Page 2 - bowman1995anthology

Cartoon Midnight
Ready? Welcome to our cartoon journey to the bewitching instant when night is
not night and night is not morning, a suspended instant between--a point out of time, a
Cartoon Midnight.
A moment not unlike the lives of these developing writers--lives moving toward
morning ("Reality," "The Real World")--leaving behind the comfort of fairy tales and
innocent hopes ("The magic carpet rides of Aladdin are no longer" [Sunshine Brazell]).
Their writing burgeons with fear and questions ("What is the real color?" Where is my
place?" [Antwan Perez] "Who knows who I am? [Gena McGinnes])
Cartoon Midnight gives a voice to the unvoiced, to those who feel "my words
rang out like a bell, but never reached anyone" (Stephanie Huckins), those who have felt
their words "were insignificant" (Oscar Lopez).
There is, of course, a natural anxiety that comes with coming of age -- the
pressure of what Oliver Khoshaba calls "complicated complications," real life factors--
family life, finances, safety, drugs, motherhood/fatherhood, career, love and belonging)
are suddenly converging upon them . Some rail against the standardization,
impersonalization, and helplessness. They feel as if they might be the ones trapped in a
cartoon. Combine this with transient personal lives in a rapidly changing society, is it
any wonder Oscar Lopez wrote: "I feel no solidity of structure" and Jamie Smith spoke of
"waiting to blink."
The longing for escape from these pressures to fly into a predictable "Cartoon
Midnight" (Lindsey Krutak) or be transformed ("Flesh to Metal" Clif Crotts) is
natural and logical.
This language cartoon does have its moments of relief, islands of tranquillity
("Serene Boredom" Brian Preece and "Peacefully Set," Eric Porter.) But when all is
said and done, the poets seem to say it best:
"I walk a path of life unknown
to life itself." (Anthony Williams)
I'd like to thank the Bowman staff and principal for their encouragement and
support. These poems are primarily an outgrowth of the Spring 94 and the Fall/Spring
1994/95 Creative Writing classes. Special thanks is extended to instructional
assistant, Joy Williamson, whose diligent and outstanding work helped make this
publication a reality.

It is particularly gratifying for me to witness students acknowledging the
importance of the voice within, honoring speech while gaining respect and knowledge of
the poetic idiom.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to work with these writers, hear their
unique expressions and see their individual development.
Richard Weekley
Bulldog Publications
Bowman High School
21508 Redview Drive
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

All rights revert to the author upon release.
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