all kinds
even he doesnt have anything to do. When
of people. From Iran he went to Turkey illegally
Vaclovas finally
because he went to a demonstration during the
thing in his house that wasnt even necessary
revolution in Iran and refused go to military
broken and finally helped one of his children to
service. Being a leftist was hard in Iran during
move into his house, he could allow himself to
that time.
rest and relax a little bit. He likes to relax by
At the age of 15, when the revolution began, he
working in his garden or just sitting and reading
attended many demonstrations with childhood
a book or a newspaper, maybe even eat a piece
friends and his brother, where a lot of shootings
of chocolate, if hes feeling rebellious. The
happened. He saw many of his childhood
reason why Vaclovas cant eat a piece of this
friends blood on the streets.
delicious gift from gods as often as he wants, is
From Turkey to Germany, Denmark, Thailand
that he was diagnosed with diabetes. Another
and back to Denmark again where he saw his
reason would probably be that his wife, trying
older brother after many years. Pirouz doesnt
to save at least some of the candy for their
like seeing others in the situation where they are
grandchildren, hid them all over the house.
persecuted by the military. It makes him think
Talking about their lovely house, the first thing
about the struggles he had to go through
that captures attention is a feeling that you are
growing up and escaping the country in a
home. The atmosphere creates a safe, cozy
delivery truck.
feeling and the smell of freshly baked apple pie
My dad might have had a hard childhood
adds to it as well. That house holds so many
growing up during the revolution in Iran but
memories and moments that it almost is one.
that didnt stop him from starting a new life
Especially walls with nicely framed pictures
where he didnt know anyone and everything
speak memories. One can even say, that the
was new to him. He moved to many different
house reminds one of an old, wise person, who
112
people,
finished fixing every single
PROSE
has seen a lot during the years of his existence -
impress people is not with looks, its with
Vaclovas itself.
intelligence and charisma.
Vaclovas has seen many things during
Vaclovas wouldnt have had everything
his lifetime. He was born in a small village in
he has now if not his inspiring and praiseworthy
Lithuania, five years after World War two.
mindset: dont dig your own grave and never
Growing up in such times affected his childhood
try to win something with anger or violence.
and his whole life. The times were dark and not
After growing up with the terrible consequences
very safe. Living in a big family with 6 children,
of the war that has taken uncountable number
surviving can be a hard task. Their house was
of lives and destroyed homes of innocent
an old farm used as a fort for German soldiers
people, he understands that not anger or
and later burnt down. He would often have to
violence, but kindness and intelligence can
work very hard in fields and watch younger
change the world to make it better. Over the
siblings. Although it seems that his childhood
years he has been constantly and tirelessly
consisted of never ending hard work, it was
teaching
eventful. One of the scariest things that
grandchildren, so that this important thing he
happened to him was the time he touched a
has learned wouldnt be forgotten. If in his
grenade. Back then Vaclovas was a young and
tangled thoughts Vaclovas ever philosophized
curious little boy. He was casually wandering
about how he would like to be remembered by
around the cherry tree as his eye caught
his beautiful children
something shiny laying on the grass. He slowly
would probably say this with no doubt: I
picked it up not realising it was an old grenade
would like them to remember me as a very
left there from World War two. The damage
sociable and open-minded person. I really try to
made by the grenade he can see even now every
keep a good relationship with others, especially
time he looks at his scarred hands with three
with my family. In his ideas, one cannot
missing fingers. Although this event made a
control life completely, but can always ask for
huge impact in his life, it didnt disturb
advice. He would be happiest person if he could
Vaclovas to be a skilful and dexterous man. No
be the much needed advice for his next
matter what age he is, he never misses a chance
generation.
this
to
his
children
and
later
and grandchildren, he
A sunbeam suddenly wakes Vaclovas up
to work on something to improve it.
from his thoughts as he realizes he is no longer

His persistence was probably the one
reading the book. The sky turning from blood
character trait that led him through life no
red to purple and then to pitch black reminds
matter what. He was also very loyal, intelligent,
him that it is time to go to bed. With his age
open-minded and wise. Although if someone
comes its responsibilities. He quickly looks at
asked him what his best qualities were, he
the beautiful sky as he takes his book and walks
would be too shy to answer. He is a man that
inside his lovely dwelling.
cherishes
intelligence.
modesty
and
the
power
Gerda Kazakeviciute
of
In his words, there is nothing
better for you as learning something new.

Thats why after only eight years of school he
The Funeral of Buzz Midnight
never stopped educating himself. For Vaclovas

having conversations and expressive, clear
language and speaking manner. Many people
OVER TEN YEARS ago, I wrote about a pet funeral
are often surprised by how good, smart and
we once held. It still has a ring of truth, so I decided
impressive this simple-looking, silver haired
to share it now before my children grow too mature
man could talk. And as he believes, the way to
to deny it ever happened.
113
PROSE
Amid the sobbing of my youngest
backyard
with
clutching
the
her
box
hands
ceremoniously
containing
the
gerbils
remainsher first real encounter with death.
daughter, we place Buzz Midnight Munsons
Do you want to put the box in? I
stiff furry form in an old check box, covered in
asked. She silently assented.
Saran Wrap, and walk stoically across the
It seems so deep, she observed, as she
backyard. My daughter gathered her bathrobe
lowered the rodent casket.
closer to her small body to protect her from the
Almost as deep as this ceremony, I thought,
January wind, or perhaps a chill much more
but caught myself. We dont want a dog to dig
lasting. The darkness surrounded us.
it up, I replied, and it seemed to satisfy her.
Being a parent sometimes calls for acts of

bravery and high drama. Standing under the
She looked at me with clear, believing
paw-paw tree with the quite sobs of my
eyes that needed to hear the final eulogy as only
precious one punctuating the night along with
a Daddy could give. I swallowed hard and took
the cush of the shovel turning over the muddy
her hands in mine. I closed my eyes and offered
earth, I pray for the right words to say on this
up the most beautiful gerbil funeral prayer I
solemn occasion.
could think of.
I spoke of my daughters
devotion and love. I said other moving things,

but all I can remember now are those tiny, pet-
Jennie held one crying child while the

other two wept crocodile tears on their arms as
loving hands clutching my own.
they remembered the short, happy life of their
grasping something deep after all.
She was
I opened my eyes to see my daughters
gerbil in maudlin detail.

I remember, Hannah began in a
honest gaze looking lovingly at me. No more
quivering voice, when Buzz first came to our
tears. We covered the tiny plot and patted the
house two weeks ago, and Daddy played that
soil down. Tomorrow, you can put a marker
music next to her cage . . .
on the grave if you like, I said, filling the

silence.
Yes, Rachel continued while Hannah
Yes, she said in a far-off voice. I will
composed herself. She danced better than the
make a cross.
other two. She really did.

Hannah
put
consoling
hand
But it must be made out of
sticks.
on
Rachels arm. She always did like to dance,
Of course, I said as I stood up.
she said, and the girls nodded to each other with
We walked back toward the house,

holding each other closer as the darkness
silent, sisterly agreement.
receded around us.
I want to say a prayer to make her

better, my young son offered in a four-year-
Bryan Munson
olds attempt at reconciliation. Dear Jesus, he

softly intoned, help-ie gerbil get better. He is
dead. Amen.
While his sisters glared at him, I saw my
wife bite her lip and raise her eyes to heaven for
help in maintaining her composure.
I retreated to the basement to get an alltoo-large shovel to dig a gerbils final resting
place. Hannah joined me. As Buzzs owner, she
accepted the task of burying her pet.
Like a
matriarch from some Greek tragedy, she took

slow deliberate steps to the earthen tomb in the
114
PROSE
MY DAD AND I looked reassuringly at each
small sea creatures scuttle away to bury
other, put our regulators in our mouths, put
themselves in the silky sand that let them pop
one hand over our masks and one over the
their little eyes or heads just up above the sand.
stomach. I took one deep breath in and let
The seals were like small excited puppies filled
myself fall backwards into the what seemed to
with curiosity over us, coming closer with
be an infinite chilly abyss and it felt as if I was
caution. They were swimming circles around us
getting wet but it was merely an illusion due to
keeping a very close eye on us until they were
the fact I was wearing a drysuit. Then slowly,
only 1 metre away from us. With extreme care
the water began to creep into my thick gloves
one of the seals approached me until its nose
and hoodie like a snake searching for cover. I
was touching the tip of my masks nose.
watched from below as my dad tumbled
Butterflies filled my stomach as we stared into
backwards off the dhingy and into the ocean
each others eyes. A moment that felt like
that now didn't feel as cold as previously. My
minutes only lasted 2 seconds, because as I
dad turned to meet me at five metres and we
exhaled the seal sped off as fast as a torpedo. I
sunk into the gorge together looking over each
felt like Id just been blessed by life and hung in
others backs for the last 10 metres. I watched as
the water, paralyzed for a whole minute until I
small fish and seals swam around in unity. Even
was disturbed by my worried dad. As we
the coral on the side seemed to be alive, gently
started our ascent I looked down and swear I
swaying from side to side with the surge. As we
saw the seal at the bottom of the valley staring
hit bottom I looked at my dad reassuringly
fixedly at me. I kept my eye on the seal until we
again and then stared up 15 metres from the
breached the surface of the water and exited the
abyss and watched the bubbles I made float to
abyss.
the surface like small jellyfish. I then glanced at

Sebastian Jensen-Visser
the ocean floor and saw little crabs and other
115

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COPENHAGEN I

Labyrinth Staff 2014-15:

Cover Art by Lara Gardiner

All the best,

MORE LITERATURE, VISUAL

This year's fictional category, which is very real for that

the works included reflect this beauty in a unique way.

An ever so carefully-written skeletal narrative, and a

A deeply disturbing tale is unfolding in this superblywritten meditation on a single image.

Inside, she feels as lifeless and frozen as the fridge,

18:00 They start boarding for my flight. I start to

This one sent a shiver down the spine of the judges.

19:00 The plane is big, many children on board. All

20:00 The plane is taxiing to the runway now. It is

21:00 The plane is rocketing down the bumpy

10:00 I just left my hotel room. I need to meet a

12:00 Today is a cold day. The sun is hidden by the

The Ticking Seconds

14:00 The traffic is getting worse and worse as we

"5...4...3..." I hear. Feeling like I have crossed an

17:00 The officer looked at the package, then

"Now is my chance." I think to myself. As I take a

Doors, he was surrounded by doors. So many

But one day he had enough. He decided to close all

tree. I start walking fast then I got a message on my

Today Is the Day

Suddenly, my thoughts are overpowered by the

The Bob Carignan Art

THE BOB CARIGNAN ART PURCHASE AWARDS

THE BOB CARIGNAN ART PURCHASE AWARDS

Coffee on paper, wax crayons on paper, 50cm x 70 cm

THE BOB CARIGNAN ART PURCHASE AWARDS

THE BOB CARIGNAN ART PURCHASE AWARDS

1st Prize: Falling, Defne Sendil

2nd Prize: Emma Jepsen

3rd Prize: Caged, Pratya Arora

Honourable Mention: Miruna Lopata

Honourable Mention: Claudia Gesmar Larsen

1st Prize: Alone, Karolina Zydelyte

2nd Prize: Urban Bliss, Nikola Trajkovski

3rd Prize: Brage Haavik

Honourable Mention: Flop, Karolina Zydelyte

DIGITAL ART GALLERY

1st Prize: Teo Della Torre

2nd Prize: Paradise, Nikola Trajkovski

3rd Prize: Motherland, Sophie Achiam

Honourable Mention: Addison Copas

Honourable Mention: Plane, Alex Benes

Honourable Mention: Teo Della Torre

COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

1st Prize: Sophie Achiam

2nd Prize: Idhaa Bugis

3rd Prize: Thomas Reynolds

Honourable Mention: Naomi Bekele

Honourable Mention: Sophie Achiam

1st Prize: Naomi Bekele

2nd Prize: Defne Sendil

3rd Prize: Anastasiia Katona

Honourable Mention: Hannah Tomczyk

GRAPHIC ART GALLERY

1st Prize: May Gregory

2nd Prize: Jadelynn Park

When opening a dusty old dictionary to find the

explored the furthest corners of themselves and are