Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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THE FIRE The sun was rising above the mountain. Its warm morn- ing rays spilled down on the forest below, bringing the wild creatures to life. A soft breeze ruffled the tops of the trees as the mist receded from the lake. The birds had been awake for awhile, their cheerful chirpings echoed from tree to tree. From his burrow a big brown rabbit hopped lazily across a clearing to nibble at his favourite tree. A small snake slithered up on a rock to sun himself. Near the lake, a doe and her fawn could be seen drinking their fill, the deer wandered slowly past a small clearing where there was a great amount of activity. All the animals knew that it was going to be hot and they weren ' t going to exert themselves, but these creatures weren ' t so smart. A family out camping was preparing for an early start. They hastily packed their jeep, casually smothering their camp fire. Within ten minutes they had disappeared, but their fire hadn ' t. Slowly it revived, spreading across the clearing, eat- ing up the strewn garbage on the way. Soon it reached the first bushes and started to climb. The air grew thick with smoke, and panic grew among the animals. Fox and rabbit raced side by side to the cool safety of the lake. The buck hustled the doe and the fawn along the path towards the lake but then veered towards the river road, for he realized the river was nearer. By now the fire was licking at their heels, snapping and crackling. The buck pounded down the road leading to the river. Little did he know that someone else was fleeing the fire. A familiar-looking jeep was driving quickly away from the forest, the driver making rude comments about idiots who cause forest fires. The buck loomed in front of the small vehicle and raced into it head on. The jeep flew sideways and then rolled down the hill into the licking flames, pinning its occupants under it. The buck scrambled up and limped on towards safety, his leg dangling. He didn ' t know of the saying ' an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. ' Kathy Milnes, Form V B THE CHASE The herd stood grazing Contentedly. The herd stallion standing proudly Superior. Suddenly, a gunshot in the distance Echoed Through the canyons That surrounded them. Ears pricked up. Wary Of danger. Then, Manes and tails flying In the wind. Silhouettes in the dusk. Dust flying under threshing hooves, Frightened animals. Neighing in terror. Why had their peaceful lives Been disrupted? Nostrils distended. Near exhaustion. The herd galloped onward, Hearts pounding, Muscles taut. Pulses throbbing. In a cloud of dust. Nearing the cliff. The stampeding herd Led by the stallion Who did not see The edge. Hanna Deutschenschmied, Form V A 22

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THE SEAGULL I won ' t pretend that I saw the gull right away, as might be expected, but as soon as I had collected my thoughts from their phantasmagoric voyage it was the first thing that caught my attention. The splendid whiteness of her elegant wings in flight was accented by the beautiful rays of the Newfoundland sunrise. It was strange that the bird should have come so far up the bay: since old man Fogerty had set up his old saw mill across the cove, the chemicals had been killing the fish for miles around. I lifted my head so I could watch the gull more closely, and the cool breeze obligingly swept the hair from my eyes. She was probably searching for breakfast. She turned smoothly into a spiral and circled gracefully down. I shifted my position quickly and lay on my stomach looking over the edge of the precipice so 1 could follow the rest of her flight down. She flew leisurely, and gradually became a small speck against the dark and angry Atlantic, far below. The fishermen would be coming in early today, for the ocean forecast a storm. Abruptly I swung around, pulled up my knees and rested my chin on them. It was completely silent and still here, disturbed only by the sound of the incoming tide crashing against the jagged rocks. I hugged my knees closer and held the moment to me. It was like seeing nature as it was meant to be seen — untamed and unscathed by human hands. In front of me I could see the bay gradually reaching out to the blue sea. Around me the forest was rolling on and on as far as my eye could see. Me — I was sitting in a kind of clearing on the edge of a chff. The solitude was complete and unearthly. My father used to say it was like being close to God, and it is. He was the one who first discovered this place. I can remember the days when we used to romp to- gether here in the field, laughing and joking, or occasionally just partaking of its loveliness. We had such fxin together. The tears smarted my eyes as I . remembered the lengthy ill- ness he was forced to suffer, and how his great joy of life never ceased, though his body slowly shrivelled up. But that was five years ago — now I am sixteen. I still have never missed coming up here every day to greet the morning. The only difference is that now Guy comes instead of Dad. Guy started coming with me shortly after Dad died, to keep me company in my vigil. He is one of the sweetest people I have ever known, and I guess I love him as much as I do my mother — not romantic love, mind you, but the kind of love you have for an older brother. Suddenly I winced as I remembered what Mother had said when I told her about Guy. She said that I was too old for such non- sense, which I, to this moment, do not understand. It ' s funny too, for whenever we are together in the village, laughing and talking to each other, I have noticed that a hush falls on the people around us. The elderly ladies cluck their tongues and nudge their husbands ' arms, while the younger people stare at me rather strangely. We don ' t go in- to the village except for school now, and even that is a trial. The children there all laugh at me behind my back, and their teasing is often very cruel. I think their attitude towards me has something to do with my friendship with Guy, although I can ' t think why they would hate me because of him — for there is nothing about him to dislike. He is perfect, to my mind. I shrugged my shoulders and turned to smile at him. He was seated beside me quietly taking in the scene. Then slowly, with dawning reahzation, I knew why the people of the village despised me and why Mother was displeased with me. Staring at Guy, I realized that they could not see him for them he was just a figment of my imagination, not real at all. But Guy and I know better. I turned my head slowly, my unfocused gaze staring out towards the sea. The seagull was flying home. Betty Craig, Form V A LONELINESS I often hope That some day The time will come When the pieces Of my jigsaw world Will form a picture Again. Hanna Deutschenschmied, Form V A 21

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MONTREAL This smoggy island With industries far and fair, It is a wondrous sight to see, But more than the eye can bear. Outside this dragon place Lies her majestic hill With grass so green in the summertime, Asleep now, hushed and still. At the crack of dawn she awakens With screeching brakes and tooting horns, Vibrant! Ruthless! Vigorous! This is my city With her riots, bombs, discord! But I love her. Elizabeth Livermore Form II LE VIEUX PECHEUR Le vieux pecheur etait debout- la mer s ' amassa , autour de ses deux pieds, I ' ecume couvrit les cailloux et le vieux pecheur s ' enfon9a dans le sable. Ses amis tirerent les filets sur le rivage. Le vieillard regarda la mer. La mer etait la depuis toujours. II etait ne pres d ' elle. 11 souleva son seau et vit son neveu qui criait avec ses amis. — Ne criez pas, mon neveu. Les poissons entendront votre voix! — Oui, mon oncle je parlerai d ' une voix douce et les poissons viendront dans nos filets. Les pecheurs rirent. — Ha! Riez, riez! Mais je connais, je comprends mes amis de la mer mieux que vous ne comprenez vos paroles. Mes amis entendront, oui, et ils resteront dans leur monde marin. — Dormez, vieillard— nous tirerons nos filets et vous tirerez la couverture du sommeil sur vos yeux. Le vieillard s ' en alia. Le soleil brula et mit la mer en feu pendant que les nuages couvraient les etoiles. Le lendemain matin quand la brume s ' etait levee, le vieux pecheur marcha sur la plage. II portait une tige de fer et la piqua dans les etoiles de mer qui en moururent. — Vous avez beaucoup de chance, mes amies, vous avez votre place dans la mer et au ciel. Moi, je n ' ai aucun point d ' attache. Je vis sur le sable mouvant. Ma peau est brulec par le soleil et mes levres sechees par la brise salee de la mer. Les vents emportent mes heures dans I ' onde et me laissent seul et vieux. Maintenant voux etes mortes — comme moi- meme. Le vieux pecheur s ' avan a et la mer I ' engloutit. Ann Roberts, Form VI B LA MER La mer est etrange et sauvage. Elle est terrible, irritee Par un soir noir et orageux La mer est si effrayante. La mer est tres belle, Ses embruns tres frais. Le soleil brille sur les vagues, Et les eaux sont calmes dans les grottes. Pat Humby, Form III A L ' HISTOIRE D ' UNE FLEUR Quoi de plus plaisant que de regarder une jolie fleur? Du petit cmbryon jaillit une etincelle de vie. De son corps fragile et nouvellement ne,de minuscules petales innocentes etalent toute une gamme de merveilleuses couleurs chatoy- ant dans un mouvement mysterieux. Elle devient un etre vivant, sa purete, sa delicatesse lui donnent un prestige plus grand que toutes les richesses du monde. Elle symbolise pour I ' univers I ' affection, la paix et I ' amour. Elle remplace souvent bien des mots entre deux etres qui veulent se rapprocher. Elle est acceptee avec joie lorsqu ' on la donne en cadeau ou a une personne malade. Dans une maison une simple fleur peut rendre I ' atmosphere plus jo- viale. Enfin, une multitude de petites choses est I ' apanage des fleurs. Ainsi aujourd ' hui les jeunes la considerant comme un message pour dire aux gens: Faites la paix non la guerre . Johanne Perreault, Form VI B 23